Asking Questions in English

ASKING QUESTIONS
IN ENGLISH
We ask questions to get information.
There are two types of questions in the English

language: direct and indirect.
•Direct questions are used to try to get information.
When we write a direct question, we always end the sentence with a

question mark ( ? ). The question mark signals to the reader that the sentence is a
question.
Examples:
Where is the bathroom?
•Do you want to drink water?
•When will she be here?
•What is your name?

are used to try to get
information. we always end
the sentence with a
question mark ( ? ). The
question mark signals to the
reader that the sentence is a
question.
are also used to try to get

information, but are a polite
and longer form of direct
questions. They are
sometimes said as a
statement and written with a
period instead of a question
mark.
DIRECT QUESTIONS
There are four main categories of direct questions, depending on the kind of
answer you expect: Yes/No questions, WH questions, alternative
questions and tag questions.
1. Yes/No questions
To form a direct questions with a yes or no answer, we use auxiliary verbs, which are also called
helping verbs.
An auxiliary (or helping) verb is a verb that is used together with another verb to express the action
or state.
Main verb + auxiliary verb = complete idea
For example: is + working = is working = the full idea of the verb
Incorrect: Lisa working now.
Correct: Lisa is working now.
• These are a few
common auxiliary verbs:
have
• has
• can
• is
• was
• does
• do
• did
• are
Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb
Examples:
•Did Sarah sleep?
•Do you cook?

•Was she running?
•Have you seen the dog?
Let's practice making Yes/No questions
from these sentences:
To make these sentences into questions, we need to add
the auxiliary verb does or do before the subject.
Does is used if the subject is he, she or it. In all other cases,

use do.
1. You like chocolate.
Do you like chocolate?

She likes her gift. Does she like her gift?
Young children like to swim. Do young children like to swim?
Richard wants to go to the park. Does Richard want to go to the park?
Does it work?
It works.
The verb like always goes after the subject of the question. Do not add an 's'
to the word like.
Correct: Do you like the chocolate?

Incorrect: Do you likes the chocolate?
Correct: Does she like her gift?

Incorrect: Does she likes her gift?
If the sentence is in past tense form (it already happened), use the auxiliary
verb did. Did is the past form of do or does.
The verb like does not change when the question is in past tense form.
Correct: Did you like the chocolate?

Incorrect: Did you liked the chocolate?
Correct: Did she like her gift?

Incorrect: Did she liked her gift?
Let's practice by making questions using
the auxiliary verbs can and be:
She can read the book. Can she read the book?
The boy can throw the ball. Can the boy throw the ball?
Is she a good artist?

She is a good artist.
Is Lisa a great cook?

Lisa is a great cook.
DIRECT QUESTIONS
2. WH Questions
•WH questions allow a wide range of answers. These types of questions begin with
question words such as:
what
•why
•where
•how
•when
•who
•which
•Examples:
Where is the bathroom?
•What is your name?
•Who is the man next to you?
•Why did she leave so early?
•How are you feeling today?

•Do not use an auxiliary verb after who, which or what if they are the subject of
the sentence.
Examples:
Who called you?
•Which man is your father?
•What day is the party?

DIRECT QUESTIONS
3. Alternative Questions
•Alternative questions are another type of direct questions.
Alternative questions require an answer chosen from the options given

in the question. These types of questions always contain the connecting
word or.
Examples:
Do you like the ocean or the mountains?
•Will you be driving your car or riding the bus?
•Would you like to eat pizza or hamburgers?
•Did you buy the blue ball or the red ball?

DIRECT QUESTIONS
4. Tag Questions
A tag question is a statement followed by a short question. Tag

questions are very common in the English language and are used
to ask if you agree with the statement.
Tag questions are written in this form:
statement + tag + ?
•Examples:
You like hamburgers, don't you?
•She has brown hair, doesn't she?
•Her name is Rose, isn't it?
•This is a pig, right?
ASKING QUESTIONS IN ENGLISH –
INDIRECT QUESTIONS
•Indirect questions are also used to try to get information.

However, we use indirect questions if we want to ask a more
personal or formal question.
Indirect questions are more polite than direct questions.

