French grammar
Les questions en écho : si… ?, comment… ?, comment ça… ?
Repeat and react to a question you have just heard, as natives do.
From the scene Si je me marie ? (Am I getting married?)
In short
Echo a yes-or-no question with si… ?, keep the question word otherwise, object with comment ça… ? Reported: elle demande si.
Your turn
Which one goes with how's Ramón? (echo)?
Options: comment va Ramón · si je me marie, moi · comment ça, en touristes
Show answer
how's Ramón? (echo) → comment va Ramón
How it works
To repeat a yes-or-no question you've just heard, usually in surprise, start with si: si je me marie, moi ?
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
(blank) ça, en quoi ça la regarde ? C'est une lectrice !
Options: Combien · Comment · Comme
Show answer
Comment ça, en quoi ça la regarde ? C'est une lectrice !
What do you mean, what business is it of hers? She's a reader!
Good to know
A question with a question word keeps it: comment va Ramón ? To object to something just said, use comment ça… ?
Good to know
In a reported question say elle demande si…, not elle demande est-ce que…; with a noun subject the verb may come first: elle demande comment va Monsieur Ramón.
am I getting married? (echo) si je me marie, moi
Elena
Si je me marie, moi ? À mon âge ?
Am I getting married? At my age?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) ? À mon âge ?
Options: Comment va Ramón · Comment ça, en touristes · Si je me marie, moi
Show answer
Elena
Si je me marie, moi ? À mon âge ?
Am I getting married? At my age?
how's Ramón? (echo) comment va Ramón
Elena
Comment va Ramón ? En quoi ça la regarde ?
How's Ramón? What business is it of hers?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) ? En quoi ça la regarde ?
Options: Comment ça, en touristes · Comment va Ramón · Si je me marie
Show answer
Elena
Comment va Ramón ? En quoi ça la regarde ?
How's Ramón? What business is it of hers?
what do you mean, as tourists? (objecting) comment ça, en touristes
Elena
Si on y est allés ensemble ? On y est allés... en touristes.
Did we go together? We went... as tourists.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Si on y est allés ensemble ? On y est allés... (blank).
Options: moi · comment va Ramón · en touristes
Show answer
Elena
Si on y est allés ensemble ? On y est allés... en touristes.
Did we go together? We went... as tourists.
she's asking whether the book… elle demande si le livre
Tomás
Elle demande si le livre aura une suite.
She's asking whether the book has a sequel.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) aura une suite.
Options: Comment va Ramón · Elle demande si le livre · Si je me marie, moi
Show answer
Tomás
Elle demande si le livre aura une suite.
She's asking whether the book has a sequel.
she's asking how Monsieur Ramón is elle demande comment va Monsieur Ramón
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| am I getting married? (echo) | si je me marie, moi |
|---|---|
| how's Ramón? (echo) | comment va Ramón |
| what do you mean, as tourists? (objecting) | comment ça, en touristes |
| she's asking whether the book… | elle demande si le livre |
| she's asking how Monsieur Ramón is | elle demande comment va Monsieur Ramón |
More lines from the story
- NuriaComment ça, en quoi ça la regarde ? C'est une lectrice !What do you mean, what business is it of hers? She's a reader!
- ElenaS'il aura une suite ? Je suis déjà en train de l'écrire !Will it have a sequel? I'm already writing it!