German question words move to the front: German for Mandarin Chinese speakers

The idea

For an ordinary information question, start with was, wann, wo or the whole question phrase, then put the finite verb. A subject question such as wer kommt already uses wer as subject.

One contrast, not a prediction about every learner

Mandarin question words commonly stay in the position of the information being asked about. A neutral German information question usually fronts its question phrase and then places the finite verb; echo questions can keep a different order.

Individual experience, dialect and other languages you know can change which comparisons help. Use the contrast to notice a German choice; do not treat it as a label for a whole group of people.

Repair the transfer

• Du kaufst was? als neutrale Informationsfrage → Was kaufst du?

  For an ordinary information question, start with was, wann, wo or the whole question phrase, then put the finite verb. A subject question such as wer kommt already uses wer as subject.

Examples

• Was kaufst du für das gemeinsame Abendessen?What are you buying for the shared evening meal?
• Wann beginnt die Führung durch die Werkstatt?When does the tour of the workshop start?
• Wo habt ihr die zusätzlichen Stühle gefunden?Where did you find the additional chairs?
• Mit welchem Bus fahrt ihr zum Stadtmuseum?Which bus are you taking to the city museum?
• Warum steht die große Kiste noch im Flur?Why is the large box still in the hallway?
• Wer bringt die frischen Brötchen für die Pause mit?Who is bringing the fresh rolls for the break?

Watch out

Do not generalize a source-language pattern to every German sentence. For an ordinary information question, start with was, wann, wo or the whole question phrase, then put the finite verb. A subject question such as wer kommt already uses wer as subject.

Try it yourself

1. Korrigiere: Du kaufst was? als neutrale Informationsfrage

   Show answer or example answer

   Was kaufst du?

   Was kaufst du? For an ordinary information question, start with was, wann, wo or the whole question phrase, then put the finite verb. A subject question such as wer kommt already uses wer as subject.

2. Ins Deutsche übertragen: What are you buying for the shared evening meal?

   Show answer or example answer

   Was kaufst du für das gemeinsame Abendessen?

   Was kaufst du für das gemeinsame Abendessen? For an ordinary information question, start with was, wann, wo or the whole question phrase, then put the finite verb. A subject question such as wer kommt already uses wer as subject.

3. Ins Deutsche übertragen: Why is the large box still in the hallway?

   Show answer or example answer

   Warum steht die große Kiste noch im Flur?

   Warum steht die große Kiste noch im Flur? Keep the meaning of the whole sentence while using the German pattern.

Use it today

Write three German sentences of your own that follow the pattern of “Was kaufst du?”. Check each one for the Mandarin Chinese habit this lesson corrects, then read them aloud.