Interrogatives are the building blocks of questions, allowing us to seek specific information. In German, they are called "W-Fragen" because most question words start with "W." Mastering interrogatives is crucial for effective communication and understanding in any language.
- German interrogatives are known as W-Fragen.
- They start with "W" and are used to form questions.
- Interrogatives help ask for specific information.
Question Words
Wer, was, wo, wann, warum, und wie sind deutsche Fragewörter.
German interrogatives are commonly known as W-Fragen.
Most German interrogatives begin with the letter 'W'.
German interrogative words are called W-Fragen and most start with the letter "W." They include words like wer (who), was (what), wo (where), wann (when), warum (why), and wie (how).
| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
| wer | who | Person |
| was | what | Sache/Idee |
| wo | where | Ort |
| wann | when | Zeit |
| warum | why | Grund |
| wie | how | Art und Weise |
| wohin | where to | Richtung |
| welcher | which | Auswahl |
- German interrogatives are called W-Fragen.
- Most start with "W" and include wer, was, wo, wann, warum, wie.
- They cover who, what, where, when, why, how, and more.
'wer', 'was' und 'wo' bedeuten 'who', 'what' und 'where'.
Forming Questions with Interrogatives
Direct questions use: Interrogative + Verb + Subjekt + ...
Correct: 'Wann kommt er?', 'Wann beginnt der Film?'
To form a German question, start with the interrogative, then the verb, followed by the subject:
Interrogative + Verb + Subject + ...
| Beispiel Interrogativ | Deutsch | Englisch |
|---|---|---|
| Wer | Wer kommt heute? | Who is coming today? |
| Was | Was machst du? | What are you doing? |
| Wo | Wo wohnst du? | Where do you live? |
| Wann | Wann beginnt der Film? | When does the movie start? |
| Warum | Warum lernst du Deutsch? | Why are you learning German? |
| Wie | Wie heißt du? | What is your name? (How are you called?) |
- Place the verb immediately after the interrogative.
- The subject follows the verb.
Example:
Wann (when) / beginnt (does start) / der Film (the movie)?
=> Wann beginnt der Film?
Correct is 'Wo wohnst du?'
Interrogative Pronouns vs. Adverbs
'wer' und 'was' sind Interrogativpronomen.
'wo' und 'wann' sind Interrogativadverbien.
- wer, was, welcher → interrogative pronouns
- wo, wann, warum, wie → interrogative adverbs
Indirect Questions
In indirect questions, the verb moves to the end.
Correct are 'Ich weiß, wann du kommst.' und 'Kannst du mir sagen, wo das Hotel ist?'
Indirect questions use the interrogative but reorder the sentence like a statement—the verb moves to the end.
| Direkt | Indirekt (nach...) |
|---|---|
| Wann kommst du? | Ich weiß, wann du kommst. |
| Wo ist das Hotel? | Kannst du mir sagen, wo das Hotel ist? |
- No question intonation or inversion in indirect questions.
Conclusion
German interrogatives (W-Fragen) are essential for asking questions and start with “W.”
You form questions by placing the interrogative first, then the verb, followed by the subject.
Indirect questions require a different word order, with the verb at the end.
- Interrogatives are called W-Fragen and most begin with “W.”
- Question word order: Interrogative + Verb + Subject.
- Indirect questions move the verb to the sentence end.