Introduction to Question Forms in English
Learning question forms in English is essential for everyday conversation. English questions often require a different word order from statements, and the structure changes depending on the verb, tense and type of question.
Compare:
You work in Taipei.
Do you work in Taipei?
And:
She is tired.
Is she tired?
The first question needs the auxiliary verb do, while the second simply moves is before the subject.
English questions can include:
- yes-or-no questions
- Wh- questions
- subject questions
- object questions
- questions with be
- questions with modal verbs
- indirect questions
- negative questions
Understanding the basic patterns makes it much easier to ask natural and grammatically accurate questions.
Want to improve your IELTS Speaking faster?
Join live online IELTS Speaking classes.
Structured weekly practice, small groups and teacher feedback. Choose one 4-week module or complete the full 12-week programme.
Not ready for classes yet? Download the free IELTS Band 7→8 Toolkit.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Basic English question word order
Most English questions use an auxiliary verb before the subject.
A useful general structure is:
question word + auxiliary + subject + main verb
For example:
Where do you live?
What did she buy?
Why have they left?
When will the meeting start?
The auxiliary verb depends on the tense.
The main verb normally stays in its base form after do, does and did.
Incorrect:
Where does she works?
Correct:
Where does she work?
Incorrect:
What did you bought?
Correct:
What did you buy?
Yes-or-no questions
A yes-or-no question can normally be answered with yes or no.
Present simple
Use do or does.
Do you like coffee?
Does she work here?
Do they speak English?
Use does with he, she and it, but keep the main verb in the base form.
Incorrect:
Does he likes football?
Correct:
Does he like football?
Past simple
Use did with every subject.
Did you see the film?
Did he call you?
Did they arrive on time?
Again, the main verb uses the base form:
Did she go?
Not:
Did she went?
Short answers
Repeat the auxiliary verb:
Do you live nearby?
Yes, I do.
No, I don’t.
Did she finish?
Yes, she did.
No, she didn’t.
Wh- questions
Wh- questions ask for specific information rather than a yes-or-no answer.
Common question words include:
- who
- what
- where
- when
- why
- which
- whose
- how
Examples:
Where do you live?
When did the lesson start?
Why are they leaving?
Which book did you choose?
How have you been?
Questions with how
How combines with other words to ask for more specific information.
How old are you?
How often do you exercise?
How long have you lived here?
How much does it cost?
How many students are there?
How far is the station?
The structure after these expressions follows the normal question rules.
Subject and object questions
The difference between subject and object questions is one of the most important areas of English question structure.
Object questions
In an object question, the question word represents the object of the verb.
Statement:
Emma called Daniel.
Question about Daniel:
Who did Emma call?
Emma is still the subject, so we use did + subject + base verb.
Another example:
James bought something.
What did James buy?
These follow normal question word order.
Subject questions
In a subject question, the question word itself is the subject.
Statement:
Emma called Daniel.
Question about Emma:
Who called Daniel?
We do not use do, does or did.
Incorrect:
Who did call Daniel?
Correct:
Who called Daniel?
Compare:
Who saw Sarah?
This asks which person saw Sarah.
Who did Sarah see?
This asks which person Sarah saw.
A useful test is to identify what information is missing. If the missing information is the person or thing performing the action, it is a subject question.
Questions with be and modal verbs
Not every question requires do, does or did. Modal verbs follow their own question structure because the modal itself moves before the subject. Review modal verbs in English for their meanings and other sentence forms.
Questions with be
When be is the main verb, move it before the subject.
Statement:
She is tired.
Question:
Is she tired?
Other examples:
Are you ready?
Was Daniel at work?
Were they busy?
Wh- questions follow the same pattern:
Where are you?
Why was she upset?
When were they in London?
Do not add do.
Incorrect:
Do you are tired?
Correct:
Are you tired?
Questions with modal verbs
Modal verbs also move directly before the subject.
Can you swim?
Should we leave?
Could she help us?
Might they cancel the meeting?
Wh- questions:
What should I do?
Where can we park?
When could you start?
The modal verb itself acts as the auxiliary.
Indirect questions
Indirect questions are often more polite or formal than direct questions.
Direct:
Where is the station?
