Chapter 27: Interrogative Words (Fragewörter)
Introduction
Interrogative words, or question words, are essential tools for asking questions in any language. In German, interrogative words enable you to gather information, clarify doubts, and engage in conversations. They are the foundation of forming direct questions and are used to inquire about people, things, time, reasons, places, manner, and quantities.
Understanding interrogatives is critical because asking questions is a fundamental part of communication. Mastering question words allows you to participate actively in conversations, interviews, surveys, and everyday interactions.
Vocabulary
| German Word | English Translation | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|
| wer | who | Wer bist du? (Who are you?) |
| was | what | Was machst du? (What are you doing?) |
| wann | when | Wann kommst du? (When are you coming?) |
| wo | where | Wo wohnst du? (Where do you live?) |
| warum / wieso / weshalb | why | Warum lernst du Deutsch? (Why are you learning German?) |
| wie | how | Wie heißt du? (What is your name?/How are you called?) |
| welcher / welche / welches | which | Welche Farbe magst du? (Which color do you like?) |
| wie viel / wie viele | how much / how many | Wie viel kostet das? (How much does it cost?) / Wie viele Bücher hast du? (How many books do you have?) |
Theory & Grammar
Question Word Placement
- Interrogative words usually come at the beginning of a question sentence.
- After the question word, the verb comes directly (inversion), followed by the subject and other sentence parts.
Example:
- Was machst du? (What are you doing?)
- Wo wohnst du? (Where do you live?)
Question Types Using Interrogatives
- Open questions: Use interrogative words to ask for specific information.
- Yes/No questions: Start with the verb, no interrogative word needed.
- Indirect questions: Interrogatives appear within statements or questions indirectly.
Declension of Interrogatives
- Some interrogative pronouns like welcher decline according to gender, number, and case, similar to adjectives.
Examples:
- Welcher Mann? (Which man?) — masculine nominative
- Welche Frau? (Which woman?) — feminine nominative
- Welches Kind? (Which child?) — neuter nominative
Vocabulary: Thematic Word Lists with Examples
| Interrogative | Theme | German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wer | People | Wer ist dein Freund? | Who is your friend? |
| Was | Things, actions | Was möchtest du essen? | What would you like to eat? |
| Wann | Time | Wann beginnt der Unterricht? | When does the lesson start? |
| Wo | Place | Wo ist die nächste Haltestelle? | Where is the nearest bus stop? |
| Warum | Reason | Warum bist du spät? | Why are you late? |
| Wie | Manner / condition | Wie geht es dir? | How are you? |
| Welcher | Choice / selection | Welcher Film gefällt dir besser? | Which movie do you like better? |
| Wie viel(e) | Quantity | Wie viele Äpfel hast du gekauft? | How many apples did you buy? |
Usage & Context
- Use interrogative words to ask open-ended questions requiring detailed answers.
- Use wer and was when inquiring about people and things.
- Use wann, wo, warum, and wie to ask about time, place, reason, and manner respectively.
- Use welcher when choosing or specifying from options.
- Wie viel and wie viele are for asking about quantities — wie viel for uncountable and wie viele for countable nouns.
Practical Examples
Sentence Examples:
- Wer kommt heute zur Party? (Who is coming to the party today?)
- Was liest du gerade? (What are you reading right now?)
- Wann fängt der Film an? (When does the movie start?)
- Wo arbeitest du? (Where do you work?)
- Warum lernst du Deutsch? (Why are you learning German?)
- Wie heißt deine Schwester? (What is your sister’s name?)
- Welches Buch möchtest du lesen? (Which book do you want to read?)
- Wie viele Stunden arbeitest du? (How many hours do you work?)
Dialogue Example:
- A: Woher kommst du?
- B: Ich komme aus Berlin. Und du?
- A: Ich komme aus München. Wann bist du hier angekommen?
- B: Gestern Abend. Warum fragst du?
- A: Ich wollte wissen, ob du Zeit für einen Kaffee hast.
Exercises
1. Fill in the blanks with the correct interrogative word:
- ___ bist du?
- ___ machst du am Wochenende?
- ___ wohnst du?
- ___ kostet das Brot?
- ___ kommt dein Bruder?
- ___ möchtest du? (Which one do you want?)
2. Translate the questions into German:
- Who is your teacher?
- What are you doing tomorrow?
- Where do you live?
- Why are you learning German?
- How many apples do you want?
- Which color do you prefer?
3. Form questions from the statements using an interrogative word:
- Du kommst aus Hamburg.
- Er arbeitet heute.
- Sie fährt morgen nach Berlin.
- Wir gehen ins Kino.
Flashcards
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What does "wer" mean? | Who |
| How do you ask "Where do you live?" in German? | Wo wohnst du? |
| Which interrogative word asks about time? | Wann |
| How do you say "Why?" in German? | Warum / Wieso / Weshalb |
| What is the difference between "wie viel" and "wie viele"? | "Wie viel" for uncountable, "wie viele" for countable nouns |
Workbook (Summary & Practice)
Summary:
- Interrogative words are used to ask questions and gather information.
- They usually come at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the verb.
- Some interrogatives decline like adjectives (welcher).
- Use the correct interrogative depending on the information you want (person, place, time, reason, manner, quantity, choice).
Practice:
- Write five questions using different interrogative words.
- Translate 5 English questions into German.
- Create a short dialogue using at least 4 interrogative words.
Multimedia Resources
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YouTube:
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Websites:
Speaking Help
- Practice asking questions in daily conversations.
- Use interrogative words to ask your classmates, friends, or language partners about their day, hobbies, or opinions.
- Try role-plays: one person asks questions, the other answers.
Cultural Notes (Optional)
- In German, formal and informal forms of address may affect how you ask questions. For example, Wie heißen Sie? (formal) vs Wie heißt du? (informal).
- Politeness is often conveyed with question intonation or adding phrases like bitte (please).
Review Section
Quiz
- What does "was" mean in English?
- Where does the verb appear in a question sentence with an interrogative word?
- Name two interrogative words used to ask about place and time.
- How do you ask "Which book?" in German?
- What is the difference between wie viel and wie viele?
Key Takeaways
- Interrogative words are crucial for asking specific questions.
- They come first in questions, followed by the verb and subject.
- Different interrogatives ask for different types of information.
- Some interrogatives decline like adjectives (welcher).