Asking questions with prepositions + qué in Spanish

In Spanish we can combine qué with prepositions.

Learn how to ask questions with preposition and qué in Spanish

When we ask questions in Spanish using verbs that use prepositions we need to place the preposition at the beginning of the question. This is different to English, which places the prepostion at the end. Lots of these questions use the interrogative "qué". Here are some examples:

¿Para qué me has llamado? What did you call me for

¿En qué ciudad estás?Which city are you in?

¿Sobre qué querías hablar conmigo? What did you want to talk about with me?

No te entiendo... ¿a qué te refieres?I don't understand... what are you referring to?

-¿Con qué lo has hecho? -Lo he hecho con plastilina.What did you make it with? -I made it with play-dough.

Notice how the preposition is always placed right in the beginning, before "qué" in Spanish, while in English the preposition is sent to the end after the verb. 

  • In Spanish: ¿Prepostion + qué + verb?
  • In English:  What + verb + preposition?

This would be incorrect in Spanish:

¿Qué estás ahorrando dinero para?
What are you saving money for?

Remember to accentuate qué as it is an interrogative.

See also Asking questions about people with preposition + quién in Spanish

 

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Examples and resources

¿Para qué me has llamado? What did you call me for
¿En qué ciudad estás?Which city are you in?
¿Sobre qué querías hablar conmigo? What did you want to talk about with me?
No te entiendo... ¿a qué te refieres?I don't understand... what are you referring to?
-¿Con qué lo has hecho? -Lo he hecho con plastilina.What did you make it with? -I made it with play-dough.
I'll be right with you...