Questions for intermediate learners
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. Are you ready?
What Are Questions?
Questions are sentences that we use when we want an answer. In this lesson, we will learn all about them.
Types of Questions
We have different types of questions in the English language. Look at the following list to get a glimpse of them:
- Yes/No questions
- Wh-questions
- Alternative (or choice) questions
- Indirect (or embedded) questions
- Rhetorical questions
- Statement questions
- Two-step questions
- Follow-up questions
- Negative questions
- Echo (or checking) questions
- Tag (or disjunctive) questions
Now, we are going to learn about some of them below:
Yes/No questions
As their name suggests, when we want a short 'yes', or 'no' answer, we use 'yes/no questions'. If we have an auxiliary verb 'be', 'do', 'have', we use them to make questions. Notice how the place of the verb and the subject changes. Look:
She
I
Rita
Warning!
Please note that when 'have' is the main verb, we use 'do' to form a 'yes/no question'. We only use 'have' to form 'yes/no questions' when we have either of the perfect tenses. Look:
The customers
If we have a modal verb in the sentence, we must form a 'yes/no question' using it, not the main verb. Look:
I
Martha
Wh-questions
Alternative Questions
Alternative or sometimes called 'choice' questions are used when we want the listener to choose between two choices. In this type of question, we mainly use the coordinating conjunction 'or'. Look at the following examples:
Are you going to leave
Has the teacher cancelled her class
Negative Questions
When we want to ask a negative question, we must use the negative contracted or uncontracted forms. If we are using the contracted form, the verb comes at the beginning. However, if we are using the uncontracted form, the 'not' is put after the subject. Look at the following examples:
Do you feel like getting some fresh air? →
Here, both forms are correct.
Do you feel like getting some fresh air? →
Is Richie coming to the party? → Is Richie
Is Richie coming to the party? →
Warning!
Please note that we must always have a question mark at the end of a question.