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Two Ways to Ask — Verb First or W-Word First
🔄 Two Ways to Ask — Verb First or W-Word First
German has exactly two question patterns. Yes/no questions put the VERB first. W-questions put the question word first and the verb second. Master both and you can ask anything correctly — and getting the word order right is an AO3 mark.
The two question types
Every German question is one of these two shapes. Decide which one you need, then put the verb in the right place.
Earn the mark scheme marks
💡 Exam Tips & Common Errors
- In listening, a verb at the very start = a yes/no question; a W-word at the start = a content question.
- When writing, never leave the subject before the verb in a yes/no question.
- With separable verbs, remember to send the prefix to the end — listeners wait for it.
❌ Common error: Du wohnst in Berlin? (asked as a question while keeping statement word order)
✓ Correct: Wohnst du in Berlin?
Why it costs marks: in a proper German yes/no question the VERB comes first. Keeping statement word order (subject + verb) and just adding a question mark is a word-order error that loses AO3 marks, even though a listener might still understand you.