In German, forming questions involves a specific structure where the verb typically takes the second position. This rule is crucial for creating grammatically correct and natural-sounding questions.
Basic Structure
The basic structure for yes/no questions and information questions is:
- Question Word (if applicable)
- Verb
- Subject
- Additional Information
Examples
Yes/No Questions
- English: Are you coming?
- German: Kommst du?
Information Questions
- English: What are you doing?
- German: Was machst du?
- English: Where do you live?
- German: Wo wohnst du?
Common Question Words
| English | German |
|---|---|
| What | Was |
| Where | Wo |
| When | Wann |
| Why | Warum |
| How | Wie |
| Who | Wer |
Verb Conjugation
Present Tense
Verbs must be conjugated to match the subject. Here’s a brief overview:
| Subject | Example with "machen" (to do/make) |
|---|---|
| Ich | mache |
| Du | machst |
| Er/Sie/Es | macht |
| Wir | machen |
| Ihr | macht |
| Sie/sie | machen |
Examples with Common Question Words
- Was machst du?
- What are you doing?
- Wo wohnst du?
- Where do you live?
- Wann kommst du?
- When are you coming?
- Warum lernst du Deutsch?
- Why are you learning German?
- Wie heißt du?
- What is your name?
- Wer ist das?
- Who is that?
Key Points
- In German questions, the verb always takes the second position.
- Use the appropriate question word to specify the type of information you’re asking for.
- Ensure the verb is correctly conjugated to match the subject of the sentence.
By understanding and applying this structure, you can create clear and accurate questions in German.