How to ask a question in German
You will want to know how to ask a question when studying German. It is an essential skill for mastering your everyday life. Luckily this is not too hard to learn. After this article and the attached free worksheet, you will be a master at asking questions!
Questions in German
As in every language, there are two ways of asking a question. One can ask a closed question. This means that there is only the possibility of saying “ja” (yes) and “nein” (no) as an answer. Usually, these questions do not need a question word and can be formed with any verb.
To do so in German, one needs to flip the verb to the first position of the sentence.
Recommended study materials on the topic:
A-Grammar: Practice German grammar (incl. answers)
German self-study book for A1-B1 (incl. answers)
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Closed questions (Ja-Nein-Fragen)
Master the art of forming questions in German with this comprehensive printable PDF grammar bundle on Ja-Nein Fragen (Yes-No questions). This material is specifically designed for A1 and A2 learners to confidently navigate the sentence structure and word order required to ask questions correctly.
Whether you are a beginner or looking to refine your DaF/DaZ skills, these German worksheets provide the structural clarity and high-volume practice needed to move the verb to the first position and engage in active conversation.
What you will get in this grammar bundle:
Clear Grammar Explanations: A structured overview of the rules for forming questions without question words (Inversionsfragen), including tips on verb placement.
Practical Grammar Exercises: Varied tasks that guide you through transforming statements into questions, ensuring you understand the mechanics of German sentence building.
Ready-to-Use with Solutions: Includes a full Lösungsschlüssel (answer key) for all tasks, making it an ideal resource for both classroom instruction and independent self-study.
All materials are:
Teacher-Created Quality
Flexible Learning Formats
Comprehensive Study Support
Normal sentence structure:
Du gehst nach Hause. (→ You go home.)
Er macht Hausaufgaben. (→ He does homework.)
Ihr schreibt einen Brief. (→ You write a letter.)
Question sentence structure:
Gehst du nach Hause? (→ Do you go home?)
Macht er Hausaufgaben? (→ Does he do homework?)
Schreibt ihr einen Brief? (→ Do you write a letter?)
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Open questions (W-Fragen)
Unlock the ability to gather information and lead conversations with this comprehensive printable PDF grammar bundle on W-Fragen (German question words). This material is specifically designed for A1 and A2 learners to confidently use essential interrogatives like wer, was, wo, wann, and warum.
Understanding the "W-word" placement and subsequent verb position is vital for natural communication. These German worksheets provide the structured training needed to master open-ended questions in both daily life and DaF/DaZ exam preparation.
What you will get in this grammar bundle:
Core Question Word Mastery: Clear, easy-to-understand explanations of the most important question words and how they function within a sentence.
Targeted Grammar Exercises: Practical tasks designed to reinforce word order and help you distinguish between similar questions (e.g., wo vs. wohin).
Ready-to-Use with Solutions: A complete Lösungsschlüssel (answer key) is included, perfect for quick classroom checks or independent self-study.
All materials are:
Teacher-Created Quality
Flexible Learning Formats
Comprehensive Study Support
If you want to ask open questions in German, you must use the correct question words. In German, questions with question words are called “W-Fragen.” This is because all question words start with the letter “w.”
German question words:
were → who
wie → how
was → what
warum → why
wo → where
woher → from where
wohin → to where
wann → when
Normal sentence structure:
Du gehst nach Hause. (→ You go home.)
Er macht Hausaufgaben. (→ He does homework.)
Ihr schreibt einen Brief. (→ You write a letter.)
“W-Frage” question sentence structure:
The sentence order also changes a bit here. Therefore we start with the question word, which is followed by the verb and the subject/object:
Wohin gehst du? (Where do you go?)
Wer macht Hausaufgaben? (What does he do?)
Was macht ihr? (What do you do?)
As you can hopefully see, asking a question in German is not very hard. You can practice your knowledge with the free worksheet “How to ask a question in German” (including answers).
Bis bald!
Steffie
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