Learn real English from movies and books.
Add words or phrases for learning and practice with other learners.
-
STEP 1Watch the video
-
STEP 2Do the exercises
-
STEP 3Add phrases you like to Favorites
Questions forms
- 00:00 / 00:00
Click on a word or highlight a phrase to see translation
Click on a word or highlight a phrase to see translation
Click "plus" to add word/phrase for learning
Click "plus" to add word/phrase for learning
Start learning
Start learning
Questions forms
There are a number of different ways of asking questions in the English language. Three of the more conventional methods are: asking object questions, subject questions or auxiliary questions, also known as yes/no questions.
Questions forms- Object questions
Object questions often contain an auxiliary verb, usually do or did but sometimes are as well. When we ask an object question the focus or main information in the answer is contained in the object clause of the answer. This is a complicated way of saying that when we ask an object question we would like a longer answer.
Form of Object questions:
Question word + auxiliary verb + subject + verb +
|
Question form |
Answer to question |
Explanation |
|
What do you do on Saturdays? |
I usually play football on Saturdays
|
By using a present tense object question we get more information from the recipient in reply |
|
Where did you go yesterday? |
My wife and I went to the shops |
This time, we can see a past simple object question which has given us more information than we get with other questions forms. |
|
When are they going? |
They are going soon |
Another good example of how object questions work, here we see that the important information (when they are leaving) in the answer is contained in the object clause |
Questions forms- Subject questions
A speaker of English is forming a subject question when he or she uses a question word (what, where, when, why and so on) as the subject of a sentence construction we do not use auxiliary verbs (do or did, for example) and the word order is the same as affirmative sentences. In contrast to object questions, subject questions tend to be answered with shorter replies.
Form of Subject questions:
Question word + verb + object + ?
|
Question form |
Answer to question |
Explanation |
|
Whose are these keys? |
They're mine
|
All three of the examples highlight how subject questions behave in both the present and the past. We do not have any auxiliary verbs and the word order (subject- verb- object) can be seen. We can also see that the answers are shorter than those found with object sentences |
| Who drank all the orange juice? |
He did |
|
|
What happened? |
Nothing happened |
It is very easy to add an auxiliary verb to subject questions which makes the question look or sound very unnatural and therefore be incorrect.
Where is he? NOT Where did he is?
It is also easy to not include auxiliary verbs in object questions when they are needed
Where do you live? NOT Where you live?
Questions forms- Auxiliary questions
When we want very simple information from someone, like a yes/no answer or perhaps a one-word answer, we use auxiliary questions. Auxiliary questions are very simple and should not be used if the speaker wants more complicated information but they are very useful questions for getting specific information and details. They are often answered with the affirmative (yes…) or the negative (No,…)
Form of auxiliary questions:
Auxiliary verb + subject + verb + ?
|
Question form |
Answer to question |
Explanation |
|
Does he dance here? |
Yes, he does
|
Present simple auxiliary question. Note the affirmative answer copies the structure of the question (Does he…? Yes, he does) |
|
Have they finished? |
No, they haven't |
A present perfect auxiliary question. This time, the answer is negative and notice the way the answer is similar to the question (Have they…? No, they haven't) |
|
Did she call you again? |
Yes, she did! |
Pat simple auxiliary question with answer in the affirmative |
|
Has the film started? |
Not yet, no | Present perfect auxiliary question, in the third person with an answer that is more unconventional but simple still. |
Similar video exercises
Click on a word or highlight a phrase to see translation
Click on a word or highlight a phrase to see translation
Click "plus" to add word/phrase for learning
Click "plus" to add word/phrase for learning