Learning English

Meaning and Use

In English, there are two basic types of question.

1. Yes/no questions often begin with the verb to be, but can also begin with other auxiliary verbs, such as do. We ask these when we want a yes or no answer.

Dave: Are you hungry?
Mike: Yes, I’m starving. 

Sarah: Did you get here on time?
Emily: No, I missed the bus!

2. Wh-questions start with a question word, such as who, what, where, when, why or how. We ask this type of question when we want different kinds of information. These questions cannot be answered with a yes or no.

Dave: Why are you so hungry?
Mike: I didn’t eat breakfast.

Sarah: When did you get here?
Emily: About half an hour ago.

Form

Yes/no questions that begin with the verb to be are made with to be + subject.

Are you playing football tomorrow?

Was the weather nice yesterday?

If we start with an auxiliary verb, the order is auxiliary + subject + main verb.

Can Jenny speak Chinese?
Did you go to the cinema on Saturday?

Wh-questions can be used to ask about the subject or object of the verb. Compare these questions:

Who loves Lucy?
Who does Lucy love?

For subject questions, the order is question word + verb + object.

Who wants ice cream for dessert?
Who broke the mirror in the dining room?
Who answered the phone?

The object question form is question word + auxiliary + subject + verb.

What did you do at the weekend?
Where does your brother work?
Who will you ask for help?

Take Note

Asking questions with ‘how’

The question word how is usually combined with other words when asking for information, such as size, someone’s age, or the price of something.

How big is your apartment?
How old are your children now?
How much is the black dress in the window?

Spoken English

In formal situations, it is common to respond to a yes/no question by repeating the auxiliary in a complete sentence.

Max: Can you use a computer?
Jill: Yes, I can.

In casual spoken English, we do not need to repeat the auxiliary. Answers do not always contain 'yes' or 'no'.

Peter: Do you know the way to the train station?
William: Not really.

Lucy: Shall we order sushi?
Sally: Absolutely!

Practice

rearrange the words to make 'yes/no' and wh-questions.

1. anywhere did you weekend interesting last go?

2. grow up did you where?

3. did for your car new much how pay you?

4. into your when you did move new house?

5. listening to what you are?

6. the game basketball who won?

7. I borrow can your phone?

8. you do watch want movie a tonight to?

Answers

1. Did you go anywhere interesting last weekend? 

[The order of yes/no questions is: auxiliary + subject + main verb.]

2. Where did you grow up? 

[The order of object Wh-questions is: question word + auxiliary + subject + verb.]

3. How much did you pay for your new car? 

[The order of object Wh-questions: question word + auxiliary + subject + verb.] 

4. When did you move into your new house? 

[The order of object Wh-questions is: question word + auxiliary + subject + verb.]

5. What are you listening to?  

[The order of object Wh-questions is: question word + auxiliary + subject + verb.]

6. Who won the basketball game?  

[The order of subject Wh-questions is: question word + verb + object.]

7. Can I borrow your phone?  

[The order of yes/no questions is: auxiliary + subject + main verb.]

8. Do you want to watch a movie tonight?  

[The order of yes/no questions is: auxiliary + subject + main verb.]