100 Examples of Questions in English

the questions in english (questions) they have a completely different structure and order than affirmative sentences. For example:

• Affirmative sentence: You went to the park.
• Ask: Did you go to the park? (And not: You went to the park?)

• See also: Interrogative sentences in English

How to ask questions in English?

To ask most of the questions in English, the following structure must be respected:

(wh-word) + auxiliary + subject + verb?
Where do you work? / Where do you work?

The questions in English:

• They require auxiliaries according to the tense. The auxiliaries have no meaning or translation, but are required to ask questions. For example: where does she work? (And not:Where does she work?)
• They require inversion between the subject and the auxiliary, which comes first, unlike in affirmations. For example: Have I left?(And not: He has left?)
• They only have a question mark at the end and not at the beginning, unlike Spanish. For example: Who did she call?(And not: Who did she call her?)
• They are divided into two categories: wh-questionsand yes-no questions.

• See also: Questions with "do" and "does”

Types of questions in English

There are two main types of questions in English:

1. Questions wh- (wh- questions)
2. yes/no questions (yes no questions)

The rest of the questions in English are derived from these two main types of questions:

1. Tag questions
2. indirect questions (indirect questions)
3. Questions reported speech (reported questions)
4. negative questions (negative questions)

Questions wh- in English

The questions wh- in English either wh-questions are questions that require information as an answer.

They always start with a word wh-(what, where, when), also called interrogative adverb. The structure of the wh-questionsis: Wh- + auxiliary + subject + verb?

• En donde Vives? / Where do you live?
• Why did you eat?/ Why did you come?
• What do you do for a living?/ What do you do for a living?

Exception: The subject questions (that ask about the subject) do not follow the same structure as the rest of the wh-questions, since you cannot make an inversion between the verb and the subject, which is unknown. For example: quien composed the Ninth Symphony? (And not: Who did compose... ?)

Verb to be. The verbto bedoes not have auxiliaries in present simple and past simple. The structure with the verb to beis: Wh- + verb to be + subject? For example: Why are you happy?

• See more at: “wh-questions" in English

Yes / no questions in English

The yes/no questions in English oryes no questionsare questions that expect a “yes” or “no” answer (and not information, such as wh-questions).

These questions always begin with an auxiliary and their structure is the same as that of the wh-questions, without the interrogative adverb at the beginning: Auxiliary + subject + verb?

• Do you like chocolate?/ You like chocolate?
• Did you hear the news?/ Did you hear the news?
• Have you done your homework?/ Have you done your homework?

Verb to be. As in the wh-questions, the verb to be does not have auxiliaries in present simpleand past simple, so only the inversion between the verb and the subject is made to ask questions. The structure is: Verb to be + subject + ? For example: Are you happy?

• See more at: “Yes-no questions" in English

Other types of questions in English

There are other subtypes of questions in English that emerge from theyes no questionsand of the wh-questions but they have different structures and are used in different grammatical contexts.

Tag questionsin English

The tag questionsin english or question tags, in Spanish “interrogative tags”, are used to involve the interlocutor or to obtain confirmation, depending on the context. They are equivalent in Spanish to: “no?”, “yes?”, “verdad?”, at the end of the sentence. For example: you are tired aren't you? / You're tired, aren't you?

The tag questionsThey are formed by repeating the auxiliary of the verb of the sentence. When the sentence is positive, the auxiliary of the tag questionit is negative. When the sentence is negative, the auxiliary of the tag question is positive. If the phrase does not have an auxiliary, add do, did, did, as appropriate.

• She is traveling on business, ella is not she?
• You haven't been here before, have you?
• Candice will be in Scotland next week, won't she?

If the intonation of the tag question low (affirmation tone), means that the speaker wants to continue the talk. It's not a real question. For example: You don't like fish, do you? ↘/ You don't like fish, do you?

If the intonation of the tag questiongoes up (question tone), means that the speaker wants to confirm the information with the interlocutor. It is a real question. For example: He was born in Canada, wasn't he? ↗/ He was born in Canada, wasn't he?

• See more at: “Question tags”

Indirect questions in English

Indirect questions in English or indirect questionsThey are used to ask a question, request information or help in a more polite and friendly way. They always start with an introductory phrase at the beginning of the question. (Could you tell me???, Do you know???), which precedes the word wh- in a wh-question or to the word ifin a yes-no question.

