Questions

For beginners

In English, there are different types of questions. In this lesson, you will get to know them briefly and see some examples for each type.

What Are Questions?

Questions are sentences that are used to ask for an answer or information. In writing, questions usually end with a question mark.

Questions: Types

There are two major types of questions in English:

Yes/No Questions

Yes/no questions are those that need either a 'yes' or a 'no' as the answer.

Yes/No Questions: Formation

When the sentences has 'be', 'do', or 'have' as auxiliary verbs, the yes/no question is formed using the structure below:

'Be'/'Have'/'Do' + Subject + Main Verb

Are you leaving?

Has he called?

Does it look okay?

If there is a modal verb in the sentence, the yes/no questions is formed using the structure below:

Modal verb + Subject + Main Verb

Can you swim?

Should I go?

If the sentence has no auxiliary or modal verbs, the auxiliary verb 'do', 'does', or 'did' is added to form questions:

Do you usually exercise?

Did you forget your keys?

If the main verb of the sentence is 'to be', the subject and the verb 'to be' change places to form a question and there is no need for an auxiliary verb. For example:

Her name is Sarah. → Is her name Sarah?

He is your brother. → Is he your brother?

Wh-Questions

'Wh-questions' are formed using 'wh-words', like 'what', 'when', 'where', 'who', etc. these questions are used to ask for information. They can not be answered with 'yes' or 'no'.

How to Form Wh-Questions

If the sentence has an auxiliary verb ('be', 'do' or 'have') or a modal verb, wh- questions are formed using the structure below:

Wh- word + 'be'/'do'/'have' + subject + main verb
or
Wh- word + modal verb + subject + main verb

Where do you live?

What can I do for you?

If the sentence has no auxiliary verbs, and 'what', 'who', 'which', or 'whose' is the subject of the sentence, there us no need to use an auxiliary. The subject comes before the verb to form the question.

Who called last night?

What dropped from the tree?

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What Are Questions?
- Yes/No Questions: Formation
- How to Form Wh-Questions

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