Wfragen und JaNein-Fragen
In German, questions are divided into two main types: W-Fragen (wh-questions) and Ja/Nein-Fragen (yes/no questions). Let’s look at the details below!
1. W-Fragen (Wh-questions)
W-Fragen begin with a question word starting with “W” (e.g.: Was, Wo, Wer, Wann, Warum).
📌 General structure
W-question word + conjugated verb + subject + (rest of sentence)
📌 Common W-question words:
| W-word | Meaning | ✏ Example |
|---|---|---|
| Wer | Who | Wer bist du? (Who are you?) |
| Was | What | Was machst du? (What are you doing?) |
| Wo | Where | Wo wohnst du? (Where do you live?) |
| Wann | When | Wann kommst du? (When are you coming?) |
| Warum | Why | Warum lernst du Deutsch? (Why are you learning German?) |
| Wie | How | Wie heißt du? (What’s your name?) |
- W-questions usually cannot be answered with just "Ja" or "Nein", they require a full answer.
2. Ja/Nein-Fragen (Yes/No questions)
Ja/Nein-Fragen can be answered simply with "Ja" (yes) or "Nein" (no).
General structure
Conjugated verb + subject + (rest of sentence)
📌 Example yes/no questions:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Kommst du aus Vietnam? (Are you from Vietnam?) | Ja, ich komme aus Vietnam. (Yes, I am from Vietnam.) |
| Hast du ein Auto? (Do you have a car?) | Nein, ich habe kein Auto. (No, I don’t have a car.) |
| Magst du Kaffee? (Do you like coffee?) | Ja, ich mag Kaffee. (Yes, I like coffee.) |
Note:
- The verb always comes first in Ja/Nein questions.
- You answer with Ja/Nein, optionally adding more information.
3. Comparison of W-Fragen and Ja/Nein-Fragen
| Criterion | W-Fragen | Ja/Nein-Fragen |
|---|---|---|
| Start word | W-word | Conjugated verb |
| Example | Wo wohnst du? (Where do you live?) | Wohnst du in Berlin? (Do you live in Berlin?) |
| Answer | A full answer | Ja/Nein + extra info |
Quick recognition:
✅ If the question starts with a W-word, it’s a W-question.
✅ If the verb comes first, it’s a Yes/No question.
🎯 Summary
not
- W-Fragen: Use W-words (Wer, Was, Wo, Wann, Warum, Wie).
- Ja/Nein-Fragen: Verb comes first, answered with "Ja" or "Nein".
- W-Fragen structure: W-word + conjugated verb + subject + (rest of sentence).
- Ja/Nein-Fragen structure: Conjugated verb + subject + (rest of sentence).