Asking questions in English – Question forms

Forming questions in English is essential for effective communication. In this guide, we will explore how to structure questions correctly, focusing on word order, auxiliary verbs, and question words.

Word Order in Questions

The basic structure for questions in English is QWASM:

• Q: Question word (e.g., what, where, why)
• A: Auxiliary verb (e.g., do, does, did)
• S: Subject (e.g., he, she, they)
• M: Main verb (e.g., go, eat, play)

Correct: Where does she work?

Incorrect: Where she does work?

Question Words

Question words help specify the type of information being asked for:

• What: Used to ask about things. Example: What is your name?
• Where: Used to ask about places. Example: Where do you live?
• Who: Used to ask about people. Example: Who is calling?
• Why: Used to ask about reasons. Example: Why are you late?
• When: Used to ask about time. Example: When is the meeting?
• How: Used to ask about manner or process. Example: How do you cook this?

Yes-No Questions

Yes-No questions are formed without question words. The auxiliary verb comes before the subject:

Correct: Do you like ice cream?

Incorrect: You do like ice cream?

Questions with the Verb "Be"

When "be" is the main verb, it acts as the auxiliary. There is no additional auxiliary verb:

Correct: Is he your friend?

Incorrect: Does he is your friend?

Common Mistakes

Here are some common errors learners make when forming questions:

• Incorrect: What time had you dinner?
• Correct: What time did you have dinner?
• Incorrect: Have you to finish it now?
• Correct: Do you have to finish it now?

Practice Exercises

Try forming questions based on these prompts:

1. Ask about someone's favorite food.
2. Ask when a specific event happened.
3. Ask why someone is learning English.