W Fragen Questions in German – Complete Guide With Exercises And Sample Answers

Knowing how to ask questions is an important part of language proficiency. Whether you are trying to navigate through your daily life situations or start a conversation, asking questions is essential. Mastering W Fragen questions in German will boost your confidence and aid you in engaging with native speakers. In this blog, we will discuss everything you need to know about forming and using W-question words in German.

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W Fragen Questions in German: Introduction

W-Fragewörter are “w” question words or w words. The questions made using such words are known as W-Fragen, i.e., W questions. You cannot have effective communication if you don’t know how to ask questions. And how can you ask questions without having vocabulary suitable for the said action?

This is why W-Fragen questions are crucial for mastering the German language. Daily conversations are not possible without knowing W-Fragen.

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German Sentence Structure for Questions

In a W-Fragen or W-question, the interrogative element in the sentence is followed by the verb. But in a question lacking an interrogative element, the verb takes the initial position in the sentence. The elementary structure of a sentence in German is subject + verb + object. But one of the qualities of German language syntax is that it is flexible. In dative and genitive cases, you can start the sentence with an objective. Native German speakers do this so that they can emphasize different parts of the sentence. But in the nominative case, the verb will stay in the second position irrespective of whether you start the sentence with a subject or not. The application of all these rules is pretty consistent, even when you are forming a question with a W question word.

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W Questions Vs Yes or No Questions

There are two types of questions in the German language. The first type of question has an interrogative element. They are called W-Fragen. This is because all German interrogative pronouns and adverbs start with the letter w. The second type of question in German doesn’t start with an interrogative pronoun or adverb. They are known as Ja-Nein Fragen or yes or no questions. This is because the answers to these questions can be given by a simple yes or no.

What Are W-Fragen?

W-Fragen are the questions in the German language that start with W-Fragewörter, i.e., W-question words. W-Fragen are used to ask open-ended questions. These questions ask for more information rather than just a yes or a no. Just like in English, the question words go to position one, and the second position is occupied by the conjugated verb.

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Wh Question Words in German

Have you already learned all the W-Fragewörter or question words in German? If not, a list of W-Fragewörter is given below for reference.

Grammar Rules for W-Fragen

General rules that one needs to follow while using W-Fragen questions in German are given below. Some of them are already discussed above. Nevertheless, the list here is more organized and helps you to understand the concept more easily. So, here we go.

• W Fragen follows the structure W-Word + conjugated form of Verb + Subject + (Other Elements).
• The W-word comes at the beginning of the question.
• The conjugated verb directly follows the W-word. This is in accordance with the verb-second word order rule for questions.
• In case prepositions are required, they will come first, i.e., before the W-word.
• “Welch-” should be followed by a noun as it functions like an adjective. The verb should only come after that.

Now you are familiar with the whole set of rules you have to follow while dealing with W Fragen questions in German. Learn these rules so that you will not make mistakes in the upcoming W Fragen questions exercise.

Tips for Using W-Fragen

Some tips that will help you use W Fragen are discussed below.

• Start simple. First, learn to use simple W-Fragewörter or w-words before moving to complex words and cases.
• Make sure the W-Fragewörter you are using is the correct one needed in the context. For example, if you are asking about time, then you must use “wann.” But if you are asking for a reason or explanation for something, then you have to use “warum.”
• You have to practice the verb placement. The verbs always come just after the w word.
• Don’t hesitate to combine these questions with prepositions if you find it necessary.

Some tips for practicing W Fragen questions too are discussed here.

• Try roleplaying. You have to practice forming questions that can be used in everyday real-life situations. This could be asking for directions or asking for a particular document that you need at work.
• Expand the vocabulary needed for asking questions.
• Watch German media and imitate how the native speakers are using these words.
• Find creative ways to ask a question by experimenting with newly learned words.

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Basic Wh Questions in German

Some basic W Fragen questions in German are discussed here. We will provide numerous examples of such questions for several words we have discussed before.

Wo (Where)

Some sentences using “wo” and their English meaning are discussed here.

Woher (From Where)

Some sentences using “woher” and their English meaning are discussed here.

Wer (Who)

Some sentences using “wer” and their English meaning are discussed here.

Wann (When)

Some sentences using “wann” and their English meaning are discussed here.

