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BBC Learning English Questions

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146 views

BBC Learning English Questions

Uploaded by

Diana
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Question forms

Meaning and Use


In English, there are two basic types of question.

1. Yes/no questions often begin with the verb to be, but can also begin with
other auxiliary verbs, such as do. We ask these when we want a yes or no answer.

Dave: Are you hungry?


Mike: Yes, I’m starving.

Sarah: Did you get here on time?


Emily: No, I missed the bus!

2. Wh-questions start with a question word, such


as who, what, where, when, why or how. We ask this type of question when we
want different kinds of information. These questions cannot be answered with a
yes or no.

Dave: Why are you so hungry?


Mike: I didn’t eat breakfast.

Sarah: When did you get here?


Emily: About half an hour ago.
Form
Yes/no questions that begin with the verb to be are made with to be + subject.

Are you playing football tomorrow?

Was the weather nice yesterday?

If we start with an auxiliary verb, the order is auxiliary + subject + main verb.

Can Jenny speak Chinese?


Did you go to the cinema on Saturday?

Wh-questions can be used to ask about the subject or object of the verb. Compare
these questions:

Who loves Lucy?


Who does Lucy love?

For subject questions, the order is question word + verb + object.

Who wants ice cream for dessert?


Who broke the mirror in the dining room?
Who answered the phone?

The object question form is question word + auxiliary + subject + verb.


What did you do at the weekend?
Where does your brother work?
Who will you ask for help?
Take Note
Asking questions with ‘how’

The question word how is usually combined with other words when asking for
information, such as size, someone’s age, or the price of something.

How big is your apartment?


How old are your children now?
How much is the black dress in the window?
Spoken English
In formal situations, it is common to respond to a yes/no question by repeating the
auxiliary in a complete sentence.

Max: Can you use a computer?


Jill: Yes, I can.

In casual spoken English, we do not need to repeat the auxiliary. Answers do


not always contain 'yes' or 'no'.

Peter: Do you know the way to the train station?


William: Not really.

Lucy: Shall we order sushi?


Sally: Absolutely!
Practice
rearrange the words to make 'yes/no' and wh-questions.
1. anywhere did you weekend interesting last go?

2. grow up did you where?

3. did for your car new much how pay you?

4. into your when you did move new house?

5. listening to what you are?

6. the game basketball who won?

7. I borrow can your phone?

8. you do watch want movie a tonight to?

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