Question Structure | Question Types | Questions Quiz

Basic Question Types

There are 3 basic types of question:

Yes/No Questions (the answer to the question is "Yes" or "No")
Question Word Questions (the answer to the question is "Information")
Choice Questions (the answer to the question is "in the question")

1. Yes/No Questions

auxiliary verb	subject	main verb		Answer Yes or No
Do	you	want	dinner?	Yes, I do.
Can	you	drive?		No, I can't.
Has	she	finished	her work?	Yes, she has.
Did	they	go	home?	No, they didn't.
Exception! verb be simple present and simple past
	Is	Anne	French?	Yes, she is.
	Was	Ram	at home?	No, he wasn't.

2. Question Word Questions

question word	auxiliary verb	subject	main verb		Answer Information
Where	do	you	live?		In Paris.
When	will	we	have	lunch?	At 1pm.
Who	did	she	meet?		She met Ram.
Why	hasn't	Tara	done	it?	Because she can't.
Exception! verb be simple present and simple past
Where		is	Bombay?		In India.
How		was	she?		Very well.

3. Choice Questions

auxiliary verb	subject	main verb		OR		Answer In the question
Do	you	want	tea	or	coffee?	Coffee, please.
Will	we	meet	John	or	James?	John.
Did	she	go	to London	or	New York?	She went to London.
Exception! verb be simple present and simple past
	Is	your car	white	or	black?	It's black.
	Were	they	$15	or	$50?	$15.

Now check your understanding »

These pages show the three basic types of question. There are other types of question, for example tag questions.