French - Basic Questions

Lesson 25 of 159

Learner practicing French question phrases on a phone, focusing on everyday questions.

Goal: Ask what, when, what time, and ask for help

Free French lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Ready for another quick French boost? This short lesson focuses on five very useful question frames you can start using today. Listen, repeat, and then try them aloud — keep it playful!

Level A1: In this lesson you'll practice five everyday question frames: C'est quoi, ___ ?, C'est quand, ___ ?, C'est à quelle heure, ___ ?, Tu peux ___ ?, and Comment on dit ___ ?. We'll hear them in a short conversation, do quick quizzes, and then speak them out loud. CEFR-aligned and perfect for everyday chat.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Learn 5 common French question frames for asking identity, time, and help.
  • Practice understanding and choosing the right question in simple situations.
  • Use and say these phrases aloud with confidence (Level A1).
Two friends in a French town asking 'What is this?' and 'When is the meeting?' — practicing A1 question frames.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

C'est quoi, ___ ?

What is ___?

Meaning: What is ___?

When to use: Use this informal spoken frame to ask what something is or to ask for the name/identity of an object or thing.

Tip: Beginners sometimes use the more formal 'Qu'est-ce que c'est' when they're trying to be casual; both work but sound different.

C'est quoi, ce bruit ?
What's that noise?
C'est quoi, ton métier ?
What's your job?

C'est quand, ___ ?

When is ___?

Meaning: When is ___?

When to use: Ask about the day or date of an event, appointment, or activity in everyday conversation.

C'est quand, la fête ?
When is the party?
C'est quand, les vacances ?
When are the holidays?

C'est à quelle heure, ___ ?

What time is ___?

Meaning: What time is ___?

When to use: Use this to ask the clock time for a meeting, event, or departure.

C'est à quelle heure, le train ?
What time is the train?
C'est à quelle heure, le spectacle ?
What time is the show?

Tu peux ___ ?

Can you ___?

Meaning: Can you ___?

When to use: Use with 'tu' to ask someone to do something small or to request help in a casual way.

Tip: Learners sometimes forget to use 'vous' for formal situations; 'tu' is casual and for friends or people you know well.

Tu peux m'aider ?
Can you help me?
Tu peux fermer la fenêtre ?
Can you close the window?

Comment on dit ___ ?

How do you say ___?

Meaning: How do you say ___?

When to use: Ask this when you want to know how to express a word or phrase in French.

Comment on dit 'bicycle' en français ?
How do you say 'bicycle' in French?
Comment on dit 'thank you' en français ?
How do you say 'thank you' in French?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and David walk near a large building and talk about a meeting and a word.

Anna and David chatting in French, using question frames to ask about a building, times, and translations.

What English word does Anna ask how to say in French?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Salut David ! C'est quoi, ce bâtiment ?

Hi David! What is this building?

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

C'est la bibliothèque.

It's the library.

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Comment on dit 'library' en français ?

How do you say 'library' in French?

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

On dit « bibliothèque ».

You say 'bibliothèque.'

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Tu peux m'aider avec l'adresse ?

Can you help me with the address?

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Oui. C'est quand, la réunion ?

Yes. When is the meeting?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

C'est à quelle heure, la réunion ?

What time is the meeting?

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which French phrase means 'Can you ___?'

Which phrase asks 'What time is ___?'

Which phrase would you use to ask the date or day of an event?

Which phrase asks for a translation or the right word?

You point at a strange object and ask: 'C'est quoi, ce truc ?'

You point at a strange object and ask: ___ ce truc ?

To ask 'What time is the meeting?', you say: 'C'est à quelle heure, la réunion ?'

To ask 'What time is the meeting?', you say: ___ la réunion ?

You don't know the French word for 'apple' and ask: 'Comment on dit 'apple' ?'

You don't know the French word for 'apple' and ask: ___ 'apple' ?

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

C'est quoi, ___ ?

What is ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

C'est quand, ___ ?

When is ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

C'est à quelle heure, ___ ?

What time is ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

Tu peux ___ ?

Can you ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

Comment on dit ___ ?

How do you say ___?