You have seen how French yes/no questions work with être and faire, and now you want to say them aloud without freezing. This workshop gives you three spoken role-plays that move from a relaxed chat with a friend to a more formal conversation with a host. You will practise choosing between informal and formal question forms, answering with the right verb, and keeping your register consistent when the situation changes. The goal is not to memorise rules again but to build the habit of asking and answering naturally in real time. Use the verified native phrases from the lesson page for every French line you say; this page gives you the situations and the English directions so you can retrieve those phrases under pressure.
Preparation: Match the form to the person and the setting
Before you speak, decide two things: who you are talking to, and how formal the situation is. With a friend or peer, use the informal tu form and rising intonation, as in the source phrase meaning 'Are you ready?' (informal). With an adult you do not know well, a host, or more than one person, use the formal or plural vous with est-ce que, as in the source phrase meaning 'Are you ready?' (formal or plural). For questions with faire, remember that faire means 'to make' or 'to do', not 'to like'. If you want to ask whether someone likes tea, use aimer, as in the source phrase meaning 'Do you like tea?'. If you want to ask whether someone is making tea, use faire. Prepare a small mental set of answers: oui for yes, non for no, and si to contradict a negative question. Also decide whether you need to change the ending for a female speaker, for example the feminine form of the adjective for 'ready' instead of the masculine form. Say each French line aloud using the exact phrase from the lesson page, then repeat it with a different name or a different drink so the pattern becomes automatic.
Handling the harder turn: When the register shifts
The trickiest moment in these conversations is when the other person changes register or asks a follow-up that does not match your prepared answer. In a formal setting, a host is likely to keep using vous and est-ce que rather than switching to tu or to inversion. If someone does switch to tu, treat it as a signal that the relationship has become more casual, and you may follow their lead, but do not switch first if you are the guest. If you hear inversion, such as the source phrase meaning 'Do you make tea?' (literary or formal), recognise it as very formal or literary; in spoken French, the est-ce que version is more common. When you answer, keep your verb consistent with the question: if they ask about faire, answer with faire; if they ask about aimer, answer with aimer. If you are unsure, a short clarifying question in the same register buys you time and keeps the conversation moving. The source also notes that in Quebec informal questions often add -tu after the verb, which is a regional variant and not standard in France; you do not need to produce it, but you should recognise it if you hear it.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Tu es prêt ?
Are you ready? (informal)
tew eh preh
Est-ce que vous êtes prêt ?
Are you ready? (formal or plural)
ess kuh voo zet preh
Fais-tu du thé ?
Do you make tea? (literary or formal)
feh tew dew teh
Est-ce que tu aimes le thé ?
Do you like tea?
ess kuh tew em luh teh
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Est-ce que tu es prêt ?
Are you ready?Oui, je suis prêt. Et toi ?
Yes, I am ready. And you?Tu fais du café ?
Are you making coffee?Non, je ne fais pas de café. Je fais du thé.
No, I am not making coffee. I am making tea.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Checking readiness with a friend
You are Camille, and you are getting ready to leave for a cinema screening with your friend Léa. Léa is running late. You want to ask if she is ready, and she will ask you the same. You are speaking as yourself, not as a character from the lesson dialogue.
Your task: Say aloud the source informal question asking Léa if she is ready. Then answer her question about whether you are ready, using the source answer pattern. If you are female, use the feminine form of the adjective. Then ask her whether she is making coffee, using the informal tu form with rising intonation. Finally, answer her question about what you are making: say that you are not making coffee and that you are making tea, using the source dialogue answer.
A formal check-in with a host
You are a guest at a small dinner hosted by Monsieur Bernard, an older neighbour you have just met. He speaks formally and uses vous with you. You want to ask if he is ready for you to help in the kitchen, and he will ask you the same. Keep the conversation formal throughout.
Your task: Say aloud the source formal or plural question asking Monsieur Bernard if he is ready, using est-ce que with vous. Then answer his question about whether you are ready, using the source answer pattern. Next, ask him formally whether he is making tea, again using est-ce que with vous and the verb faire. Finally, answer his question about what you are making: say that you are not making coffee and that you are making tea, using the source dialogue answer.
A follow-up decision about drinks
You are at a community centre after a language exchange. A staff member, Nadia, is organising drinks for the group. She uses vous with you because you have not met before. She asks if you are ready to choose a drink, and you need to decide between coffee and tea. Another participant, a friend your age, then joins and uses tu with you.
Your task: First, answer Nadia's formal question about whether you are ready, using the source answer pattern. Then ask her formally whether she is making coffee, using est-ce que with vous and the verb faire. Say that you are not making coffee and that you are making tea, using the source dialogue answer. When your friend joins and asks informally whether you like tea, answer with the source affirmative sentence using the verb for liking. Finally, ask your friend informally whether she is ready, using tu and rising intonation.
Common questions
When should I use inversion like the source phrase meaning 'Do you make tea?' (literary or formal) in spoken French?
The source marks inversion with faire as literary or very formal. In everyday spoken French, the est-ce que version is more common. Use inversion mainly in writing or in very formal speech, not in casual role-plays.
Why does the source dialogue answer about making coffee use the same verb as the question?
Because faire means 'to make' or 'to do'. The answer uses the same verb as the question. If the question is about liking, you answer with aimer, not faire.
How do I know whether to use the masculine or feminine form of the adjective for 'ready'?
The adjective agrees with the speaker. A male speaker uses the masculine form, and a female speaker uses the feminine form. This applies whether you are answering about yourself or asking about someone else.
Sources and further reading
- french: asking yes no questionsChecked September 2026
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