Question in Grammar
What is a question in grammar?
A question is a type of sentence
that is used to find out about something or expressed in a form that requires
an answer. In simple words, when we interrogate something, we use a question. It ends with a sign of interrogation or a question mark.
Question and interrogative sentences are two terms used for the same purpose. It is one of the types of sentences.
Examples of Questions
- Is your father a doctor?
- Where should I meet her?
- Did she marry an old man?
- When do you have the meeting?
- What is she doing right now?
- Have you seen my new house?
- Do you visit Study English Page?
- Are they coming to meet us now?
- Will you be at the park tomorrow?
- Do you visit your uncle on weekend?
- Do you like rice with chicken or soup?
- Will you work on your project seriously?
- What will you eat rice or chicken piece?
- Were you present in your class yesterday?
- Was he studying when you reached there?
- Will you be doing something when I come?
- Had you completed your work by the time you were called to leave?
Types of Questions
Yes/No Questions
Yes/No questions are questions that need to be answered by Yes/No. The answer to these questions is Yes or No.
- Do you get up earlier than me?
Yes. I get up earlier than you.
- Are you from Pakistan?
No, I am not. I am from Germany.
- Have you visited UAE?
Yes, I have.
Remember that if the main verb
in a sentence is the form of "be", it is used in place of an auxiliary.
- Are you busy?
Yes, I am.
Form of Yes/No Questions
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Verb
+ …….
- Can you study?
- Do they speak English at home?
With the verb "to be"
Verb (to be) + subject + ……
- Is Ali busy?
- Were they upset?
WH Questions
One type of question is
wh-questions. Wh-questions are used to get information. These questions begin with question words that have the letters 'wh' at the beginning except 'how'.
What
It is used to get information
about something.
- What do you like to do?
Where
It is used to get information
about a place.
- Where are you going?
When
It is used to get information
about time.
- When do you study for your test?
Why
It is used to get information
about the reason for something.
- Why is she running?
Who
It is used to get information
about someone?
- Who has disturbed you?
Whose
It is used to get information
about ownership.
- Whose mobile is there on the table?
Whom
It is used to get information
about someone in an objective case.
- Whom has she invited to the party?
Which
It is used to get information
about choices.
- Which subject do you teach?
How
It is used to get information
about the manner or condition.
- How do you ride a bicycle?
- How is your brother?
Form of Wh-Question
Question word + Auxiliary + Subject
+ Verb + …..
- Why do you eat more potatoes?
- What is she doing right now?
With the question word ‘who’
Who + Verb + ……
- Who met you yesterday?
- Who is calling me?
Using "to be" in simple
present and past
Question word + Verb (to be) +
Subject + …
- When is the next holiday?
- Why is Ali there?
Tag Questions
Tag questions are short
questions that are used when we are in doubt or when we want to confirm
something. A tag question is added at the end of a declarative sentence preceded by a comma. If the declarative sentence is positive, the tag question must be
negative, and vice versa.
- He is an officer, isn't she?
- He does not work hard, does he?
We use ‘it’ in tag questions for
this/that and ‘they’ for these/those.
- That is Ali, isn't it?
- These are students, are not they?
We use ‘shall’ in tag questions when we give suggestions with let’s, should, etc.
- Let’s go on a trip, shan't we?
Form of Tag Question
Declarative Sentence + Comma +
Auxiliary + Subject
- Ali studies math, does not she?
Choice Questions
A choice question is a type of
question that offers one or more choices. The question by itself has its
answer.
- Would you like to take tea or coffee?
- Is he thirsty or hungry?
Form of Choice Question
Auxiliary + Subject + Verb +
Choice
- Do you like to take tea or coffee?
- Has he gone to London or New York?
With the verb "to be"
Verb (to be) + Subject + Choice
- Was she right or wrong?
- Is Ali here or there?
Indirect questions
Indirect questions are declarative sentences. Indirect question reports that a question was
asked.
- She asked if I could speak English.
This is a declarative sentence,
but the indirect question is embedded. The word ‘if’ is used that sets up the
indirect question. This sentence reports that she asked for something.
- Types of sentences
- Declarative Sentences
- Command Sentences
- Exclamations
- Simple Sentences
- Compound Sentences
- Complex Sentences
- Compound Complex Sentences
- Compound vs Complex Sentences
