Questions in the passé composé are formed in the same way as questions in the present tense. They may be formed by merely changing the intonation.
- Tu as fait le ménage ? | Have you done the housework?
- Tu es allé au travail aujourd’hui ? | Did you go to work today?
They may also be formed by the use of est-ce que.
- Est-ce que vous avez fini le projet ? | Have you finished the project?
- Est-ce qu’ils sont déjà arrivés ? | Have they arrived already?
Inversion is possible in the passé composé just as it is in the present tense. Inversion is characteristic of formal written French.
- As-tu fait la vaisselle ? | Have you done the dishes?
- Sont-ils déjà rentrés ? | Have they gotten back yet?
Inversion with je in the forms ai-je and suis-je is also possible in literary written French and in formal spoken French.
- Ai-je compris vos mots ? | Did I understand what you said?
- Suis-je arrivé à temps ? | Have I arrived on time?
In negative questions in the passé composé using inversion, the ne and pas surround the inverted subject and verb.
- N’est-elle pas encore partie ? | Hasn’t she left yet?
- N’ont-ils pas compris ? | Didn’t they understand?
Remember that if the subject of the sentence is a noun, it cannot be placed after the verb in inversion. Instead, the corresponding pronoun is added and inverted with the verb.
- Le peuple n’a-t-il pas élu ce président ? | Didn’t the people elect this president?
- Les exportations n’ont-elles pas augmenté ? | Haven’t exports increased?
- Les prix ne sont-ils pas tombés ? | Haven’t prices fallen?
Have a great week, everyone!
Merci à vous !
Courtney