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upside down question mark?
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Anonymous  #562  Thu, 29 Sep 05 03:20 PM
What does the upside down question mark mean? - Is it necessary? - what is it called?
  
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Woodward Chile  #575  Thu, 29 Sep 05 05:14 PM
It is used to show the beginning of a question.

Much like in English where you put the ? at the end to show it's a question, in Spanish you need to put the ¿ at the beginning of the question as well as the ? at the end.
  
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Paola  #1206  Mon, 24 Oct 05 02:01 AM
Anonymous

I have heard that when you have two or morequestions in a row, you don't use the leading (upside down) questionmark in the succeeding questions.  Is this true?

ex:

¿Cómo estás chica? Y tú mamá?  Y la casa nueva?




Formas correctas:

¿Cómo estás?, ¿y tu mamá?, ¿y la casa nueva?

Saludos
  
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Crom  #3424  Sun, 22 Jan 06 06:45 PM
The beginning question mark (¿) is very important in Spanish and, as far as I know, it is also used in gallego (galego) and vasco (euskera). It indicates where the question begins. It is not an error to omit it, but it is not right if you write "qué?" instead of "¿qué?". It's a matter of good Spanish, I never omit this sign unless I write carelessly.

Saludos
  
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Anonymous  #20366  Thu, 27 Dec 07 11:45 PM
Hello, I am Spanish, so I beg your pardon for my bad English.
The upside down question mark is a must, not an option. You have to put it in the beginning of every question.
Examples:
¿Cómo está usted? --> How are you?
¿Cómo te llamas? --> What's your name?

About the: Hola, ¿cómo estás? <-- This is the right way.
¿Hola, cómo estás? is inconrrect.
  
Pucca  #21163  Wed, 30 Jan 08 01:06 PM
Hey Anon, you can find it by clicking on "Insert Symbols". Smile
  
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#620  Fri, 30 Sep 05 08:59 AM

Thanks,

one more question on the same topic. Why isn't  Hola ¿cómo estás? this ¿Hola cómo estás?

#626  Fri, 30 Sep 05 02:25 PM
Because Hola (=Hi) and is not a part of the question. If you put the question mark before the Hola, it would sound like you are saying "Hi?" (and you would be making Hi a question).
#34549  Thu, 04 Sep 08 12:05 AM
Thanks :)
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