Mastering English Questions: A Simple Guide to Asking and Answering Correctly

Asking questions is one of the most important skills in any language. In English, we use questions to get information, make requests, or clarify something we don’t understand. There are different types of questions, such as yes/no questions, wh- questions, and choice questions.

In this lesson, you will learn how to form and use different question types correctly. Let's start with a simple conversation.

Dialogue: A Visit to the Café

Anna: Hi, I’m looking for a café. Where is the nearest café?

Tom: There’s one around the corner. What kind of coffee do you like?

Anna: I like cappuccino. How much is a cappuccino here?

Tom: It’s $4. Do you want anything else?

Anna: Yes, a croissant. Can I pay by card?

Tom: Sure! Would you like it to go or for here?

Anna: For here, please. When does the café close?

Tom: At 8 PM. Enjoy your coffee!

Where is the nearest café?

Types of Questions in English

1. Yes/No Questions

These questions can be answered with yes or no.

  • Do you like coffee? → Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.

  • Is this your book? → Yes, it is. / No, it isn’t.

How to form:

  • Use do/does/did for present or past simple.

  • Use is/are/was/were for verb "to be".

  • Use can/would/may/etc. for modal verbs.

2. Wh- Questions

These questions ask for specific information. They start with who, what, when, where, why, how.

  • Where is the café?

  • What do you want to eat?

  • How much is a cappuccino?

How to form:

  • Start with a wh- word, then use helping verb (do/does/is/can etc.) + subject + main verb.

3. Choice Questions

These offer two or more options.

  • Do you want tea or coffee?

  • Would you like to go now or later?

How to form:

  • Use yes/no question structure but include choices.

4. Tag Questions

These are short questions at the end of a sentence to confirm something.

  • You like coffee, don’t you?

  • She is coming, isn’t she?

How to form:

  • Use positive statement + negative tag or negative statement + positive tag.

Practice Exercise

Complete the questions:

  1. ______ is your best friend?

  2. ______ do you go to school?

  3. ______ you like pizza?

  4. ______ does this cost?

  5. ______ are you feeling today?

(Answers: 1. Who, 2. Where, 3. Do, 4. How much, 5. How)

Conclusion

Now you know the basic question types in English! Try to practice by asking questions in everyday situations. The more you practice, the easier it will be to communicate confidently!

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