Que + [inverted statement] ? = What ... ? (French Questions)

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In French, there are different ways to form questions. One way is to use que + [inverted statement].

How to form a question with que + [inverted statement] in French

Look at these more formal questions:

Qu'aimez-vous ?What do you like?

Que veut Paul ?What does Paul want?

Que penses-tu ?What do you think?

Que dessinent les enfants ?What are the children drawing?

To ask a question starting with what, the more formal way is to use que followed by the inverted form of the statement (verb first).

Note that que becomes qu' when followed by a vowel.

 

ATTENTION:
The main difference with qu'est-ce que is that this alternative form is never followed by the inverted form when using subject pronouns

Qu'est-ce que vous aimez ?What do you like?

Qu'est-ce que tu penses ?What do you think?

Compare this lesson with other ways to make questions:

Inverted questions in the present tense (Le Présent) in French - il/elle/on forms

Inverted questions in the present tense (Le Présent) in French - regular forms (except il/elle/on forms)

Asking yes/no questions in French with intonation, est-ce que, n'est-ce pas (French Questions) 

Asking questions in French with "qui/que/quoi/quand/où/comment/pourquoi/combien" (French Question Words) 

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Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Examples and resources

Qu'est-ce que tu penses ?What do you think?
Qu'est-ce que vous aimez ?What do you like?
Qu'aimez-vous ?What do you like?
Que veut Paul ?What does Paul want?
Que penses-tu ?What do you think?
Que dessinent les enfants ?What are the children drawing?
Let me take a look at that...