DELE A1 Guide: Question Words and Asking Questions
Want to practice first? Try a General Question Words Quiz!
Key Takeaways
- Learn all essential Spanish question words
- Master basic question formation rules
- Understand proper question word usage
- Learn common question patterns for daily conversations
- Essential for DELE A1 speaking and listening sections
Welcome to your complete guide to Spanish question words, crucial for asking questions and gathering information on the DELE A1 exam. Mastering question words will help you in conversations, understanding instructions, and completing exam tasks.
What are Question Words in Spanish?
Question words (palabras interrogativas) are used to ask specific types of questions. They always have accent marks and typically come at the beginning of questions. Knowing these is essential for the DELE A1 speaking and listening sections.
Essential Question Words Chart
Basic Question Words Table
| Spanish | English | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Qué? | What? | Things, actions | ¿Qué estudias? |
| ¿Quién? | Who? | People | ¿Quién es ella? |
| ¿Dónde? | Where? | Locations | ¿Dónde vives? |
| ¿Cuándo? | When? | Time | ¿Cuándo es la fiesta? |
| ¿Por qué? | Why? | Reasons | ¿Por qué estudias español? |
| ¿Cómo? | How? | Manner, description | ¿Cómo estás? |
| ¿Cuál? | Which? | Choices | ¿Cuál es tu nombre? |
| ¿Cuánto? | How much/many? | Quantity | ¿Cuánto cuesta? |
DELE A1 Tip: Remember that all question words have accent marks! This distinguishes them from similar words in statements. For example: “qué” (what) vs “que” (that).
Question Formation Rules
Basic Question Structure
- Start with question word
- Add verb
- Include subject (if needed)
- End with question marks (¿ ?)
Examples of Correct Structure
- ¿Qué estudias tú?
- ¿Dónde vive tu familia?
- ¿Cuándo vas al cine?
Common Question Patterns
Personal Information Questions
- ¿Cómo te llamas? (What’s your name?)
- ¿Cuántos años tienes? (How old are you?)
- ¿Dónde vives? (Where do you live?)
- ¿De dónde eres? (Where are you from?)
Daily Life Questions
- ¿Qué haces? (What do you do?)
- ¿Dónde trabajas? (Where do you work?)
- ¿Cuándo estudias? (When do you study?)
- ¿Por qué aprendes español? (Why are you learning Spanish?)
Preference Questions
- ¿Qué te gusta hacer? (What do you like to do?)
- ¿Cuál es tu comida favorita? (What’s your favorite food?)
- ¿Cómo es tu familia? (What is your family like?)
Using Question Words in Context
With Verb Ser (to be)
- ¿Quién es él? (Who is he?)
- ¿Qué es esto? (What is this?)
- ¿Cómo es tu casa? (What is your house like?)
- ¿Dónde está el baño? (Where is the bathroom?)
With Verb Tener (to have)
- ¿Cuántos hermanos tienes? (How many siblings do you have?)
- ¿Qué tienes? (What do you have?)
- ¿Por qué tienes prisa? (Why are you in a hurry?)
With Verb Gustar (to like)
- ¿Qué te gusta? (What do you like?)
- ¿Por qué te gusta el fútbol? (Why do you like soccer?)
- ¿Cuándo te gusta estudiar? (When do you like to study?)
DELE A1 Exam Practice
Speaking Section Examples
- Ask for personal information: “¿De dónde eres?”
- Ask about preferences: “¿Qué te gusta hacer los fines de semana?”
- Ask for locations: “¿Dónde está la estación?”
- Ask about routines: “¿Cuándo estudias español?”
Listening Section Preparation
- Recognize question words in audio
- Understand what information is being requested
- Prepare appropriate responses to common questions
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting accent marks: ❌ “Que estudias?” ✅ “¿Qué estudias?”
- Wrong word order: ❌ “Estudias qué?” ✅ “¿Qué estudias?”
- Incorrect question marks: ❌ “Que hora es?” ✅ “¿Qué hora es?”
Practice with Our Free Spanish Tools
Click here to open our Spanish Conjugation Tool!
Next Step: Test Your Knowledge!
Ready to check your understanding of question words?
Take our DELE A1 Question Words Quiz here to confirm you’re ready for this part of the exam.
What’s Next in Your DELE A1 Journey?
- Ready for conversations? Study Common Phrases and Greetings
- Need verb practice? Review Present Tense Verbs
- Practice all A1 grammar? Take a Full A1 Grammar Test
Good luck with your DELE A1 preparation!
