Guide
Using German Question Words
German questions use specific words to gather information. These words often come at the very beginning of the question.
When to Use Each Question Word
- wann is used for asking about time.
- Wann beginnt der Film?
- was is for things or objects, like “what.”
- Was machst du?
- welcher is for making a choice among several options. It matches the gender and case of the noun.
- Welcher Tag ist heute?
- Welche Farbe magst du?
- Welches Buch liest du?
- wer is for asking about the subject, “who.”
- Wer kommt mit?
- wessen expresses “whose” (possession).
- Wessen Auto ist das?
- wie is for “how”, describing manner or condition.
- Wie geht es dir?
- wie viel is for “how much/many”, dealing with quantity.
- Wie viel kostet das?
- Wie viel Uhr ist es?
- wo is for location, meaning “where.”
- Wo wohnst du?
Example Questions
- Was ist dein Name?
- Wer ist der Lehrer?
- Wessen Hund ist das?
- Wann hast du Zeit?
- Wie heißt du?
- Welcher Film läuft heute?
- Wie viel Wasser trinkst du?
- Wo bist du?
Gender Agreement with welcher
The word welcher must agree in gender and number with the noun:
- welcher (masculine nominative)
- welche (feminine nominative or plural)
- welches (neuter nominative)
Typical Word Order
When using these question words, put the verb right after the question word:
- Wo arbeitest du?
- Wie spät ist es?
- Welches Auto gefällt dir?
Related Topics
Use of tense in written and spoken language, Expressions for expressing opinions, Idioms and proverbs, Konjunktiv II for politeness, Modal verbs in the subjunctive, Infinitive with zu, Participles as adjectives, W-cleft sentences, Connectors and linking phrases, Verbs with prepositions, Adjective-noun combinations, Mixed tenses, Adverbs (time, manner, place), Expressions of time, Reported speech, Complex sentences with dass, weil, Conjunctions (coordinating and subordinating), Causative 'lassen', Infinitive clauses, Conditional sentencesSkills
Vocabulary Learning Progress
New (8) - 100.0%
Forming question words
Fragewörter bilden
wann, was, welcher, wer, wessen, wie, wie viel, wo