1️⃣ What are Questions?
A question is a sentence that seeks information or asks for a response. In English, questions can be formed in several ways depending on the type of information you’re seeking.
2️⃣ Types of Questions
1. Yes/No Questions
These are questions that can be answered with a simple “Yes” or “No”. They begin with an auxiliary verb (e.g., do, does, is, are, can, will, etc.).
✅ Structure:
Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb (or adjective)
✅ Examples:
- Are you coming to the party? 🎉
- Do you like coffee? ☕
- Can she swim? 🏊♀️
- Is he your brother? 👦
2. Wh- Questions
These questions begin with Wh- words (who, what, where, when, why, how) and seek specific information.
✅ Structure:
Wh-word + Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb
✅ Examples:
- What is your name? 🏷️
- Where do you live? 🌍
- Why are you upset? 😔
- How do you make pizza? 🍕
- When is your birthday? 🎂
- Who is coming to the party? 🎈
3. Alternative Questions
These are questions that offer a choice between two or more possibilities. They often use “or” to link the options.
✅ Structure:
Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb + or + Option
✅ Examples:
- Do you want tea or coffee? 🍵☕
- Is it your brother or your sister? 👦👧
- Can we meet on Friday or Saturday? 📅
4. Tag Questions
These are questions added at the end of a statement to confirm information. The tag question has the opposite auxiliary verb of the main statement.
✅ Structure:
Statement + Auxiliary Verb + Subject (pronoun)
✅ Examples:
- You’re coming to the party, aren’t you? 🎉
- He can speak French, can’t he? 🇫🇷
- She is your friend, isn’t she? 👭
3️⃣ Question Words & Their Use
1. Who (for people)
Use who when you ask about a person or people.
- Who is your favourite actor? 🎬
- Who are you meeting today? 👫
2. What (for things, actions, or information)
Use what to ask about things, actions, or specific details.
- What is this? (thing) 📦
- What do you do for fun? (action) 🎮
- What time is it? (information) 🕒
3. Where (for place or location)
Use where to ask about a place or location.
- Where do you live? 🏡
- Where is your office? 🏢
4. When (for time or date)
Use when to ask about time, dates, or periods.
- When is your birthday? 🎂
- When does the train leave? 🚆
5. Why (for reason)
Use why to ask about the reason for something.
- Why are you sad? 😢
- Why did you leave early? 🚪
6. How (for method, manner, or condition)
Use how to ask about manner, condition, or method.
- How do you make this dish? 🍲
- How are you today? 😊
4️⃣ Question Word Order
1. Direct Questions
In direct questions, the auxiliary verb comes before the subject.
✅ Examples:
- Is she your sister? 👧
- Have you finished your homework? 📚
2. Indirect Questions
In indirect questions, the word order changes slightly (auxiliary verb comes after the subject).
✅ Examples:
- Can you tell me where he is? (Indirect) 🧐
- I wonder if she likes it. (Indirect) 🤔
- Do you know when they are leaving? 🕒
5️⃣ Common Mistakes with Questions
❌ Wrong: She is coming to the meeting?
✅ Correct: Is she coming to the meeting?
❌ Wrong: What time you are going to the party?
✅ Correct: What time are you going to the party?
❌ Wrong: He play football?
✅ Correct: Does he play football?
6️⃣ Practice Sentences
Fill in the blanks with the correct question form:
- __ you like chocolate? (Do/Does)
- __ is your favourite colour? (What/Where)
- __ do you go to bed? (When/How)
- __ you coming to the event on Saturday? (Are/Do)
- __ is the capital of Canada? (Where/When)
Here are the answers! ✅
- Do you like chocolate? 🍫
- What is your favourite colour? 🎨
- When do you go to bed? 🛏️
- Are you coming to the event on Saturday? 🎉
- Where is the capital of Canada?