Fragen stellen (Ask questions)
Learn how to form W-questions, Yes/No questions, and ask for clarification.
In this lesson, you will learn how to form basic W-questions and Yes/No questions in German.
1. W-Fragen (W-Questions)
W-Questions always start with a question word that begins with "W". The verb is placed in position 2.
| Fragewort (Question word) | English | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Wer? | Who? | Wer ist das? (Who is that?) |
| Was? | What? | Was ist das? (What is that?) |
| Wo? | Where? | Wo bist du? (Where are you?) |
| Woher? | Where from? | Woher kommst du? (Where do you come from?) |
| Wohin? | Where to? | Wohin gehst du? (Where are you going?) |
| Wann? | When? | Wann kommt der Zug? (When does the train arrive?) |
| Wie? | How? | Wie geht es dir? (How are you?) |
| Warum? | Why? | Warum lernst du Deutsch? (Why are you learning German?) |
2. Ja/Nein-Fragen (Yes/No Questions)
For Yes/No questions, the verb is always placed in Position 1.
| German Question | English | Example Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Kommst du aus Spanien? | Do you come from Spain? | Ja, ich komme aus Spanien. |
| Lernst du Deutsch? | Are you learning German? | Nein, ich lerne Englisch. |
| Trinkst du Kaffee? | Do you drink coffee? | Ja, gerne! |
| Bist du müde? | Are you tired? | Nein, ich bin nicht müde. |
3. Nützliche Kommunikationsfragen (Useful Communication Questions)
| German Phrase | English | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Wie bitte? | Pardon? / Excuse me? | Asking to repeat |
| Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? | Can you please repeat that? | Asking to repeat (formal) |
| Sprechen Sie Englisch? | Do you speak English? | Asking for language (formal) |
| Wie sagt man das auf Deutsch? | How do you say that in German? | Asking for translation |
| Was bedeutet das? | What does that mean? | Asking for meaning |
| Ich verstehe (das) nicht. | I do not understand (that). | Expressing lack of understanding |
- For W-questions (Wer, Was, Wo...), your voice pitch goes down at the end of the sentence.
- For Yes/No questions, your voice pitch goes up at the end of the sentence.
de-DE). Vocabulary Checklist
6 lexical termsConversational Immersion
Listen to spoken situational patterns inside native everyday social scripts.
Fragen im Deutschkurs
Entschuldigung, ich habe eine Frage. Was bedeutet "wiederholen"?
Excuse me, I have a question. What does "wiederholen" mean?
"Wiederholen" bedeutet "to repeat". Verstehst du?
"Wiederholen" means "to repeat". Do you understand?
Ja, ich verstehe. Und wie sagt man "book" auf Deutsch?
Yes, I understand. And how do you say "book" in German?
Das ist "das Buch".
That is "das Buch".
Wie bitte? Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
Pardon? Can you please repeat that?
Natürlich: Das Buch.
Of course: Das Buch.