Indirect:
Could you tell me where the station is?
Notice the important change: after the introductory phrase, use statement word order, not question word order.
Incorrect:
Could you tell me where is the station?
Correct:
Could you tell me where the station is?
Common introductory phrases include:
- Could you tell me...
- Do you know...
- Can you remember...
- Would you mind telling me...
- I was wondering...
- Could you explain...
Indirect Wh- questions
Direct:
Where does she live?
Indirect:
Do you know where she lives?
Direct:
Why did they leave?
Indirect:
Could you tell me why they left?
Do not keep do, does or did inside the indirect question.
Indirect yes-or-no questions
Use if or whether.
Direct:
Is the shop open?
Indirect:
Do you know if the shop is open?
Do you know whether the shop is open?
Direct:
Did Daniel call?
Indirect:
Can you remember if Daniel called?
Indirect questions are especially useful in polite conversation, professional communication and formal situations.
Statement word order also becomes important when reporting another person’s questions. Our reported speech guide explains how direct questions change when they are reported.
Negative questions
Negative questions often express surprise, expectation or a request for confirmation.
Aren’t you coming with us?
The speaker probably expected the person to come.
Didn’t she call you?
The speaker believed that she had called.
Haven’t they finished yet?
The speaker expected the work to be complete.
Negative questions can also make suggestions sound more conversational:
Why don’t we take a taxi?
Why don’t you ask your teacher?
Be careful when answering negative questions because yes and no respond to the actual situation.
Didn’t you go?
Yes, I did.
This means: I went.
No, I didn’t.
This means: I did not go.
Another useful conversational question structure is the question tag, such as It’s cold, isn’t it? Learn the patterns in our guide to question tags in English.
Common mistakes
Keeping statement word order
Incorrect:
Where you live?
Correct:
Where do you live?
Adding do with be
Incorrect:
Do they are ready?
Correct:
Are they ready?
Using the past tense after did
Incorrect:
What did she bought?
Correct:
What did she buy?
Adding an auxiliary to a subject question
Incorrect:
Who did break the window?
Correct:
Who broke the window?
Using question order in indirect questions
Incorrect:
Do you know where does he work?
Correct:
Do you know where he works?
Forgetting does with third-person singular subjects
Incorrect:
Where she live?
Correct:
Where does she live?
Keeping -s after does
Incorrect:
Does your brother works here?
Correct:
Does your brother work here?
Exercises and answers
Correct or complete each question.
- Where __________ you work? (present simple)
- __________ she finish the report yesterday?
- What __________ your brother do?
- Where __________ Daniel last night? (be)
- __________ you ever visited Scotland?
- What __________ we do next? (should)
- Who __________ the window? (break – subject question)
- Who __________ Sarah invite to the party?
- Do you know where the nearest bank __________?
- Could you tell me what time the train __________? (leave)
- Do you know __________ the museum is open today?
- Why __________ they leave early yesterday?
- __________ she coming to the meeting?
- Who __________ you speak to after the lesson?
- __________ you finished your homework yet?
Answers and explanations
- do
Use do with you in the present simple. - Did
Past simple questions use did + subject + base verb. - does
Your brother is third-person singular, so use does. - was
Questions with be do not require do or did: Where was Daniel? - Have
The present perfect question structure is have + subject + past participle. - should
A modal verb moves before the subject. - broke
This is a subject question. Who performs the action, so no auxiliary is required. - did
The missing person is the object, so use did Sarah invite. - is
An indirect question uses statement word order: where the nearest bank is. - leaves
After Could you tell me, use statement word order. - if / whether
Use if or whether for an indirect yes-or-no question. - did
The question refers to a completed past event. - Is
The present continuous uses is + subject + verb-ing. - did
This is an object question: Who did you speak to? - Have
Use have to form a present perfect question.
English question forms become much easier once you identify the type of verb and the information you are asking for. Use do, does and did with ordinary simple-tense verbs, move be and modal verbs directly before the subject, avoid auxiliaries in most subject questions, and remember to return to statement word order in indirect questions.
Related grammar lessons
Join 1,300+ English learners
Join the community for free resources and other learning opportunities.
No spam — only valuable English learning content.