Level A1Accents & OrthographyOrtografía 2.2

Interrogatives take a tilde

qué, quién, dónde

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qué, quién, dónde

Interrogative and exclamative words take a written accent: ¿Qué estudias? ¿Dónde vives? This also applies to indirect questions: No sé dónde vive. Relative que has no accent: el libro que leo.

Notice the contrast:Qué leesel libro que leo

Examples in context

Read the examples and compare their English meanings.

Asking 'What'

Question words always take a tilde.

¿Qué estudias?

What are you studying?

Asking 'Where'

Add the tilde when inquiring location.

¿Dónde vives?

Where do you live?

Asking 'Who'

Interrogative pronouns wear an accent mark.

¿Quién es?

Who is it?

Common mix-ups

Compare: El libro qué leo.Use here: El libro que leo.

Do not put a tilde on 'que' when it just connects a clause instead of asking a question.

The book that I read.

Try a reply

Say or write your answer in Spanish before opening the example.

When does the train leave?

Show one possible answer

¿Cuándo sale el tren?

Other wording can work too. Compare the verb form, agreement, and word order with the lesson. Then try a sentence about your own day.

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