What is it?
Questions are used to ask for information, confirmation, permission, or help.
English questions often use an auxiliary verb before the subject.
Common question words include:
- who
- what
- where
- when
- why
- which
- how
Examples:
- Do you work here?
- Is she at home?
- Where do they live?
- Why are you tired?
When to use
Use yes-or-no questions when the answer can be yes or no.
- Do you like coffee?
- Is he ready?
- Can they come?
Use question-word questions when you need specific information.
- What do you want?
- Where does she work?
- When are they leaving?
- Why did he call?
- How can I help?
Use questions to ask about:
- people: Who is that?
- things: What is this?
- places: Where do you live?
- time: When does the meeting start?
- reasons: Why are you late?
- choices: Which colour do you prefer?
- methods or conditions: How do you make this?
Structure
Questions with to be
Use:
am/is/are + subject + complement?
| Statement | Question |
|---|---|
| She is tired. | Is she tired? |
| They are ready. | Are they ready? |
| I am late. | Am I late? |
For past questions, use was or were.
- Was he at work?
- Were they busy?
Questions with other verbs
Use do or does in the Present Simple.
do/does + subject + base verb?
| Subject | Auxiliary | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I / you / we / they | do | Do they live here? |
| he / she / it | does | Does she work here? |
Use did in the Past Simple.
did + subject + base verb?
- Did you call her?
- Did he finish the task?
Questions with modal verbs
Put the modal verb before the subject.
modal verb + subject + base verb?
- Can you swim?
- Could she help us?
- Should we leave?
- Will they come?
Question-word questions
Put the question word before the auxiliary verb.
question word + auxiliary + subject + main verb?
- Where do you work?
- What does she need?
- Why did they leave?
- When will he arrive?
With to be, use:
question word + am/is/are/was/were + subject?
- Where is she?
- Why are they angry?
- When was the meeting?
Subject questions
When who or what is the subject, do not use do, does, or did.
- Who called you?
- What happened?
- Who lives here?
Compare:
- Who called Anna? — asks about the person who called
- Who did Anna call? — asks about the person Anna called
Examples
- Do you speak English?
- Does your brother live nearby?
- Did they arrive on time?
- Is she at work today?
- Were you tired yesterday?
- Can you help me?
- Where do your parents live?
- Why did he leave early?
- What are you doing?
- Who opened the window?
Exceptions
Do not use do, does, or did with to be.
- Correct: Is she ready?
- Incorrect: Does she be ready?
Do not use do, does, or did with modal verbs.
- Correct: Can he drive?
- Incorrect: Does he can drive?
When a question word is the subject, normal subject-question word order is used.
- Who knows the answer?
- What caused the problem?
Some questions can have a statement-like form in informal speech when the speaker is surprised or checking information.
- You finished already?
- She lives here?
These forms are common in conversation but are less suitable in formal writing.
Common mistakes
-
Incorrect: You like coffee? Correct: Do you like coffee? Explanation: Use do to form a Present Simple question.
-
Incorrect: Does she works here? Correct: Does she work here? Explanation: Use the base verb after does.
-
Incorrect: Did he went home? Correct: Did he go home? Explanation: Use the base verb after did.
-
Incorrect: Do they are ready? Correct: Are they ready? Explanation: Do not use do with the verb to be.
-
Incorrect: Where she lives? Correct: Where does she live? Explanation: Put does before the subject in a Present Simple question.
-
Incorrect: Why you are late? Correct: Why are you late? Explanation: Put are before the subject.
-
Incorrect: Does he can swim? Correct: Can he swim? Explanation: Put the modal verb before the subject without does.
-
Incorrect: Who did call you? Correct: Who called you? Explanation: Do not use did when who is the subject.