You've already seen how to turn statements using the subject pronouns je, tu, nous, vous, ils, elles into inverted questions (See Forming inverted questions in Le Présent (except il, elle, on forms)), as well as the most complex cases of il, elle, on (See Forming inverted questions in Le Présent with il, elle, on).
But it's a bit trickier when the subject of the verb is a noun (name of a person, animal, thing,...): indeed, such statements cannot be simply inverted to form a question.
Sophie vient. -> Vient Sophie ? -> Sophie vient-elle ?
Sophie is coming. -> Is Sophie coming?
Note that in such cases, we need to add an extra subject pronoun (il, elle, nous, vous, ils, elles) to "repeat" the subject noun.
Votre hôtel est-il au centre-ville ?
Is your hotel in the town centre?
Ton frère a-t-il une copine ?
Does your brother have a girlfriend?
La porte d'entrée était-elle encore fermée à clé ?
Was the front door still locked?
Quand Monique arrive-t-elle ?
When is Monique arriving?
À quelle heure Martin et toi allez-vous manger ?
At what time are Martin and you going to eat?
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
À qui ces chaussures étaient-elles ?
Whose shoes were they ?
Quand Monique arrive-t-elle ?
When is Monique arriving?
À quelle heure Martin et toi allez-vous manger ?
At what time are Martin and you going to eat?
Les pandas mangent-ils du bambou ?
Do pandas eat bamboo?
Les élèves étudient-ils le français ?
Do the students study French?
La porte d'entrée était-elle encore fermée à clé ?
Was the front door still locked?
Votre hôtel est-il au centre-ville ?
Is your hotel in the town centre?
Ton frère a-t-il une copine ?
Does your brother have a girlfriend?
Jenny
Kwiziq community member
15 May 2017
1 reply
I don't understand when or why the "t" is added?
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
15 May 2017
15/05/17
In the case of inverted questions, you add the "t" for pronunciation reasons, whenever there are two vowel sounds clashing.
This is explained in the related lesson:
https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/revision/grammar/forming-questions-by-inverting-in-the-present-tense-il-elle-on-forms
However, thanks to you, I've now updated this lesson, by adding links to other lessons, as well as adding this explanation to it :)
I hope that's helpful!
Merci et à bientôt !