Answering Questions
Answering questions in German requires understanding the question type and providing appropriate responses.
Yes/no questions (Ja/Nein-Fragen) can be answered simply, while W-questions (W-Fragen) require specific information.
This lesson covers how to answer different types of questions correctly in German.
Explanation
For yes/no questions, answer with 'ja' (yes), 'nein' (no), or 'doch' (yes - contradicting a negative question).
For W-questions, answer with the specific information requested: 'Wer?' → name/person, 'Was?' → thing/action, 'Wo?' → place, etc.
Answers should match the verb tense and form used in the question.
Short answers are common: 'Ja, ich komme' (Yes, I'm coming) or just 'Ja' (Yes).
Answering Different Question Types
| Question Type | Question | Answer | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes/No | Kommst du? | Ja, ich komme. / Nein, ich komme nicht. | Yes, I'm coming. / No, I'm not coming. |
| Who (wer) | Wer kommt? | Mein Freund kommt. | My friend is coming. |
| What (was) | Was machst du? | Ich lese ein Buch. | I'm reading a book. |
| Where (wo) | Wo wohnst du? | Ich wohne in Berlin. | I live in Berlin. |
| When (wann) | Wann kommst du? | Ich komme um acht Uhr. | I'm coming at eight o'clock. |
| How (wie) | Wie geht es dir? | Es geht mir gut. | I'm doing well. |
| Why (warum) | Warum lernst du Deutsch? | Weil es interessant ist. | Because it's interesting. |
Examples
Q: Kommst du? A: Ja, ich komme.
Q: Are you coming? A: Yes, I'm coming.
Q: Wer kommt? A: Mein Bruder kommt.
Q: Who is coming? A: My brother is coming.
Q: Was machst du? A: Ich lese ein Buch.
Q: What are you doing? A: I'm reading a book.
Q: Wo wohnst du? A: Ich wohne in München.
Q: Where do you live? A: I live in Munich.
Q: Wann beginnt der Film? A: Der Film beginnt um acht Uhr.
Q: When does the movie start? A: The movie starts at eight o'clock.
Q: Kommst du nicht? A: Doch, ich komme.
Q: Aren't you coming? A: Yes, I am coming. (doch contradicts negative)
Common Mistakes
Q: Kommst du? A: Ja, du kommst
Q: Kommst du? A: Ja, ich komme
In answers, use the correct pronoun. The question uses 'du', so the answer uses 'ich', not 'du'.
Q: Was machst du? A: Ich mache
Q: Was machst du? A: Ich lese ein Buch
Answer 'Was?' questions with a complete thought, not just the verb. Specify what you're doing.
Q: Kommst du nicht? A: Ja
Q: Kommst du nicht? A: Doch
To contradict a negative question, use 'doch' (yes), not 'ja'. 'Ja' would mean 'no, I'm not coming'.
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.