Introducing Yourself and Asking Simple Questions

New Words and Phrases (in English)

In this step, you will learn core phrases to introduce yourself and ask simple questions about name, origin, nationality, and languages.

Language Pattern (in English)

1. Introducing yourself: "Je m’appelle" and "Je suis"

You can introduce yourself in two very common ways:

1. Name

• Je m’appelle Marie. – My name is Marie.
• Literally: "I call myself Marie."
• Pattern: Je m’appelle + [your first name]

1. Identity / Profession / Nationality

• Je suis américain. – I am American. (masculine)
• Je suis américaine. – I am American. (feminine)
• Pattern: Je suis + [adjective or noun]

Use Je m’appelle for your name, and Je suis for nationality, profession, or a short description.

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2. Basic question forms with question words

In spoken French, a very common and simple pattern is:

> Question word + normal sentence order + rising intonation

For example:

• Comment tu t’appelles ? – What is your name?
• Question word: Comment (how/what, for name)
• Normal order: tu t’appelles (you are called)
• In speech: your voice rises at the end.

• D’où viens-tu ? – Where are you from?
• Question word: D’où (from where)
• Verb + subject: viens-tu (come-you). This is a slightly more formal inversion, but still very common and clear.

• Quelle est ta nationalité ? – What is your nationality?
• Question word: Quelle (which/what, feminine singular)
• Verb: est (is)
• Subject: ta nationalité (your nationality)

• Quelles langues parles-tu ? – Which languages do you speak?
• Question word: Quelles (which, feminine plural, agrees with langues)
• Noun: langues (languages)
• Verb + subject: parles-tu (speak-you)

You will see two common orders in French questions:

1. Question word + subject + verb (informal speech)

• Example (informal version): Tu viens d’où ? – You come from where? / Where are you from?
• Example (informal): Tu parles quelles langues ? – You speak which languages?

1. Question word + verb-subject inversion (more neutral/formal, very clear)

• D’où viens-tu ? – Where are you from?
• Quelles langues parles-tu ? – Which languages do you speak?

In this module, you see mostly the clear, neutral forms that work well with new learners.

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3. Intonation: rising and falling in questions

In French, intonation (how your voice moves up or down) helps listeners know if you are asking a question or making a statement.

• Yes/no questions (not in our main examples here) usually have rising intonation at the end.
• Wh- questions (with comment, où, quelle, quelles, d’où) often have:
• A slight rise on the question word,
• And then a fall at the end of the sentence.

For example, say these out loud and pay attention to your voice:

• Comment tu t’appelles ? – Your voice rises a bit on comment, then gently falls at the end of t’appelles.
• D’où viens-tu ? – Your voice starts a bit higher on D’où, then falls at the end of tu.

If you are unsure, it is safer to let your voice fall slightly at the end of wh- questions in French. This sounds more natural than a strong rise all the way to the last word.

Practice Dialogue (in English)

You will now see a short dialogue between two students meeting for the first time in a French class. Read both the French and the English. Notice how they introduce themselves and ask about origin, nationality, and languages.

Check Your Understanding (in English)

Answer this question about the phrases you learned. Choose the best option.