How to Ask Questions in English

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Asking questions is one of the most important skills in any language, not just English. This is a quick overview of how to form questions, from basic to more advanced.

1. WH-Questions (What, Where, When, Who, Why, How)
These words ask for information, not just “yes/no.”
The WH-word usually comes at the beginning.

Structure:
WH-word + helping/auxiliary verb (do/does/did/be/have) + subject + main verb

​Examples:

• What does she design? 
• Where do you live?
• When did she arrive?
• Who is your teacher?

​In WH-questions with be as the main verb, the question word (WH) comes first, followed by the correct form of be, then the subject.

Structure:
WH-word + am / is / are / was / were + subject (+ complement)?

Examples:
Present tense

• Who is your teacher? 
• Where are the kids? 
• How are you today?

Past tense

• When was the party? 
• Where were you yesterday? 

Practice:
Make questions:

1. (What / you / eat for breakfast?)
2. (Where / he / go yesterday?)
3. (How / she / feel?)

2. Do/Does/Did Questions (Yes/No questions)
👉 We use do/does/did when the main verb is not “be” or a modal (like can, should).
👉 These questions ask for confirmation or yes/no answers.
Structure:

• Do/Does/Did + subject + base form of verb

Examples:

• Do you like pizza?
• Does she play the piano?
• Did they watch the movie?

Practice:
Change these into questions:

1. You speak Spanish.
2. She likes coffee.
3. They went to the park.

3. Questions with Be (Am/Is/Are/Was/Were)
When the main verb is be, we don’t use “do/does/did.” Instead, the correct form of be (am / is / are / was / were) goes before the subject to form the question.

Structure:

• Be (am/is/are/was/were) + subject + (rest of sentence)?

Examples:

• Are you a student? (NOT: Do you be a student?)
• Is he tired?
• Were they at home yesterday?
• Am I late?

Practice:
Make questions:

1. She is upset. → Is she upset?
2. They are really busy.
3. He was quite sick.
4. The packages are ready to ship. 
5. The shops were closed last weekend. 

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More Advanced Structures

1. Questions with Modals (can, should, will, would, might)
These are usually yes or no questions. 

Structure:
Modal + subject + base verb + (rest of sentence)?

Examples:

• Can you swim?
• Shall we start the meeting?
• Should I call him?
• Will they come tomorrow?

Common error: Not using the base verb with modals

• ❌ Incorrect: Will the driver picking us up at the airport?
• ✅ Correct: Will the driver pick us up at the airport?​

​2. Negative Questions
These types of questions are used for: 

• Expectation/confirmation: Isn’t it your turn? (I think it is, I just want you to confirm.)
• Polite offers/suggestions: Why don’t we go for a walk?
• Surprise: Didn’t you hear the news? (I thought you already knew.)

General structure:
Auxiliary/Modal + n’t + subject (+ main verb)…?
or: (WH-word) + Auxiliary/Modal + n’t + subject (+ main verb)…?

Examples:

• Don’t you like chocolate?
• Isn’t she your friend?
• Didn’t he call you?
• Can't we start now?
• Why don't you give it a try first?

3. Indirect Questions (more polite)
We often use these in formal or polite situations.
General structure:
Polite phrase + WH-word + subject + verb + (rest of sentence)?

Examples:

• Could you tell me where the station is?
• Do you know what time it starts?
• I wonder why he left early.

For a more thorough understanding of indirect questions, see our article on How to Ask Indirect Questions in English.

​4. Question Tags (for checking information)
This type of question is made up of a statement + short question at the end.

​General structure: 
Statement  + Auxiliary verb (positive/negative) + Subject pronoun?
​
Examples:

• If the statement is positive → the tag is negative.
  • You are tired, aren’t you?
  • She has finished, hasn’t she?
  • They were at the party, weren’t they?
• If the statement is negative → the tag is positive.
  • He isn’t coming, is he?
  • She doesn’t like tea, does she?
  • They haven’t eaten yet, have they?

5. Quick Practice Review
Turn these sentences into questions in different ways:

1. She is your sister.
2. They play football on weekends.
3. He can drive a car.
4. You saw her yesterday.
5. She will come to the party.