German Phrase
Was soll ich fragen?
Meaning
Literally “What should I ask?” It is used when the speaker is looking for advice on which questions are appropriate or useful in a given situation.
When to use
Use this sentence when you need guidance before an interview, a meeting, a language class, or any situation where you want to know which questions will be most helpful or polite.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Wassollichfragen?
Was (interrogative pronoun)
Used to ask about something unknown; it functions as the question word at the beginning of the sentence.
soll (modal verb)
Expresses recommendation or expectation. In questions it appears before the subject, followed by the infinitive at the end.
ich (personal pronoun)
First‑person singular subject; placed after the modal verb in a question.
fragen (infinitive)
The main verb stays in infinitive form and is placed at the end of the clause when a modal verb is used.
Word order in modal‑verb questions
In German yes‑no and wh‑questions with a modal verb, the order is: question word – modal verb – subject – infinitive.
🗨In Conversation
Ich habe ein Vorstellungsgespräch. Was soll ich fragen?
I have a job interview. What should I ask?
Frage nach den nächsten Schritten, der Teamkultur und den Weiterbildungsmöglichkeiten.
Ask about the next steps, the team culture, and the training opportunities.
✕Common Mistakes
Was muss ich fragen?
"muss" expresses obligation, not recommendation. Use "soll" or "sollte" for advice.
Was soll ich zu fragen?
The infinitive after a modal verb does not take a preposition.
Was ich soll fragen?
In a wh‑question the modal verb must come before the subject.
↔Alternatives
Was sollte ich fragen?
What should I ask?
Welche Fragen sollte ich stellen?
Which questions should I ask?
Was wäre eine gute Frage?
What would be a good question?
Cultural Tip
German speakers appreciate directness, so asking "Was soll ich fragen?" is perfectly natural in informal settings. In formal contexts (e.g., speaking to a senior manager) you might soften it with "Könnten Sie mir bitte sagen, welche Fragen ich stellen sollte?" to show extra politeness.