Asking Questions Using Intonation
Master Asking Questions Using Intonation for GCSE French with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Foundation and Higher exam-style practice with worked answers for AQA GCSE French (8652). A statement becomes a question simply by raising the intonation at the end.
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These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA specification. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.
Topic overview
The simplest way to ask a question in French is to raise your voice at the end of a statement, changing nothing else.
Tu aimes le sport becomes a question simply by intonation: tu aimes le sport? The word order stays exactly as it was, and in writing only the question mark shows it is a question.
This is the most common form in everyday spoken French and is entirely acceptable in speaking tasks. It is less suitable for formal writing, where est-ce que or inversion is expected. Recognising it matters for listening, because the rising tone is the only signal that a question has been asked.
Revision notes
How it works
Keep the statement word order and raise your voice at the end.
Tu aimes le sport? Vous parlez français? Il est là? Nothing else changes — no extra words, no reordering.
When to use it
Standard in everyday spoken French and fine in speaking tasks.
Less suitable for formal writing, where est-ce que or inversion is expected. Using it throughout a written piece may cost marks for range of structures.
For listening
The rising tone is the only signal that a question has been asked.
Since the words are identical to a statement, listening tasks require attention to intonation rather than to vocabulary or word order.
Key points
- Intonation is the simplest question form.
- The word order does not change.
- The voice rises at the end.
- A question mark shows it in writing.
- It is standard in spoken French.
- Formal writing prefers other forms.
Worked examples
Example 1
Turn this into a question using intonation: Tu aimes le sport. [2 marks]
Working
Example 2
Explain why intonation questions are difficult in listening tasks. [2 marks]
Working
Example 3
State one situation where intonation is less suitable. [1 mark]
Working
Common mistakes
Changing the word order as well.
Intonation questions keep the statement order.
Using only this form in writing.
Vary with est-ce que and inversion for range.
Forgetting the question mark.
In writing it is the only signal.
Assuming it is informal or wrong.
It is standard spoken French.
Exam tips
- Keep the word order unchanged.
- Add a question mark in writing.
- Vary your question forms in written work.
- Listen for the rising tone.
Key terms
- Intonation
- Raising the voice to signal a question.
- Word order
- Unchanged in an intonation question.
- Question mark
- The only written signal of this form.
- Register
- The formality level, which favours other forms in writing.
Related topics
Written and reviewed against the current AQA specification. Spotted an error? Let us know.