French Phrase
Quels effets secondaires il y a ?
Meaning
The sentence asks the listener to list or describe any side‑effects that are present, usually in reference to a medication, treatment, or product. It is a direct, slightly informal way of requesting that information.
When to use
Use this question during a medical consultation, when discussing a new drug, supplement, or cosmetic product, or when you want to know the possible adverse reactions before starting something.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quelseffetssecondairesilya?
Quel(s) (interrogative adjective)
‘Quel’ agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies; here ‘effets’ is masculine plural, so we use ‘Quels’.
Effets secondaires (noun phrase)
A compound noun meaning ‘side effects’; ‘effets’ is masculine plural, ‘secondaires’ is an adjective that agrees with it.
Il y a (impersonal expression)
Literally ‘there is/are’; used to indicate existence. In questions it can stay in the same order (colloquial) or be inverted to ‘y a-t‑il’ for a more formal style.
🗨In Conversation
Quels effets secondaires il y a ?
What side effects are there?
Il peut causer des nausées, des maux de tête et de la fatigue.
It can cause nausea, headaches, and fatigue.
✕Common Mistakes
Quel effets secondaires il y a ?
‘Quel’ must agree with the plural noun ‘effets’; use ‘Quels’.
Quelles effets secondaires il y a ?
‘Effets’ is masculine, so the interrogative adjective must be masculine plural, not feminine.
Il y a quels effets secondaires ?
While understandable, the standard order for a polite question is either ‘Quels effets secondaires il y a ?’ (colloquial) or ‘Y a‑t‑il des effets secondaires ?’ (formal).
↔Alternatives
Quels sont les effets secondaires ?
What are the side effects?
Y a‑t‑il des effets secondaires ?
Are there any side effects?
Quelles sont les effets secondaires ?
What are the side effects? (incorrect gender agreement – see common mistakes)
Cultural Tip
In French medical settings, the formal inversion ‘Y a‑t‑il…?’ is preferred when speaking to a doctor or pharmacist. The colloquial order ‘Il y a…?’ is common among friends or when the speaker wants a quick answer. Always remember that ‘effet’ is masculine, so the adjective ‘secondaire’ must stay masculine plural (secondaires).