Indirect questions in English have the same structure and the same order as statements, that is, there is no inversion between the subject and the auxiliary. For example:Could you tell me where the city halles?(And not: Could you tell me where is the city hall?)

Some introductory phrases for the indirect questions are:

• Do you know… ?/ Knows … ?
• Can you tell me…?/ Can you tell me … ?
• Do you happen to know…? / Does she happen to know…?
• I'd like to know.../ I would like to know …
• I'm not sure... / I'm not sure …

Attention: In contexts such as asking a stranger for information or asking for help on the street, the indirect questions, since the use of a direct question (yes-no question either wh-question) it can sound ruder and less friendly.

• See more at: «Indirect questions" in English

Questions reported speechin English

The questions of reported speechin English, reported questions either reported speech questions, They serve to tell or “report” what a person asked. They always begin with the sentences: He asked, she wanted to know.

The reported questionsThey are not direct questions, but indirect ones, since they are a report of the original question. They have the same structure as statements and statements. indirect questions, that is, there is no inversion between the subject and the auxiliary. For example:

• Mom asked me where I was. (And not:… where was I). / Mom asked me where she was.
• He wanted to know if I had liked the movie./ He wanted to know if he liked the movie.
• They asked her why I would leave./ They asked him why I would leave.

Attention: Unlike the indirect questions, the reported questionsThey do not have a question mark.

Negative questions in English

Negative questions in English or negative questions They are used to express various emotions. Depending on the context, they can express surprise, criticism or a suggestion. They always have a negative auxiliary.

• No do you like chocolate?/ You don't like chocolate? (surprise)
• Can't you see you're interrupting? / Can't you see you're interrupting? (criticism)
• Wouldn't is it better to call them?/ Wouldn't it be better to call them? (suggestion)

Examples of wh-questions

1. How are you?
   How are you?
2. What is your favorite color?
   What is your favorite color?
3. When will he come back?
   When will he return?
4. Where did it happen?
   Where did it happen?
5. What do you usually do in your free time?
   What do you usually do in your free time?
6. How far do you live from school?
   How far do you live from school?
7. Why did you say that?
   Why did you say that?
8. Who does he love?
   Who does he love?
9. What were you doing just now?
   What were you doing just now?
10. Which travel destination would you choose?
    What travel destination would you choose?
11. Who wrote “King Lear”?
    Who wrote "King Lear"?
12. What do you like reading?
    What do you like to read?
13. How many do you need?
    How many you need?
14. Where do they live?
    Where they live?
15. How do you commute to work?
    How do you go to work?

Examples of yes no questions

1. Do you like jazz?
   Do you like jazz?
2. Did you go to school yesterday?
   Did you go to school yesterday?
3. Are they going on vacation this year?
   Are you going on vacation this year?
4. Was he born in San Francisco?
   She was born in San Francisco?
5. Will Jenny apply for that job?
   Will Jenny apply for that job?
6. Can I borrow your dictionary?
   Can I borrow your dictionary?
7. Should we start the meeting?
   Shall we start the meeting?
8. Were you having a shower when I called?
   Were you taking a shower when I called you?
9. Have you ever been to Asia?
   Has she been in Asia?
10. Did Emma go to the party?
    Emma went to the party?
11. Will you give me a hand?
    Can you give me a hand?
12. Does she live far?
    He lives far away?
13. Have you proposed?
    Has he proposed to you?
14. Are you going to bed?
    You go to sleep?
15. Will we have finished the project by the end of the year?
    Will we have finished the project by the end of the year?

Examples of tag questions

1. You aren't leaving yet, are you?
   You're not leaving now, are you?
2. It is a lovely day, isn't it?
   It's a beautiful day, isn't it?
3. Your name isn't Jill, is it?
   Your name isn't Jill, is it?
4. You hadn't seen the play before, had you?
   You hadn't seen the play before, had you?
5. They come from Mexico, don't they?
   They come from Mexico, right?
6. You didn't attend classes yesterday, did you?
   He didn't attend classes yesterday, right?
7. He can't speak seven foreign languages, can he?
   He can't speak seven languages, can he?
8. I should take your advice, shouldn't I?
   He should take your advice, right?
9. Ted hasn't been to Japan yet, has he?
   Ted hasn't been to Japan yet, has he?
10. You have taken vacation this year, haven't you?
    You've taken a vacation this year, haven't you?
11. We have seen each other before, haven't we?
    We've met before, haven't we?
12. They don't work for Nike, do they?
    They don't work for Nike, do they?
13. Tim has a driver's license, doesn't he?
    Tim has a driver's license, right?
14. You used to work in the software industry, didn't you?
    You used to work in the software industry, right?
15. The baby is one year old, isn't he?
    The baby is one year old, right?

