Forming Questions
English questions require specific word order changes.
Yes/No Questions
Questions answered with “yes” or “no”.
With Auxiliary Verbs
Pattern: Auxiliary + Subject + Main Verb
| Statement | Question |
|---|---|
| She is working. | Is she working? |
| They have finished. | Have they finished? |
| He can swim. | Can he swim? |
| We will go. | Will we go? |
With “Do/Does/Did”
When there’s no auxiliary, add do/does/did:
| Statement | Question |
|---|---|
| You like coffee. | Do you like coffee? |
| She works here. | Does she work here? |
| They went home. | Did they go home? |
Note: Main verb returns to base form:
- She works → Does she work?
- They went → Did they go?
With “Be” as Main Verb
“Be” moves before the subject:
| Statement | Question |
|---|---|
| She is a doctor. | Is she a doctor? |
| They are ready. | Are they ready? |
| He was late. | Was he late? |
Wh-Questions
Questions that ask for specific information.
Question Words
| Word | Asks about |
|---|---|
| What | things, actions |
| Who | people (subject) |
| Whom | people (object) |
| Whose | possession |
| Which | choice |
| Where | place |
| When | time |
| Why | reason |
| How | manner, degree |
Pattern: Wh-word + Auxiliary + Subject + Verb
- What are you doing?
- Where does she live?
- When did they arrive?
- Why is he leaving?
- How can I help you?
”How” Combinations
| Combination | Asks about |
|---|---|
| How much | quantity (uncountable) |
| How many | quantity (countable) |
| How often | frequency |
| How long | duration |
| How far | distance |
| How old | age |
Examples:
- How much does it cost?
- How many books do you have?
- How often do you exercise?
- How long have you been waiting?
Subject vs. Object Questions
Object Questions (normal pattern)
The question word replaces the object:
- You saw someone. → Who did you see?
- She bought something. → What did she buy?
Subject Questions (no auxiliary needed)
The question word replaces the subject:
- Someone called. → Who called?
- Something happened. → What happened?
Compare:
- Who called you? (subject question - no “did”)
- Who did you call? (object question - needs “did”)
Negative Questions
Often express surprise or seek confirmation:
- Don’t you like it?
- Isn’t she coming?
- Haven’t you finished?
- Why didn’t you tell me?
Tag Questions
Short questions at the end to confirm:
Pattern: Positive statement → negative tag (and vice versa)
- You like coffee, don’t you?
- She isn’t coming, is she?
- They have finished, haven’t they?
- He can swim, can’t he?
Quiz
Test Your Knowledge of Questions
1. How do you form the question for 'She likes coffee'?
2. Which question is a subject question?
3. Which question word fits? '___ does this book cost?'
4. What is the correct tag question for 'She is coming'?
5. Which sentence is correct?