Asking Questions

A question asks for information or checks if something is true. In English, questions often start with a question word or an auxiliary verb. The voice usually rises at the end of the sentence.

Question words ask for different kinds of information. They usually go at the start of the question. Each word has one main use in basic conversation.

For yes or no questions with be, put the form of be before the subject. This is inversion. The main forms are am, is, and are.

For yes or no questions with most verbs, use do or does before the subject. Use do with I, you, we, and they. Use does with he, she, and it.

In wh- questions with be, put the question word first. Then put the form of be before the subject. This pattern asks for information, not only yes or no.

In wh- questions with most verbs, put the question word first. Then use do or does before the subject. The main verb stays in the base form.

English questions often use inversion. This means the auxiliary verb comes before the subject. The question word stays at the beginning when it is used.

Short answers are common in basic conversation. With be questions, answer with the same form of be. With do and does questions, answer with do or does.

You can now understand and form basic English questions. You can use question words, make yes or no questions with be, do, and does, and use short answers. You can also follow basic question word order in everyday conversation.