German Questions
Asking questions is essential for communication. In German, there are two main types of questions: yes/no questions and questions with question words.
Yes/no questions start with the verb. Questions with question words start with the question word, followed by the verb.
This lesson covers the most common question words and how to form questions correctly in German.
Explanation
Yes/no questions (also called decision questions) start with the verb. The verb comes first, then the subject: 'Bist du müde?' (Are you tired?), 'Hast du Zeit?' (Do you have time?).
Questions with question words (W-questions) start with the question word, then the verb, then the subject: 'Was machst du?' (What are you doing?), 'Wo wohnst du?' (Where do you live?).
Common question words: was (what), wer (who), wo (where), wann (when), warum (why), wie (how), wie viel (how much), wie viele (how many), woher (where from), wohin (where to).
The verb is always in the second position in questions, just like in statements. This is the V2 rule in German.
Common Question Words
| Question Word | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| was | what | Was machst du? | What are you doing? |
| wer | who | Wer ist das? | Who is that? |
| wo | where | Wo wohnst du? | Where do you live? |
| wann | when | Wann kommst du? | When are you coming? |
| warum | why | Warum lernst du? | Why do you learn? |
| wie | how | Wie geht es dir? | How are you? |
| wie viel | how much | Wie viel kostet das? | How much does that cost? |
| wie viele | how many | Wie viele Bücher? | How many books? |
| woher | where from | Woher kommst du? | Where are you from? |
| wohin | where to | Wohin gehst du? | Where are you going? |
Examples
Bist du müde?
Are you tired?
Hast du Zeit?
Do you have time?
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 do you learn German?
Wie geht es dir?
How are you?
Wie viel kostet das?
How much does that cost?
Woher kommst du?
Where are you from?
Wohin gehst du?
Where are you going?
Common Mistakes
Du bist müde?
Bist du müde?
In yes/no questions, the verb must come first, not the subject.
Was du machst?
Was machst du?
In questions with question words, the verb is second (after the question word), then the subject.
Wo du wohnst?
Wo wohnst du?
The verb comes immediately after the question word, before the subject.
Wie viel Bücher?
Wie viele Bücher?
Use 'wie viele' (with -e) when asking about countable nouns (books, people, etc.).
Woher du kommst?
Woher kommst du?
Remember: question word first, then verb, then subject.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!
Start Exercises →Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which article to use?
German articles (der, die, das) depend on the gender of the noun. While there are some patterns, many nouns must be memorized. Practice and exposure to German will help you learn them naturally.
What's the difference between definite and indefinite articles?
Definite articles (der, die, das) mean 'the' and refer to specific things. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) mean 'a/an' and refer to non-specific things. Both must match the noun's gender: use 'ein' for masculine/neuter and 'eine' for feminine.
Are there rules for determining noun gender?
While there are some helpful patterns (e.g., words ending in -ung are usually feminine), there are many exceptions. The best approach is to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning.
What happens if I use the wrong article?
While using the wrong article is a common mistake, native speakers will usually still understand you. However, using the correct article is important for sounding natural and fluent in German.