This is simply obtained by adding a uestion mark at the
end of the sentence, while in
speech only the inflection of the voice expresses a question.
- hai una penna rossa » you have a red pen
- hai una penna rossa ? » do you have a red pen ?
- l'albero è nel giardino » the tree is in the garden
- l'albero è nel giardino ? » is the tree in the garden ?
In spoken language, the question will be expressed by simply raising the
pitch of the voice while approaching the end of the sentence, especially
stressing the last one or two words
The only situation in which words change order is when verb essere (to be)
introduces a copula, expressing a quality, a condition, etc. (not a direct
object). The verb and the copula go before the rest of the sentence, and the
subject is postponed.
- la penna è rossa » the pen is red
- è rossa la penna ? » is the pen red ?
- la casa era fredda » the house was cold
- era fredda la casa ? » was the house cold ?
- il mio gatto è nero » my cat is black
- è nero il mio gatto ? » is my cat black ?
However, all of the questions above have implied either a yes or no answer.
To ask questions that require more than a yes or no answer, you generally have
to use a question word. Here is a list of some English question words and their
Italian equivalents:
| What - che cosa |
Why - perché |
How many - quanti(-e) |
| Who - chi |
Which - quale |
How much - quanto(-a) |
| When - quando |
Where - dove |
|
Examples:
- Quando ritorna Roberto ? » When is Roberto returning?
- Dove studia ? » Where does
s/he study?
- Che ora é ? » What time is
it?
- A che ora é la lezione ? » At
what time is the lesson?
- Chi é in casa? » Who is in
the house?
- Perché torni a scuola ? » Why
do you return to school?
- In quale università studi ? » At which university do you study?
- Quanti studenti ci sono in classe ? » How many students are there in the classroom?
Che and cosa are abbreviated
forms of che cosa. The forms are interchangeable:
- Che cosa bevi? » What are you
drinking?
- Che dici? » What are you
saying?
- Cosa fanno i bambini? » What
are the children doing?
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