Interrogative Words

(Las palabras interrogativas)

Words that ask a question
Interrogative Words
Interrogative words are vital to any language. They help us
to obtain different kinds of information.
Cul(es)? = Which one(s)?
Cul es el ttulo de la novela?
Cules son tus novelas favoritas?
All question words bear a written accent over the stressed vowel.
Cmo? = How? (sometimes what?)
Cmo ests?
Cmo es tu compaero de cuarto?
Cundo? = When?
Cundo es la clase de historia?
Interrogative Words
Interrogative words are vital to any language. They help us
to obtain different kinds of information:
All question words bear a written accent over the stressed vowel.
Dnde? = Where?
Dnde est mi pluma?
Cunto/a(s)? = How much (many)?
Cuntos libros necesitamos?
De dnde? = From where?
De dnde eres?
Adnde? = To where?
Adnde vas?
Interrogative Words
Interrogative words are vital to any language. They help us
to obtain different kinds of information:
Por qu? = Why?
Por qu ests tan triste?
All question words bear a written accent over the stressed vowel.
Qu? = What?
Qu aprendes en la clase de espaol?
Quin(es)? = Who (all)?
Quin tiene el libro?
De quin(es)? = Whose?
De quin es la mochila negra?
Question marks
(Signos de interrogacin)
An inverted question mark () is always placed at the beginning
of a question word or phrase, and another right-side-up question
mark at the end.
While in English, word order or the helper verb do normally indicate a
question, in Spanish, word order for questions and statements can be
identical, and Spanish has no equivalent to the helper verb do. Thus the
inverted question mark alerts the reader that a question follows.
Cmo? Pardon? Hows that again?
Cmo es tu profesor? What is your professor like?
Juan speaks English. Juan habla ingls.
Does Juan speak English? Juan habla ingls?
Expansin
Qu? vs. Cul?
What? Which? Which one(s)?
Qu? = What?
Qu es la qumica?
Es el estudio de la composicin
elemental de la materia.
What is chemistry?
(Its the study of the elemental
composition of matter.)
Qu? asks for a definition, identification
or classification.
Qu? = What?
Qu es esto?
Es un telfono
celular.
What is this?
(Its a cell phone.)
Qu? asks for a definition, identification
or classification.
Qu? = What?
Qu tienes
en la mano?
Es el
software
para tu
computadora.
What do
you have in
your hand?
Its the
software for
your computer.
Qu? = What?
Qu? asks for a classification such
as nationality, political affiliation or
religion, etc.
Qu son tus padres, catlicos o
protestantes?
Qu es l, hondureo o peruano?
What is he, Honduran or Peruvian?
What are your parents, catholic or
protestant?
Cul? = Which (one)?
Cul es la flor ms bonita?
Which is the prettiest flower (of all)?
Cul? asks for a selection from among
several things.
Cuando se trata de los deportes, cul
prefieres, el ftbol o el bsquetbol?
When it comes to sports, which (one) do you
prefer, soccer or basketball?
What is your name?
Cul? = Which (what)?
Cul? is sometimes translated into English as
what, but logically it still means which.
Cmo se dice
For example:
Cul es tu nombre?
Which is your name?
Of all possible names, which one is yours?
(Remember: Qu? asks for a definition.)
In Spanish we say . . .
Qu es tu nombre? would mean What is the
definition of your name?
Qu?, Cul(es)?
Qu? is always invariable.
Qu pelcula vas a ver?
Qu pelculas te gustan ms?
Cul? has a plural form.
Cul de los muchachos es tu hermano?
Cules de los muchachos son chilenos?
Which movie are you going to see?
Which movies do you like the best?
Which of the boys is your brother?
Which of the boys are Chilean?
Cul? = Which?
Cul? asks for a selection, as mentioned.
Cul es la mejor computadora?
Which (of all the computers) is the
best?
Qu? = Which? before a noun
But immediately before a noun, qu? is used
in all cases.
Qu modelo
prefieres t,
Faido?
Cul? before a noun
Nevertheless, even though some consider it
grammatically questionable, some native speakers
tend to use cul? in these cases and, in informal
circumstances, even the most scholarly may use it.
Cul chaqueta trajiste, la roja o
la negra?
Which jacket did you bring, the red
one or the black one?
(Qu chaqueta . . . ?)
The foregoing is especially common when
dealing with an exclamation of surprise or
incredulity, etc.
Oye! Dame el dinero que me
debes, eh?
Cul dinero?!! Yo no te debo
ningn dinero!
(Qu dinero . . . ?!!)
Hey! Give me the money you owe me, OK?
What money?!! I dont owe you any money!
Cul? before a noun
FIN