•Indirect questions can start with introductory
phrases such as these:
•Can you tell me . . .

•Could you tell me . . .
•I would be interested to hear . . .
•I would like to know . . .
•Would you mind telling me . . .
•I wonder . . .
When forming an indirect question, use an introductory phrase followed
by about, a WH word or if. Then add the subject and the rest of the
sentence.
Introductory phrase + question word

(WH word, about or if) + positive sentence
You do not need to use an auxiliary verb.

Examples: (Direct => Indirect)
Correct: Where is the bathroom? => Can you tell me where the bathroom is located?
Incorrect: Can you tell me where is the bathroom located?

Correct: When does the next bus arrive? => Do you know when the next bus arrives?
Incorrect: Do you know when does the next bus arrives?

Correct: What is his name? => Would you mind telling me his name?
Incorrect: Would you mind telling me do you know his name?

Indirect questions can also be said in the form of a statement. These types of
indirect questions are used to try to get information and end with a period.
•Examples: (Direct => Indirect)
Do you like chocolate? => I would like to know if you like chocolate.
What do you like about your job? => I wonder if you could tell me what you
like about your job.
•Where is your home? => I can't remember the address of your

home.
Direct Questions
Where is MacDougal Street?
Can you tell me where MacDougal Street is? •I would be interested to hear . . .
•I wonder . . .
•Do you know…?
•Do you have any idea…?
•Would it be possible…?
Direct Questions
Has the game started yet?

Do you know if/whether the game has started yet? •I wonder . . .
•Do you know…?
Direct Questions
Are they coming with us?
Do you know if/whether they’re coming with us?

•I wonder . . .
•Do you know…?
Direct Questions
Can you help me move on Saturday?
Is there any chance you could help me move on Saturday?

What time is it?
Where is the music shop?
Why did you move to D.C.?
Can we meet on Monday?
Can you loan me your car?
Do you know what time it is?

Can you tell me where the music shop is?
Can you tell me why you moved to D.C.?
Would it be possible for us to meet on Monday?
I was wondering if you can loan me your car.
Can you tell me if my answers are correct

Asking Questions in English

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Asking Questions in English

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Asking Questions in English

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

ASKING QUESTIONS

There are two types of questions in the English

•Direct questions are used to try to get information.

When we write a direct question, we always end the sentence with a

•Do you want to drink water?

•When will she be here?

•What is your name?

are also used to try to get

Main verb + auxiliary verb = complete idea

For example: is + working = is working = the full idea of the verb

Incorrect: Lisa working now.

Does is used if the subject is he, she or it. In all other cases,

1. You like chocolate.

Do you like chocolate?

Young children like to swim. Do young children like to swim?

Richard wants to go to the park. Does Richard want to go to the park?

Correct: Do you like the chocolate?

Correct: Does she like her gift?

The verb like does not change when the question is in past tense form.

Correct: Did you like the chocolate?

Correct: Did she like her gift?

She can read the book. Can she read the book?

The boy can throw the ball. Can the boy throw the ball?

Is she a good artist?

Is Lisa a great cook?

•Who is the man next to you?

•Why did she leave so early?

•How are you feeling today?

•Which man is your father?

•What day is the party?

•Alternative questions are another type of direct questions.

Alternative questions require an answer chosen from the options given

•Will you be driving your car or riding the bus?

•Would you like to eat pizza or hamburgers?

•Did you buy the blue ball or the red ball?

A tag question is a statement followed by a short question. Tag

Tag questions are written in this form:

•She has brown hair, doesn't she?

•Her name is Rose, isn't it?

•Indirect questions are also used to try to get information.

Indirect questions are more polite than direct questions.

•Can you tell me . . .

Introductory phrase + question word

You do not need to use an auxiliary verb.

Incorrect: Can you tell me where is the bathroom located?

Incorrect: Do you know when does the next bus arrives?

Incorrect: Would you mind telling me do you know his name?

•Examples: (Direct => Indirect)

•Where is your home? => I can't remember the address of your

Has the game started yet?

Do you know if/whether they’re coming with us?

Is there any chance you could help me move on Saturday?

Do you know what time it is?

You might also like