1. You can form a question by raising the pitch of your voice at the end of a sentence. Be sure to use an upside-down question mark (¿) at the beginning of a question and a regular question mark (?) at the end.
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2. Miguel is looking for a map. Is Miguel looking for a map?
Statement
Question
Miguel busca un mapa.
¿Miguel busca un mapa?
Miguel is looking for a map.
Is Miguel looking for a map?
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3. You can also form a question by putting the subject after the verb
You can also form a question by putting the subject after the verb. The subject may even be placed at the end of the sentence.
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4. Ustedes trabajan los sábados. ¿Trabajan ustedes los sábados?
Statement
Question
SUBJECT VERB
VERB SUBJECT
Ustedes trabajan los sábados.
¿Trabajan ustedes los sábados?
You work on Saturdays.
Do you work on Saturdays?
SUBJECT VERB
VERB SUBJECT
Carlota regresa a las seis.
¿Regresa a las seis Carlota?
Carlota returns at six.
Does Carlota return at six?
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5. Questions can also be formed by adding ¿no. or ¿verdad
Questions can also be formed by adding ¿no? or ¿verdad? at the end of a statement.
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6. Ella regresa a las seis, ¿verdad? She returns at six.
Statement
Question
Ella regresa a las seis.
Ella regresa a las seis, ¿verdad?
She returns at six.
She returns at six, right?
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7. ¡ojo!
You may only add ¿verdad? to form a question with negative statements.
No trabajas mañana, ¿verdad?
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8. These interrogative words are used to form questions in Spanish.
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9. ¡ojo! Interrogative words always carry a written accent mark. • • •
The answer to the question ¿por qué? is porque, which is written as one word without an accent.
¿por qué? why?
porque because
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10. Interrogative words (cont’d)
Use interrogative words in questions that require more than a yes or no answer.
¿Cuándo descansan ustedes?
¿Adónde caminamos?
When do you rest?
Where are we walking to?
¿Qué clases tomas?
¿De dónde son ellos?
What classes are you taking?
Where are they from?
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11. Interrogative words (cont’d)
In questions that contain interrogative words, the pitch of your voice falls at the end of the sentence.
¿Cómo llegas a la escuela?
¿Por qué necesitas estudiar?
How do you get to school?
Why do you need to study?
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12. Statement Intonation ¿no?
Make questions out of these statements. Use intonation in column 1 and the tag ¿no? in column 2.
Statement
Intonation
¿no?
1. Hablas inglés.
2. Trabajamos mañana.
3. Ustedes desean bailar.
4. Usted estudia mucho.
5. Enseño a las nueve.
6. Luz mira la televisión.
7. Los chicos descansan.
8. Tú preparas la prueba.
9. Tomamos el autobús.
10. Necesito una pluma.
____________________
¿Hablas inglés?
____________________
Hablas inglés, ¿no?
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