Understand Fast Spoken French: Questions Aren't Obvious [French vs. English]

Can you distinguish between a statement and a question in French? It’s not as easy as it is in English! Test yourself and find out.

French can be a confusing language for many reasons, one being that questions aren’t always obvious. It’s one of the BIGGEST differences that I’ve noticed between French and English. English grammar makes it pretty obvious when someone is asking you a question. But in French, it isn’t always as clear.

In today’s lesson, you’ll learn how to properly identify a question in fast spoken French. We’ll even play a game to see if you can really distinguish between a statement and a question in French. Are you ready to test yourself? Let’s go.

Take care and stay safe.
😘 from Grenoble, France.

Géraldine

[peucas]

Oh, nice, very similar to Spanish then. Just different in writing without the opening question mark `¿`
Ya se fue -> ¿Ya se fue?
The difference when speaking is context and inflection (tho I'd say in Spanish it's not so subtle hehe).

[mfung]

Thanks for teaching practical everyday spoken French that you can’t find in textbooks!

[johnknight]

I didn't actually have any real problems knowing which sentences were questions, and I don't think it's because of anything special or any talent on my part. I think the vocal inflections are probably not that alien to an English speaking ear. This is good because if you can understand each word of the sentence, then I don't think it would take very much time at all to tune in your ear for whether or not it's a question.

[slowlearner]

Sans aucune exagération, c'est un excellent cadre rafraîchissant non seulement pour les débutants, mais aussi pour les francophiles bien avancés. S'ils veulent sonner "plus français".
Merci beaucoup, Géraldine. Et prenez soin de vous et vos "nearest and dearest" (je sais pas l'équivalent, un ou plus).

[acswellness]

Thank you so much you answered this question of this mysterious (T) in the middle of formal French.

[ancoben]

Merci Géraldine c’est très utile. Mais ce n’ai pas un ligne à la fin sur l’écran

[sagg]

Merci beaucoup pour cette important et très splendide leçon et themè du week end

[barrygeldham]

Un grand merci, Géraldine. L'exercice de français parlé rapidement a été une excellente façon d'accorder mes oreilles.

[Mallowolf]

Merci beaucoup Geraldine! C’est vraiment utile.

[katherinemarsh]

Bonjour Geraldine
. Je Vous apprecie ton email. Ca va?

[michaelcrummy]

Merci Géraldine. Votre leçon a été pour moi une bonne révision du grammaire.