WHICH, WHAT, WHO, IS IT

On WHICH O8 you saw some of the different ways 'which' and 'what' can be translated. We're going to look now at more "questions", formed in various ways. Remember that 'que + elle' = ' qu'elle ' (etc.).

What (non-specific) does she know?	Que sait-elle?
Does she know? (lit. 'is it that she knows?)	Est-ce qu'elle sait?
What does she know? (lit. 'what is it, that which she knows?)	Qu'est-ce qu'elle sait?

Note the way the next one is constructed - a very common expression also used to translate "What's the matter?", or similar.

What is it? (lit. 'What is it that it is'?)

Qu'est-ce que c'est?

For 'who', 'qui' is used (never abbreviated to ' qu' ') - note how 'que' (abbreviated) is used in the last example when the unidentified 'who' becomes the object of the following verb.

Who (non-specific) knows?	Qui sait?
Who knows? (lit. 'Who is it that knows?' 'Who is the one who knows?')	Qui est-ce qui sait?
Who did she see? (lit. 'Who is the one that she saw?)	Qui est-ce qu'elle a vu?