French for English speakers House · Lesson 7

What? Why!

Question words in French — Qu'est-ce que tu fais ? (What are you doing?) — and present continuous with être en train de.

Conversation

  1. Yaya Yaya

    Salut, qu'est-ce que tu fais ?

    Hey! What are you doing?

  2. Pishi Pishi

    Je détruis ton gâteau.

    I'm breaking your cake.

  3. Yaya Yaya

    Mais non ! Pourquoi ?

    Nooo! Why?

    Tip: <mais non> = a typical expression to show disapproval or regret.

  4. Pishi Pishi

    Parce que je dormais.

    Because I was sleeping.

  5. Pishi Pishi

    Mais tu parles trop fort.

    But you are talking too loudly

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you say 'what are you doing?' in French?

Qu'est-ce que tu fais? (informal) or Que faites-vous? (formal). Both ask for what you're doing now.

Does French have a present continuous tense?

Not really — the simple present (Je détruis = I destroy / am destroying) covers both. For emphasis: être en train de + infinitive.

French question words?

Qu'est-ce que/Que (what), Pourquoi (why), Quand (when), Où (where), Qui (who), Combien (how much/many), Comment (how).

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