Examples of indirect questions

1. Could you tell me if there is a pharmacy near here?
   Could you tell me if there is a pharmacy near here?
2. Do you know if trains run late on Sundays?
   Do you know if the trains run late on Sundays?
3. Have you any idea what time banks close in England?
   Do you have any idea what time the banks close in England?
4. Do you happen to know where the tourist information office is?
   Do you know where the tourist office is?
5. Can you tell me what time the Parliament visit starts?
   Can you tell me what time the visit to Parliament starts?
6. I'd like to know if there are good restaurants near here.
   I would like to know if there are any good restaurants near here.
7. Could you tell me how to get to the Louvre Museum?
   Could you tell me how to get to the Louvre Museum?
8. I'm not sure where the next bus stop is.
   I'm not sure where the next bus stop is.
9. Do you know what season is more convenient to travel?
   Do you know in which season it is more convenient to travel?
10. I don't know if passports are required.
    I don't know if passports are required.
11. Could you tell me if there is an entrance fee?
    Could you tell me if there is an admission fee?
12. Do you know if we can enter the White House?
    Do you know if we can get into the White House?
13. Could you tell me if Buckingham Palace is open during the summer?
    Could you tell me if Buckingham Palace is open during the summer?
14. Do you happen to know if visitors are allowed into the building?
    Do you know if visitors are allowed into the building?
15. Do you know if there is a strike today?
    Do you know if there is a strike today?

Examples of reported questions

1. He asked me who I had heard the news from.
   She asked me from whom I had heard the news.
2. She asked what time the show started.
   She asked what time the show started.
3. Dad asks if you want to come with us.
   Dad asks if you want to come with us.
4. I asked him why he had left so early.
   I asked him why he had left so early.
5. She asks what time it is.
   She asks what time is it.
6. Mandy asked us to wait for her.
   Mandy asked us to wait for her.
7. The children asked if they could stay up late.
   The children asked if they could stay up late.
8. He wondered if he might travel too.
   She wondered if he could travel too.
9. My sister wanted to know whether she should wear a formal dress.
   My sister wanted to know if she should wear a formal dress.
10. She asked me how old I am.
    She asked me how old I am.
11. He asked me if I loved him.
    She asked me if she loved him.
12. I asked them if they would like a coffee.
    I asked them if they wanted a coffee.
13. The teacher asked who had written the essay.
    The teacher asked who had written the essay.
14. My friends have asked me to help them.
    My friends have asked me to help them.
15. The woman asked me where the bus station was.
    The woman asked me where the bus station was.

Examples of negative questions

1. Haven't we met before?
   Didn't we know each other before?
2. Why didn't you eat?
   Why you did not come?
3. Don't you enjoy dancing?
   Don't you enjoy dancing?
4. What doesn't he like about school?
   What don't you like about school?
5. Haven't you finished your homework yet?
   Still haven't finished your homework?
6. Doesn't he like sushi?
   Don't like sushi?
7. Aren't you coming?
   Not coming?
8. Isn't the elevator working?
   The elevator does not work?
9. Why didn't you enjoy the party?
   Why didn't you enjoy the party?
10. Hadn't we spoken about this?
    Haven't we talked about this?
11. Don't you think the puppy is adorable?
    Don't you think the puppy is adorable?
12. Isn't it a gorgeous sight?
    Isn't that a lovely sight?
13. Don't you love me?
    You do not love me?
14. Why don't they like soccer?
    Why don't you like soccer?
15. Why don't you want to travel?
    Why don't you want to travel?

Follow with:

• «No" and "not" in English
• Questions with "which”
• Questions with "que”
• interjections in english
• Questions with "do" and "does”
• Affirmative and negative sentences in English

Interactive test to practice