Wohin (Where to)

Some sentences using “wohin” and their English meaning are discussed here.

Wen (Whom)

Some sentences using “wen” and their English meaning are discussed here.

Wie (How)

Some sentences using “wie” and their meaning are discussed here.

The word “wie” is also used to ask a person’s name. Some examples are given below.

Warum or Wieso (Why)

Some sentences using “warum or Wieso ” and their English meaning are discussed here.

Was (What)

Some sentences using “was” and their English meaning are discussed here.

Welcher (Which)

Some sentences using “welcher” and their English meaning are discussed here.

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Practice W Fragen German Exercises

Some practice exercises to learn W Fragen questions in German are given below. Answer them and look at the solutions to find the scores and hence find out the level of understanding you have on the subject.

W Fragen Questions and Answers Set 1

Let us solve the first set of w fragen questions in German.

1. ____ kosten die Karten?

• Was
• Wie viel
• Wan
• Wer

2. ____ bedeutet dieser Satz?

• Was
• Wie viel
• Wan
• Wer

3. ____ haben wir Urlaub?

• Was
• Wie viel
• Wan
• Wer

4. ____ ist Angelina Jolie?

• Was
• Wie viel
• Wan
• Wer

5. ____ lebt Marta?

• Wo
• Wei oft
• Wie lange
• Woher

6. ____ rennen Sie?

• Wo
• Wei oft
• Wie lange
• Woher

7. ____ ist das Spiel?

• Wo
• Wei oft
• Wie lange
• Woher

8. _____ kommen ihr?

• Wo
• Wei oft
• Wie lange
• Woher

9. _____ist sein Lieblingsfilm?

• Wie lange
• Woher
• Was
• Wo

10. ______studierst du Englisch?

• Wie lange
• Woher
• Was
• Wo

Answers

1. Wie viel
2. Was
3. Wan
4. Wer
5. Wo
6. Wei oft
7. Wie lange
8. Woher
9. Was
10. wo

W Fragen Questions and Answers Set 2

Now let us see the second set of W fragen questions in German. Try finding answers without options or solutions.

1. ____ weinen Sie?
2. ____ arbeitet er?
3. _________ hast du dieses Buch gekauft?
4. ____ kostet das rote Kleid?
5. _________ hast du gestern getroffen?
6. ____ spielt dein Team?
7. ____ lange schläft ein Baby pro Tag?
8. _________ fährt der nächste Zug nach Berlin?
9. _________ möchtest du heute essen?
10. ____ fährt Marin im nächsten Monat?

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W Fragen German A1 Exercises

Here are 20 W Fragen German exercises for you to practice ahead of your A1 exam:

Match the following

Match the following questions in Column A with the correct answers in Column B.

Answer Key:

1-E, 2-F, 3-H, 4-A, 5-B, 6-D, 7-C, 8-I, 9-G, 10-J

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blank with the appropriate W-frage

1. ______ heißt du? → (Name)

2. ______ wohnst du? → (Place)

3. ______ machst du gern? → (Hobby)

4. ______ ist das? → (Object)

5. ______ ist dein Lehrer? → (Person)

6. ______ alt bist du? → (Age)

7. ______ kommt der Bus? → (Time)

8. ______ ist der Bahnhof? → (Location)

9. ______ gehst du ins Kino? → (Reason)

10. ______ geht es dir? → (Well-being)

Answer Key:

1. Wie

2. Wo

3. Was

4. Was

5. Wer

6. Wie

7. Wann

8. Wo

9. Warum

10. Wie

W Fragen Questions in German: Conclusion

Sometimes a yes or no is not a good enough answer for an inquiry. You need more information. This is why W Fragen questions in German are important. They are essential everywhere. From asking for the location of a grocery section in a supermarket to asking about caring methods for your sick child to a doctor, these words are essential. How is someone to go about their life without being able to ask questions? So, it is essential to learn and practise W-Fragen regularly.

There are so many rules and tips that will help you understand and use W fragen questions in German more easily. Almost all of that is covered in this blog. Some exceptions are also discussed in the FAQ section. However, learning from an experienced mentor beats all other forms of learning. Enrol in the Entri Elevate German course to start practising W-Fragen today! Improve your German language proficiency faster! Prepare for your upcoming language proficiency exams and migration dreams.