Explanation
Exercises
Question Types — word order, forms & polite options

What kinds of questions do we make?

  • Yes/No → Do you like sushi?
  • Wh-questions (who/what/where/when/why/how, which, whose) → Where do you live?
  • Choice (A or B) → Tea or coffee?
  • Subject questions → Who called?
  • Negative questions → Haven’t you finished?
  • Indirect / embedded → Could you tell me where the station is?

Core word order

TypePatternExample
With be / have (aux) / modal Q-word (if needed) + aux/modal + subject + main verb Where are they going? • Can you swim?
Present/Past simple (no aux) Q-word + do/does/did + subject + base verb What time does the shop open? • Did you enjoy it?
Be as the main verb Q-word + be + subject Are you ready? • Where is the museum?

Yes/No questions usually have rising intonation; wh- questions usually fall.

Questions & prepositions

Everyday English keep the preposition at the end (preposition “stranding”):

  • What are you looking for?
  • Who did you go with?

More formal place the preposition before the question word (and use whom for people):

  • To whom did you speak?
  • With which company did she sign?

Subject questions (who/what/which/how many … = the subject)

When the question word itself is the subject, there is no do/does/did and no inversion in the present/past simple.

  • Who called you? (NOT Who did call you?)
  • Which team won?
  • How many students came?

In other tenses, keep the auxiliary: Who is waiting? • Who has finished?

Negative questions

Use them to check information you expect to be true, or to show surprise/criticism.

  • Check: Don’t you live nearby?
  • Surprise: Didn’t you like the film?

Full form places not after the subject: Did you not enjoy it?

Indirect (embedded) questions

Use a polite “frame” + a clause in statement order (subject + verb), not question order.

FramePatternExample
Could you tell me…
Do you know…
I’d like to know…		 Q-word + subject + verb Do you know where the nearest ATM is?
Yes/No content if / whether + subject + verb Can you tell me whether it’s open?

If the frame itself is a question (Could you…?), end with a question mark. If it’s a statement (I wonder…), use a full stop.

Choice questions

Offer alternatives with or. Grammar = normal Yes/No form + options:

  • Would you like tea or coffee?
  • Is your meeting at 3 or at 4?

How much / How many + noun

  • How many books did you buy?
  • How much time do we have?

Helping verbs you need to remember

CaseWhat to useExample
No auxiliary in the statement (present/past simple) do / does / did Do you work here? • When did it start?
Be as a main verb no “do” — invert be Are they at home?
Modal verbs invert the modal Should we book?
Have got (possession, BrE) invert have Have you got a minute?

Common pitfalls to avoid

  • ❌ Do you know where is the bank?
    ✔ Do you know where the bank is?
  • ❌ Where you are going?
    ✔ Where are you going?
  • ❌ Who did call you? (subject question)
    ✔ Who called you?
  • ❌ Using who after a preposition in formal style
    ✔ To whom did you speak?
Exercises:
1
2
3

Question Types: An Overview

Choose the correct forms to complete the following questions.
1
Emma is talking to someone. Do you know who ?
2
Someone took my umbrella. Who it?
3
You saw something yesterday. What yesterday?
4
What time the meeting?
5
He lives somewhere in Spain. Can you tell me where ?
6
Which door ?
7
They’re going somewhere this weekend. Where this weekend?
8
Which city born in?
9
Do you know if coming tonight?
10
He left early. Why so early?

Question Types: An Overview

Choose the correct forms to complete the questions below.
1
I can’t remember where ____ the keys.
A.
B.
C.
2
Who ____ the window?
A.
B.
C.
3
What ____ last weekend?
A.
B.
C.
4
____ ready for the meeting?
A.
B.
C.
5
How long ____ here?
A.
B.
C.
6
____ finished yet?
A.
B.
C.
7
Which train ____ from platform 4?
A.
B.
C.
8
Where ____ meet?
A.
B.
C.
9
Could you tell me what time ____?
A.
B.
C.
10
____ want, tea or coffee?
A.
B.
C.

Question Types: An Overview

Ask questions about the underlined words in these sentences
1
She bought her first car in 2015. ⇒ ?
2
Tom met his wife in Paris. ⇒ ?
3
The meeting starts at 9 a.m. ⇒ ?
4
They are waiting for their manager. ⇒ ?
5
I borrowed your laptop yesterday. ⇒ ?
6
We moved to Toronto last year. ⇒ ?
7
Sarah has been cooking dinner since 6 o’clock. ⇒ ?
8
He paid $200 for those shoes. ⇒ ?
9
Mark goes to the gym twice a week. ⇒ ?
10
I sent the report to Maria. ⇒ ?