Introduction: Mastering the Art of Inquiry

In your AQA AS Spanish course, being able to ask questions isn't just about basic communication—it is a specific requirement for your Paper 3 (Speaking) exam. During the oral exam, you must ask the examiner at least one question for each stimulus card. This question must seek information or an opinion and must contain a conjugated verb. Beyond the exam, knowing how to seek information effectively allows you to navigate complex topics like Hispanic society and artistic culture with confidence.

In these notes, we will break down the grammar of questions, the key "question words," and how to phrase your inquiries to get the best possible marks.

1. The Basics: How to Build a Question

In Spanish, there are three main ways to turn a statement into a question. Don't worry if this seems different from English; it’s actually quite flexible!

A. Using Intonation

The simplest way is to keep the sentence exactly the same but raise the pitch of your voice at the end. In writing, we use the inverted question mark (¿) at the start and a regular one (?) at the end.

Example: "Usted cree que el machismo es un problema." (You believe machismo is a problem.)
Question: ¿Usted cree que el machismo es un problema? (Do you believe machismo is a problem?)

B. Inversion (Switching Word Order)

A more formal and common way to ask a question is to put the verb before the subject.

Example: ¿Viven muchos jóvenes con sus padres todavía? (Do many young people still live with their parents?)

C. Using "Tag" Questions

If you think you know the answer but want confirmation, you can add ¿no? or ¿verdad? to the end of a statement.

Example: "La tecnología ha cambiado nuestras vidas, ¿no?" (Technology has changed our lives, hasn't it?)

2. The Interrogatives (Question Words)

To seek specific information, you need "Wh-" words. Crucial Tip: In Spanish, all interrogative words have an accent mark when used in a question. This helps distinguish them from their use as relative pronouns.

  • ¿Qué? (What?): Used to ask for a definition or general info.
    ¿Qué piensa de las redes sociales?
  • ¿Quién? / ¿Quiénes? (Who?): Use the plural version if you expect the answer to be more than one person.
    ¿Quiénes son los ídolos de hoy?
  • ¿Cuál? / ¿Cuáles? (Which? / What?): Used when there is a choice among several options.
    ¿Cuál es la tradición más importante de España?
  • ¿Cómo? (How?):
    ¿Cómo ha cambiado la familia tradicional?
  • ¿Cuándo? (When?):
    ¿Cuándo se celebra la Semana Santa?
  • ¿Dónde? (Where?):
    ¿Dónde se encuentra la Alhambra?
  • ¿Por qué? (Why?):
    ¿Por qué es importante el feminismo?
  • ¿Cuánto/a/os/as? (How much / How many?): This must agree with the noun it refers to.
    ¿Cuántas personas usan Instagram en España?

3. Seeking Opinions vs. Seeking Information

In your Paper 3 speaking exam, your questions should be relevant to the sub-theme on your stimulus card (e.g., Cyberspace or Equal Rights). You can ask for facts or for the examiner’s personal view.

A. Phrases for Seeking Opinions

If you want to know what the examiner thinks about a social issue, use these "opinion starters":

  • ¿Qué opina usted sobre...? (What is your opinion on...?)
  • ¿Qué piensa usted de...? (What do you think of...?)
  • ¿Cuál es su punto de vista sobre...? (What is your point of view on...?)
  • ¿Cree usted que...? (Do you believe that...?)

B. Phrases for Seeking Information

If you want to find out more details about a topic or a trend:

  • ¿Podría darme más información sobre...? (Could you give me more information about...?)
  • ¿Me puede explicar por qué...? (Can you explain to me why...?)
  • ¿Qué datos hay sobre...? (What data is there about...?)

4. The Golden Rule: The Conjugated Verb

For the AQA Speaking exam, a common mistake for students is to ask a "phrase question" without a verb. You will not get the mark if there is no conjugated verb.

Bad Example: ¿Su opinión sobre el divorcio? (No verb. 0 marks for the question requirement.)
Good Example: ¿Cuál es su opinión sobre el divorcio? (Contains the verb 'es'. Full marks.)

Quick Review: Always double-check that your question has an action word (verb) like es, cree, piensa, vive, or funciona.

5. Indirect Questions

Sometimes, we ask questions more politely by embedding them in another sentence. Even though these aren't always punctuated with question marks, the question word still needs an accent.

Example: "Quisiera saber cómo influye el internet en los niños." (I would like to know how the internet influences children.)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Forgetting the accent: Como means "as" or "like"; ¿Cómo? means "How?". The accent changes the meaning!
2. Mixing up ¿Qué? and ¿Cuál?: Use ¿Qué? for definitions (What is it?) and ¿Cuál? for choosing from a group or asking for a specific name/identity (Which one?).
3. Only using English-style word order: While "¿Usted prefiere...?" is okay, practicing "¿Prefiere usted...?" sounds more natural and sophisticated at AS Level.

Key Takeaway for the Exam

In Paper 3, you are the interviewer for a brief moment. Prepare 2-3 "template" questions in your head that you can adapt to any topic. For example: "¿Qué opina usted sobre [TOPIC]?" is a reliable safety net that always includes a conjugated verb and seeks an opinion!

For more help on how to respond once you get an answer, see the chapter: "Expressing and justifying opinions; agreeing and disagreeing".