Asking Questions in Spanish: Structure, Question Words & Examples

Interrogative Sentences in Spanish

Interrogative sentences in Spanish are those used to ask questions or request information. Asking questions is fundamental to any conversation, and in Spanish, mastering them is both straightforward and essential.

Forming interrogative sentences involves just a few key structures: using simple intonation, inverting the subject and verb, or employing specific question words. Let’s dive into how to confidently ask anything in Spanish.

How to Ask Questions in Spanish: Main Structures

Spanish questions primarily fall into three distinct structural categories:

1. Questions with Intonation (Yes/No Questions)

The easiest way to ask a question. Simply take an affirmative sentence Subject + Verb + Complement, add a rising intonation, and frame it with the unique marks ¿?.

Affirmative Sentences	Interrogative Sentences
Quieren caminar en el jardín. They want to walk in the garden.	¿Quieren caminar en el jardín? Do they want to walk in the garden?
Él está bien. He is okay.	¿Él está bien? Is he ok?
Les gusta dibujar. They like to draw.	¿Les gusta dibujar? Do they like to draw?

2. Questions with Subject-Verb Inversion

Commonly used for a formal tone or to emphasize the subject. The verb comes before the subject: Verb + Subject.

English Context	Standard Question	Formal Inversion
Do you think we must do it?	¿Usted considera que...?	¿Considera usted que debemos hacerlo?
Do you think I can do it?	¿Ustedes creen que...?	¿Creen ustedes que puedo lograrlo?
Is the car outside?	¿El carro está afuera?	¿Está el carro afuera?

3. Questions with Interrogative Words

Used to ask for specific details. These words always carry a written accent mark (tilde) to distinguish them from other words.

¿Qué ves por la ventana? What do you see through the window? ¿Quién llegó? Who arrived? ¿Cómo llegaron tan rápido? How did they arrive so fast? ¿Cuándo te graduaste? When did you graduate? ¿Dónde naciste? Where were you born? ¿Por qué te mudaste? Why did you move? ¿Para qué quiere saber? Why does he want to know? (For what purpose) ¿Cuántos hijos tiene esa pareja? How many children does that couple have? ¿Adónde quieres salir? Where do you want to go? ¿Cuáles zapatos se me ven mejor? Which shoes look better on me?

The Unique Spanish Question Marks (¿?)

The inverted question mark (¿) is iconic to Spanish. It signals a question from the very first word.

Placement: Marks frame only the interrogative portion.
Ex: Tú eres turista, ¿o te mudaste para acá?
Capitalization: Use lowercase after the mark if the question is mid-sentence. Use Uppercase if the question starts a new sentence.

Summary: Key Takeaways