Asking questions

mere fille femme enfant s   "Do you like video games?" "Yes, we do."

These are the basic forms for constructing questions:

 

'To be'

(Modal) auxiliary verbs

Other verbs

 

'be' + subject

 

Are you hungry?

 

Was it interesting?

 

Is there any cake?

 

 

auxiliary + subject + main verb

 

Will we finish on time?

 

Have you had lunch?

 

Can you swim?

 

'do' + subject + bare infinitive

 

Did he go to the seminar?

 

Do you like skiing?

 

Does he work in Toulouse?


When we ask a question with 'what', 'which', 'where', 'when', 'who', 'whom', 'whose', 'why' or 'how', the word order in the table above remains the same:

 

Why are you hungry?

How fast can you swim?

Where do you like skiing?


However, question words can refer to either an object or a subject. Note the different constructions:

 

Object

 

Subject

 

 

Who did you see?  

 

What does Tim want?

 

Which colour does he prefer?

 

[I saw John.]

 

[Tim wants a beer.]

 

[He prefers blue.]

 

Who saw John?

 

Who wants a beer?

 

What is his favourite colour?

 

[I saw John.]

 

[Tim wants a beer.]

 

[Blue is his favourite colour.]

 

 

Here are some more examples of question words asking about a subject:

 

What happened this morning?

How many people go to work by car?

Who arrived first?

 


Note that 'who' can be used to ask about either an object or subject but 'whom' is only

used for objects:

 

Who do you want to invite?  green check mark, tick mark

Whom do you want to invite? green check mark, tick mark   [Note that although correct, this is rare.]


Who wants a drink? green check mark, tick mark

Whom wants a drink?  red x, red cross


Most of the time, the preposition is placed at the end of the question. It sounds more natural and conversational.

 

Who did you give the file to?

Which city does she work in?

 

However, you might occasionally hear a more formal structure:

 

To whom did you give the file?

In which city does she work?


 

As well as the forms mentioned above, we also use these:

 

Type of question

Examples

 

Indirect questions

 

Do you know what time the train leaves?

 

Could you tell me if there's a bank near here?

 

 

Negative questions

 

Don't you like coffee?

 

Isn't it ready yet? 

 

 

Echo questions

 

 

"I asked her to marry me?"

"You did what?!"

 

"I asked her and she said yes."

"She said yes?!"

 

 

Questions with tags

 

 

 

You like coffee, don't you?

 

It's ready, isn't it?

 

 

 

For more information, see individual rules.


These words and expressions are related to questions:

 

Expression

Explanation

Examples

 

Closed question

 

It requires a 'yes' or 'no' type answer.

 

 

 

"Did you enjoy your trip?"

"Yes, it was great, thanks."

 

"Shall we go to the cinema?"

"No, not tonight."

 

"Do you like chocolate?"

"Absolutely!"

 

"Is it raining again?"

"I'm afraid so."

 

 

Open question

 

It asks for specific information.

 

 

 

How was your trip?

 

Where is the cinema?

 

Why do we have to work late?

 

 

Short answers

 

 

Short affirmative or negative responses used in conversation and sometimes followed by further information.

 

"Do you like chocolate?"

"Yes, I do."

 

"Is it raining again?"

"No it isn't. It's sunny today."