Question forms

Introduction

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Lead-in

What are the 8 question words in English?

Who, What, Where, When, Whose, Which,
Why, How (Wh- questions)

How many questions can you make with

‘how’?

How much / many / often / long / far / high /

deep / wide / young / old / do / did / can /
well / is / are etc.

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Meaning and use
We use questions to get information that we don't know.

We use closed questions for yes/no answers:

Do you study every day?

Have you been to London?
Could you help me?
Are you English?

English Online | www.britishcouncil.org

Meaning and use
We use question words to get more information about a specific thing.
Match the question word to its meaning.
Who time
What place
Where possession
When people
Whose things
Which process
Why reason
How choice of limited options
English Online | www.britishcouncil.org
Meaning and use
We use question words to get more information about a specific thing.
Match the question word to its meaning.
Who time
What place
Where possession
When people
Whose process
Which things
Why reason
How choice of limited options
English Online | www.britishcouncil.org
Forms
Let's take a look at 4 question forms and notice how the word order varies
according to the number and type of verbs used in their construction.

1. Are you ill today? (using ‘be’ to ask a question, the subject and be are inverted)
2. Do you exercise? (using auxiliary to ask yes or no question (closed question), the
subject and auxiliary are inverted; all main verbs except ‘be’)
Have you been drinking coffee? (when there's more than one auxiliary, invert the
first auxiliary)
3. Where/Why do you exercise? (using a question word to get information (open
question)
4. What’s happening? (subject questions, don't use auxiliaries and inversion)

English Online | www.britishcouncil.org

Form (Types 1)
'be' verb + subject + object?
Are you ill today? Yes, I am.
Was anyone at home? Luckily no, so no one was harmed.
Use am/is/are/was/were as your verb.

You are ill today. (statement)

'be' and subject are inverted
Are you ill today? (question)

English Online | www.britishcouncil.org

Form (Type 2 )
Auxiliary + subject (+ aux. verb 2) + verb + object?

Can you swim? No, I can’t.

Did he do his homework? Yes, he did. answers are 'yes' or 'no'
Have you been drinking coffee? Yes, I have. (closed question)

He can't swim. (statement)

aux and subject are inverted
Can he swim? (question)

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Form (Type 3)
You can add a question word to type 1 and 2 questions.
Question word + auxiliary + subject (+ aux. verb 2) + verb + object?

Why are you ill today? I got caught in the rain.

When did he do his homework? This afternoon. answers are 'information'
How much coffee have you been drinking? Lots! (open question)
Questions with who, what, how
much may require word
He can't swim. (statement) order additions/changes.
aux and subject are still inverted
Why can't he swim? (question)
English Online | www.britishcouncil.org
Form (Type 4)
Question word + verb (+ object)?
What’s happening? We are watching a film.
Who took the milk? My friend took the milk.

Here, the question word replaces the subject of the sentence i.e. The unknown
information is the person or thing who 'does' the verb (the agent)

Linh opened the window. (Linh is the subject to open, she is the agent)
sub verb object

Who opened the window? (I don't know who did the action – subject question)

English Online | www.britishcouncil.org

Check your understanding

What type (1-4) are each of the questions. How would you answer?

1)How long have you been studying at the British Council? = 3

2)Who has studied at the BC face-to-face before studying online? = 4
3)Is learning English important for everyone? = 1
4)Will you continue to study online until you reach your language goals? =2

Type 1 – 'be' question

Type 2 – auxiliary(aux)/closed question
Type 3 – question word(qw)/open question
Type 4 – subject question

English Online | www.britishcouncil.org

Key point: check if you are asking about the subject or
the object
We use all four question forms to ask about the subject and the object.

The type used depends on:

1: complement/auxiliary verbs used
2: whether the subject/verb are inverted

Grammar tip:
Subject and verb are reversed when the questions ask about the subject.

English Online | www.britishcouncil.org

Grammar Checkout

Now try this! Fill in the gaps with the correct missing word(s).

1. _____ is responsible for recruiting new staff?

2. When _____ we have to leave for the airport?
3. _____ you ever _____ to England?

English Online | www.britishcouncil.org

Grammar Checkout - Answers

Now try this! Fill in the gaps with the correct missing word(s).

1. Who is responsible for recruiting new staff?

2. When do we have to leave for the airport?
3. Have you ever been to England?

English Online | www.britishcouncil.org

Thank you for attending this
presentation!
Review the next few slides for lessons linked to this Live25 webinar.

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/english-grammar-
reference/questions-and-negatives
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