The use of “t” in French questions

The use of “t” in French questions is a grammatical rule applied for reasons of euphony (smooth pronunciation) and clarity in the language. Here’s a detailed explanation of its usage:

1. Why add a “t”?

The “t” is added in inverted questions when:

The verb conjugated in the third person singular ends with a vowel.
The subject pronoun that follows (il, elle, on) begins with a vowel.

This rule prevents a hiatus, which is the awkward collision of two consecutive vowel sounds, making the sentence hard to pronounce. Adding the “t” ensures the sentence flows smoothly and is easier to understand.

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2. When do we use the “t”?

a. With verbs ending in a vowel:

A “t” is inserted between the verb and the subject pronoun (il, elle, on) to avoid the hiatus.

Examples:

A-t-il fini ? (a-il fini would be difficult to pronounce.)
Va-t-elle au marché ? (va-elle would not sound smooth.)
Chante-t-on ce soir ? (chante-on would be awkward and unclear.)

b. With verbs ending in a consonant:

If the verb ends in a consonant (and that consonant is pronounced), there is no need to add a “t”, as there is no hiatus.

Examples:

Est-il prêt ? (The “t” in est is already present.)
Fait-elle ses devoirs ? (The “t” in fait is pronounced, so no additional “t” is needed.)

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3. Where is the “t” used?

The “t” appears only in inverted questions with a third person singular subject. It is mandatory in formal writing and speech.

General structure:

[Verb]-t-[Subject pronoun]
- Example: A-t-il ?

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4. When is the “t” not used?

a. With subjects other than “il, elle, on”:

The “t” is not added if the subject pronoun is different (je, tu, nous, vous, ils, elles).

Example:

As-tu fini ? (No “t”, because the subject is “tu”.)

b. In questions without inversion:

The “t” is not required in other types of questions, such as those using est-ce que or intonation-based questions.

Examples:

Est-ce qu’il a fini ? (No “t” needed here.)
Il a mangé ? (No inversion, so no “t”.)

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5. General Rule:
The “t” is inserted:

Only in the third person singular (il, elle, on).
When the verb ends with a vowel.
In inverted questions.

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6. Cultural Note:

This rule is mandatory in formal writing, but in everyday spoken French, people often use other ways to form questions, such as “Est-ce qu’il a mangé?” or simply “Il a mangé?”, which do not require inversion or the addition of the “t”.

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