Ch 50 · Lesson 15Spanish · Chapter 50 · Lesson 15 · Grammar primer
Punctuation: the opening ¿ and ¡
Every question opens with ¿ and every exclamation with ¡, at the point where the question starts: , ¿ ?
The short version
The opening mark hugs the question
, ¿ ?
Why?Hide
The upside-down opening mark is compulsory, and it starts where the question starts, which is not always the first word of the sentence. Anything before it stays outside. It exists because Spanish word order gives no early warning: and the question version differ only in the marks and the tone.
Spanish punctuation differs from English in three ways you will meet daily: questions and exclamations open with a mark, many words English capitalises take a small letter, and numbers swap their comma and point.
¿ ?- Are you coming tomorrow?.- See you on Monday.
Spanish punctuation at a glance
| Feature | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | ¿? | Are you coming? |
| Exclamations | ¡ ! | How cold! |
| Days, months | , | on Monday, in January |
| Languages | . | I speak English. |
| Nationalities | . | She's French. |
| Letters | Ana: | Dear Ana, |
| Decimals | 3,5 (Spain), 3.5 (Mexico) | 3.5 |
| Capitals | . | He's my father. |
The last row matters: a capital letter keeps its accent. Leaving it off was a typewriter habit, not a rule.
The opening ¿ and ¡
Every written question opens with ¿ and closes with ?; every exclamation opens with ¡ and closes with !. Spanish needs the opening mark because its word order often gives no warning:
.- You'coming tomorrow.¿ ?- Are you coming tomorrow?¡ !- It's so cold!
Only the marks and the tone of voice separate the first two. The ¿ tells the reader to start the question tone from the first word.
A sentence that is both a question and an exclamation opens and closes with both marks, in mirror order (¿¡ !? is also correct):
¡¿ ?!- What are you saying?!
Where the opening mark goes
The opening mark goes where the question or exclamation starts, which is not always the first word of the sentence. Whatever comes before it stays outside:
An if-clause, a name or a statement stays outside; the marks wrap only the question.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
, ¿? | If it rains, are you coming? |
Pedro, ¡ ! | Pedro, come here! |
, ¿? | You' coming tomorrow, aren't you? |
The word after the opening mark takes a small letter unless it starts the sentence: , ¿me ?, not ¿ ?.
Going further: Small letters: days, months and languages and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
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