A question, also known as an interrogative sentence, is used to make a request or ask for information from someone.
Mastering how to ask questions is an essential part of grammar in English. It’s also an excellent communication tool to start a conversation in a foreign language!
Here are three key points to remember when asking a question in English correctly:
- Always start with a verb or an auxiliary verb like do, does, is, or are.
- Avoid answering with just Yes or No. Instead, provide a complete response, such as: Yes, I do. or No, I don’t.
- Learn the basic interrogative pronouns: what, where, when, who, why, which, whose, how.
The 2 types of questions in English
Just like in other languages, there are two types of questions in English:
- Open-ended questions: Where are you?
- Closed-ended questions: Do you want a coffee?
What’s the difference between an open-ended and a closed-ended question?
- An open-ended question cannot be answered with just yes or no. This type of question invites a more detailed response that goes beyond yes or no.
- A closed-ended question can only be answered with yes or no. These are often called Yes/No Questions in English.
| Type of question | Example | Explanation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open-ended | When did this accident happen? It happened yesterday. | An open-ended question asks for specific information. | |
| Open-ended | Where was he born? He was born in South Africa. | Open-ended questions expect more information. | |
| Closed-ended | Do you speak English? Yes, I do. | A closed-ended question often begin with an auxiliary verb like do, does, can, or is. | |
| Closed-ended | Can you help me, please? No, I can’t, I’m sorry. | It’s important to include the auxiliary verb in your answer. |
In some languages, a simple yes or no is often enough to answer a closed-ended question. However, in English, you should repeat the auxiliary verb (do, be, or have) in your response to make it grammatically complete.
How to answer a closed-ended question in English
When answering a closed-ended question in English, it is essential to include the auxiliary verb (be, have, or do) or the modal verb (can, will, may, etc.) from the question.
To avoid repeating the subject, you can replace it with a pronoun (e.g., replace Diana with she).
Structure:
| Type of sentence | Construction |
|---|---|
| Question | Auxiliary or modal verb + subject + rest of the sentence |
| Affirmative response | Yes + pronoun or subject + auxiliary or modal verb (conjugated based on the subject and tense). |
| Negative response | No + pronoun or subject + auxiliary or modal verb (conjugated) + not or n’t. |
Here are a series of examples to help you see things more clearly:
| Closed-ended question | Response | Explanation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Are you a teacher? | Yes, I am. | Use the auxiliary verb are in the answer. | |
| Did he feel well yesterday? | No, he didn’t! | Include the auxiliary did with the pronoun he. | |
| Do you want an ice cream? | Yes, I do. | Use the auxiliary do to form the response. | |
| Can you take off your shoes, please? | Yes, we can. | Use the modal verb can with the subject pronoun. | |
| May I ask you a question? | Yes, you may, of course! | Include the modal verb may to give a polite and complete response. | |
| Will you behave yourself? | Yes, we will! | Use the modal will to confirm future intent. | |
| Do you need help? | No, I don’t, thank you. | Include the auxiliary do with not for a polite refusal. | |
| Have you lost your purse? | Yes, I have. | Use the auxiliary verb have to indicate possession in the answer. |
Word order in English questions
In English, the word order for forming questions is always consistent. This makes it much simpler than in some other languages.
Word order with to be
When be is used as an auxiliary in a question, the word order is: be conjugated + subject + verb + rest of the sentence. If it is used as a verb, the order is similar.
| Fonction of be | Example | Tense | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auxiliary | Are you doing your homework? | Present continuous | |
| Auxiliary | Were you watching TV at 4 am? | Past continuous | |
| Verb | Were you late this morning? | Past simple | |
| Verb | Is he tired? | Present simple |
Word order with to have
When have is used as an auxiliary in a question, the word order is: have conjugated + subject + verb + rest of the sentence.
When have is used as the main verb, it is the auxiliary do which is used to form a question: conjugated do + subject + have + rest of the sentence.
| Function of have | Example | Tense | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auxiliary | Have you been sleeping all afternoon? | Present perfect continuous | |
| Auxiliary | Has he lost his keys? | Present perfect simple | |
| Auxiliary | Had they already worked together before? | Past perfect simple | |
| Verb | Did he have a good job? | Past simple | |
| Verb | Do you have children? | Present simple | |
| Verb | Does she go to school on Wednesdays? | Present simple |
Word order with modals
There are 12 modal verbs in English: can, could, dare, may, might, must, need, ought, shall, should, will, would.
As with auxiliary verbs, to form a question with modal verbs, we simply invert the modal and the subject: modal verb + subject + verb + rest of the sentence.
