Brottin

TOPIC · Miscellaneous (Anders)

Distinguishing types of questions in German

A1

After this lesson you can form, distinguish and appropriately answer German W-Fragen and Ja-/Nein-Fragen at A1 level.

In this lesson you learn the main German question types at level A1 and how to use them in everyday situations.

Overview of question types

At A1 you mainly need two types of German questions:

  • W-Fragen: questions starting with a question word (e.g. wo, wann, warum); the answer is a full sentence with information.
  • Ja-/Nein-Fragen: yes/no questions starting with a conjugated verb; the answer is ja, nein or doch plus a sentence.

In both types, word order is crucial: the conjugated verb is always on position 2 (W-Fragen) or position 1 (Ja-/Nein-Fragen).

W-Fragen

W-Fragen use a question word to ask for people, things, places, reasons, etc.

Common question words

Question wordMeaning
werwho (person)
waswhat (thing / action)
wowhere (position)
wohinwhere to (direction, destination)
woherwhere from (origin)
wannwhen (time)
warumwhy (reason)
wiehow (manner / state)
wie vielhow much / how many (amount)
wie langehow long (duration)

Word order in W-Fragen

Basic pattern:

Fragewort – konjugiertes Verb – Subjekt – Rest

Examples:

  • Wo wohnst du? (Where do you live?)
  • Wann beginnt der Unterricht? (When does the class start?)
  • Was machst du am Wochenende? (What are you doing at the weekend?)
  • Warum bist du müde? (Why are you tired?)
  • Wie viel kostet das Buch? (How much does the book cost?)

Answers should be full sentences, not only single words:

  • Wo wohnst du? – Ich wohne in Berlin. (Where do you live? – I live in Berlin.)

Ja-/Nein-Fragen

Ja-/Nein-Fragen start with the conjugated verb.

Basic pattern:

Konjugiertes Verb – Subjekt – Rest?

Examples by verb type

TypeExample questionExplanation
VollverbKommst du mit?main verb carries the meaning
ModalverbKannst du schwimmen?modal verb + infinitive
HilfsverbIst das dein Buch?form of sein, haben, werden

More examples:

  • Hast du heute Zeit? (Do you have time today?)
  • Arbeitet er morgen? (Is he working tomorrow?)

Answers to Ja-/Nein-Fragen

Typical patterns:

  • Ja + full sentence
  • Nein + full sentence with „nicht“ or „kein“

Examples:

  • Kommst du aus Vietnam? (Are you from Vietnam?)

    • Ja, ich komme aus Vietnam. (Yes, I am from Vietnam.)
    • Nein, ich komme nicht aus Vietnam. (No, I am not from Vietnam.)

  • Ist das dein Buch? (Is that your book?)

    • Ja, das ist mein Buch. (Yes, that is my book.)
    • Nein, das ist nicht mein Buch. (No, that is not my book.)

„Doch“ with negative questions

If the question is negative, you can answer with doch to contradict the negation.

  • Kommst du nicht zur Party? (Aren’t you coming to the party?)
    • Doch, ich komme zur Party. (Yes, I am coming after all.)
    • Nein, ich komme nicht. (No, I am not coming.)

Summary

  • W-Fragen: question word + verb + subject; the answer gives new information.
  • Ja-/Nein-Fragen: verb at the beginning; answer with ja, nein or doch and a full sentence.

Practice both types by making your own questions and answers about daily topics (where you live, family, free time).