In the last entry (#717), there was an example of a yes-no question using the inverted form as-tu:
As-tu mal à la tête?
Do you have a headache?
Even though this question uses the inversion, it still works at the conversational level of French in Québec. You can read more about when the inversion is used and avoided in Québec in entry #717.
Another way that you may hear people ask as-tu questions is with the formulation t’as-tu. This formulation is an informal one that you may catch people use during everyday conversations.
Below are some examples. I’ve translated them into informal English to help convey the feel of the t’as-tu form:
T’as-tu vu ça?
Didja see that?
T’as-tu une cigarette?
Ya got a cigarette?
T’as-tu une blonde?
D’ya have a girlfriend?
T’as-tu peur?
You afraid?
All of those questions could have also simply been asked with as-tu rather than t’as-tu. So, where on earth does t’as-tu come from then?
The t’as part of t’as-tu is a contraction of tu as. This contraction occurs very frequently in French, and not just as part of the formulation t’as-tu but anywhere tu and as come together.
The -tu part of t’as-tu is the famous yes-no question marker so prevalent in the French of Québec. You can learn more about this yes-no question marker by downloading this PDF (172 kb).
All the questions above can be answered with yes or no. We can understand the -tu part of t’as-tu as meaning “yes or no?” like this:
T’as-tu une blonde?
= Tu as (oui ou non) une blonde?
How is t’as-tu pronounced?
The t’as part sounds like tâ, or like “taw” using an English approximation. The -tu part sounds like tsu. That’s because tu is a tsitsu word, and you remember all about those tsitsu words… right?? So, t’as-tu sounds like tâ-tsu.
Similarly, as-tu sounds like â-tsu.
It’s not necessary for you to adopt t’as-tu to make yourself understood by the Québécois. As-tu is always good. (It’s important to understand it though because you’ll be hearing it.) And, of course, you can always use est-ce que, or just make your voice rise at the end of a statement to turn it into a yes-no question.
These questions all ask the same thing:
As-tu compris?
T’as-tu compris?
T’as compris?
Tu as compris?
Est-ce que t’as compris?
Est-ce que tu as compris?
How’s that for variety?
