Interrogative Sentence - (2) Specified Question
疑问句 — （2）特指问句
The special question uses an interrogative word (什么, 谁, 哪, etc.) placed where the answer would be, without changing the word order.
Structure
Phrase with interrogative word in place of the unknown element
Elements
Specified Question
How to use it
- The interrogative word occupies the position of the element being sought.
Examples
你叫什么名字？
nǐ jiào shénme míngzi？
How do you call yourself?
谁是你的老师？
shéi/shuí shì nǐ de lǎoshī？
Who is your teacher?
你住在哪里？
nǐ zhù zài nǎlǐ？
Where do you live?
Notes and exceptions
- No inversion of subject-verb: the word order remains identical.
Common mistakes
- Do not add 吗 with an interrogative word
- do not invert the order.
Practice quiz
Choose the best option for each sentence, then submit to view the correction.
1. Quel élément complète le mieux cette règle ?
(The interrogative word occupies the position of the element being sought.)