Qué vs. cuál
Many programs: ¿Qué es…? definition; ¿Cuál es…? choice from a set.
Spanish 101 · Grammar
Question words
Interrogatives carry written accents; many look like relatives without accents — sí vs. si is a separate trap.
The rule
¿Qué? (what/which), ¿Quién/Quiénes? (who), ¿Cuándo? (when), ¿Dónde? (where), ¿Adónde? (where to), ¿De dónde? (where from), ¿Por qué? (why), ¿Cómo? (how), ¿Cuánto/Cuánta/Cuántos/Cuántas? (how much/many).
Question word first, then verb often before subject: ¿Qué estudias tú? Subject-verb inversion is not always required if intonation marks a question.
Porque (because) has no accent and is not a question word.
¿Por qué estudias? — question. Porque quiero aprobar — answer.
¿De dónde es tu compañera de cuarto?Where is your roommate from?
¿Cuántas clases tomas este semestre?How many classes are you taking this semester?
Examples in context
Estudio español todos los días.I study Spanish every day.present habit
¿Puedes ayudarme con la tarea?Can you help me with the homework?request
Voy a la biblioteca después de clase.I go to the library after class.movement
No entiendo esta palabra.I do not understand this word.negation
Me gusta la música latina.I like Latin music.gustar
Tenemos clase mañana a las nueve.We have class tomorrow at nine.tener + noun
¿Dónde está el aula?Where is the classroom?estar — location
Es un examen difícil.It is a difficult exam.ser — description
Quick reference
Dónde vs. adónde
Location vs. direction toward.
Accent rule
Interrogative exclamatives carry accent marks.
Common mistakes
Wrong agreement
❌ Wrong: La problema es fácil.
✅ Correct: El problema es fácil.
Problema is masculine despite ending in -a.
Double subjects
❌ Wrong: Yo soy yo estudiante.
✅ Correct: Soy estudiante.
Drop redundant subject pronouns when the verb ending is clear.
Negation placement
❌ Wrong: Entiendo no.
✅ Correct: No entiendo.
Place no immediately before the conjugated verb.
Literal word order
❌ Wrong: ¿Qué hora es qué?
✅ Correct: ¿Qué hora es?
Keep standard question frames; do not copy English order.
Practice questions
Test what you just learned. Select an answer to see instant feedback.
_____ hora es?
_____ vives?
_____ estudias español?
_____ es tu profesor de español?
_____ cuestan esos zapatos?
You got 0/5 correct.
Want more practice on Question words?
Chapurra has 50 questions like these, organized by chapter. Capítulo Preliminar is free.
Start practicing free →FAQ
When do I need a definite article before a noun?
Spanish uses el/la/los/las more often than English uses “the,” especially with abstract nouns, categories, and generic statements (Me gusta el café). Rules vary slightly by dialect. Follow your instructor’s examples for generic plurals and days of the week.
Por vs. para in one sentence—how do I decide?
Para often marks purpose with an infinitive, deadlines, recipients, and heading toward a goal. Por marks cause, exchange, duration, travel through a place, and many fixed phrases (gracias por). If you can swap in “in order to,” para + infinitive is a strong guess.
Saber or conocer for “to know”?
Saber covers facts, how-to with infinitives, and whether you know a piece of information. Conocer covers familiarity with people, places, and things you have met or experienced. No conozco a tu hermano versus No sé la respuesta.
How do comparisons with más and menos work?
Use más or menos + adjective/adverb/noun + que for inequality: más alto que. For equality with adjectives, tan + adjective + como. Quantity with nouns uses tanto/tanta/tantos/tantas + noun + como. Superlatives often use el/la + más + adjective + de + group.
Hay vs. está for “there is”?
Hay presents existence or availability: Hay un examen mañana. Estar locates something specific: El libro está en la mesa. If you are announcing that something exists without pinpointing placement, start with hay.