Grammar, spelling, and usage
Asking Questions in Italian
Interrogatives are words used to form questions. One of the easiest ways to fare una domanda (ask a question) in Italian is to place a question mark at the end of a statement, effectively changing it into a question. When speaking, the intonation of the voice rises at the end of the sentence. For example:
Il treno è arrivato. (The train has arrived.)
È arrivato il treno. (The train has arrived.)
Alessandro ha mangiato la pizza. (Alessandro ate the pizza.)
In questions beginning with an interrogative word, the subject is usually placed at the end of the sentence or after the verb:
Dove sta Luigi? (Where is Luigi?)
Furthermore, adding the words or phrases no?, non è vero?, è vero?, or vero? to the end of a statement will change into a question:
Arriveranno stasera alle otto, vero? (They'll arrive tonight at eight, right?)
Newsletter
Workbook Exercises About This Topic
Printer–Friendly Version
Il treno è arrivato? (Has the train arrived?)
È arrivato il treno? (Has the train arrived?)
Alessandro ha mangiato la pizza? (Did Alessandro eat the pizza?)
Quando usciamo? (When do we go out?)
Come mai Mario non è qui? (How come Mario is not here?)
Il tuo fratello ha avuto un incidente, non è vero? (Your brother had an accident, didn't he?)
Sono i padroni, non è vero? (They are the owners, aren't they?)
Italian Language Study Resources Language Lessons: Italian grammar, spelling, and usage. Audio Phrasebook: Improve your pronunciation and build your vocabulary. Workbook Exercises: Worksheets, drills, activities, and review. Buon Divertimento: Italian jokes, riddles, and puns. Italian Verbs: Formation, moods, tenses, and table of conjugations. Study Guides: Challenge your skills and test your knowledge of various topics. Audio Lab: Word of the day, survival phrases, ABC's, numbers, and conversation.