Please note: to form a question with the modals dare and need, we use the auxiliary verb do, because these two verbs are considered semi
-modals.
| Modal verb | Example | Explanation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can | Can you do your homework, please? | The modal can starts the question, followed by the subject and verb. | |
| May | May I sit here? | The modal may is used for polite permission. | |
| Must | Must you go now? | The modal must is used to indicate necessity or obligation. | |
| Will | Will you wash up the dishes? | The modal will is used to express future actions or intentions. | |
| Need (semi-modal) | Do you need any help? | Use do as the auxiliary to form the question since need is semi-modal. |
Word order with other verbs
For all other verbs, the word order for forming a question is: auxiliary + subject + verb + rest of the sentence. It is the auxiliary do that is used.
- When the verb is in the present tense, use do or does (does is for the third person singular).
- When the verb is in the past tense, use did.
Remember: when asking a question in English, it is the auxiliary verb that is conjugated and not the main verb. For example: Does she like to travel? Never say: Do she likes to travel?
| Affirmative sentence | Interrogative sentence | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| He wakes up early every day. | Does he wake up early every day? | |
| She worked far from home last year. | Did she work far from home last year? | |
| They need a new place to live. | Do they need a new place to live? |
Interrogative pronouns in English
Interrogative pronouns, also known as question words, are easy to recognize because they mostly start with Wh-, except for the word how. These pronouns are used to form Wh- questions in English.
| Interrogative pronoun | Example | Explanation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| When | When are you moving to New York? | Asks about time or a specific moment. | |
| Where | Where do you come from? | Asks about location or origin. | |
| Who | Who’s that guy? | Asks about a person. | |
| Why | Why are they mad at us? | Asks about the reason for something. | |
| What | What is she doing? | Asks about an action or object. | |
| Whose | Whose book is it? | Asks about ownership or possession. | |
| Which | Which one is your favorite? | Asks about a choice among options. | |
| How | How do you “say” apple in French? | Asks about a method or manner. |
Compound interrogative pronouns
Compound interrogative pronouns combine a basic interrogative word (e.g., what, how) with additional context to ask more specific questions.
| Interrogative Pronoun | Meaning | Example | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| What … like | What is something like (description) | What is the weather like today? | |
| Since when | Since when (time period) | Since when have you been feeling like this? | |
| What … for | What for (purpose) | What is it for? | |
| How long | Length or duration | How long is this river? | |
| How long | How long (time) | How long have you been here? | |
| How often | Frequency | How often do you wash the car? | |
| How far | Distance | How far can you throw the ball? | |
| How old | Age | How old is he? | |
| How much | How much (uncountable quantity) | How much does it cost? | |
| How many | How many (countable quantity) | How many apples does she have? | |
| How + adjective | Specific description (varies) | How deep is the pool? | |
| How + adjective | Specific description (varies) | How high is the Eiffel Tower? | |
| How + adjective | Specific description (varies) | How tall is your brother? |
Negative questions in English (interro-negative)
To form a negative question in English, you simply add the negative form of the auxiliary verb (be, have, do) or modal verb (can, may, will, etc.). The negative is typically formed by adding not or using contractions like don’t, doesn’t, can’t, etc. For example: Can you see it? become Can’t you see it?
| Interrogative sentence | Negative interrogative sentence | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| Do you want a cup of coffee? | Don’t you want a cup of coffee? | |
| Are you ready to go to school? | Aren’t you ready to go to school? | |
| Can you say goodbye when you leave? | Can’t you say goodbye when you leave? |
The meaning of the negative interrogative sentence
Using a negative form in a question changes the meaning of the question itself. Negative questions are frequently used by native English speakers to express criticism, remarks, or even irony or sarcasm. The tone or context often helps convey whether the speaker is being genuine, challenging, or ironic.
Intonation of questions in English
Intonation refers to the rise and fall of the voice while speaking, and it plays an important role in how questions are understood in English. English is a stressed language, which means that not all syllables in a word or words in a sentence are pronounced with the same emphasis. The rise and fall of the voice can change the meaning of a sentence.
Examples of negative questions:
- Reproach: Don’t you want a cup of coffee? – The speaker is surprised or questioning why the person doesn’t want coffee.
- Irony/Sarcasm: Aren’t you ready to go to school? – The speaker might be implying that the listener should already be ready, suggesting a mild criticism.
Do you notice that your voice rises at the end of the sentence, that it becomes higher? This is called rising intonation. The opposite
is falling intonation: the voice drops at the end of the sentence, your voice goes towards the lower pitch.
Intonation in closed questions (Yes/No Questions)
For closed questions, the intonation is always rising. Your voice gets higher at the end of the question, indicating that it’s a yes/no question and expecting a quick response.
Example: Do you want a coffee? – The voice goes up at the end.
Intonation in open questions
For open questions, the intonation is falling. Your voice goes down at the end, signaling that the question requires more than a simple yes or no answer.
Example: Where are you going? – The voice falls at the end, indicating the need for more information.
Practice:
In open questions, your voice falls at the end.
In closed questions, your voice rises at the end.
