Basic Question Types
There are 3 basic types of question:
- Yes/No Questions (the answer to the question is "Yes"
or "No")
- Question Word Questions (the answer to the question is
"Information")
- Choice Questions (the answer to the question is "in the
question")
1. Yes/No Questions
| auxiliary verb |
subject |
main verb |
|
Answer
Yes or No |
| Do |
you |
want |
dinner? |
Yes, I do. |
| Can |
you |
drive? |
|
No, I can't. |
| Has |
she |
finished |
her work? |
Yes, she has. |
| Did |
they |
go |
home? |
No, they didn't. |
| Exception!
verb be simple present and simple past |
|
| |
Is |
Anne |
French? |
Yes, she is. |
| |
Was |
Ram |
at home? |
No, he wasn't. |
2. Question Word Questions
| question word |
auxiliary verb |
subject |
main verb |
|
Answer
Information |
| Where |
do |
you |
live? |
|
In Paris. |
| When |
will |
we |
have |
lunch? |
At 1pm. |
| Who |
did |
she |
meet? |
|
She met Ram. |
| Why |
hasn't |
Tara |
done |
it? |
Because she can't. |
| Exception!
verb be simple present and simple past |
|
| Where |
is |
Bombay? |
In India. |
| How |
was |
she? |
Very well. |
3. Choice Questions
| auxiliary verb |
subject |
main verb |
|
OR |
|
Answer
In the question |
| Do |
you |
want |
tea |
or |
coffee? |
Coffee, please. |
| Will |
we |
meet |
John |
or |
James? |
John. |
| Did |
she |
go |
to London |
or |
New York? |
She went to London. |
| Exception!
verb be simple present and simple past |
|
| |
Is |
your car |
white |
or |
black? |
It's black. |
| |
Were |
they |
$15 |
or |
$50? |
$15. |
Now check your understanding >>
 |
| These pages show the three basic types
of question. There are other types of question, for
example tag questions. |
|
|