Question in Grammar

Question in Grammar

What is a question in grammar?

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 about something, we use question. It ends with sign of interrogation or question mark.

Question and interrogative sentence 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 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 form of be, it is used in place of 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 verb ‘to be’

Verb (to be) + subject + ……

• Is Ali busy?
• Were they upset?

WH Questions

One type of questions is wh-questions. Wh-questions are used to get information. These questions begins 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 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 of 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 objective case.

• Whom has she invited for the party?

Which

It is used to get information about choice.

• Which subject do you teach?

How

It is used to get information about 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 question word ‘who’

Who + Verb + ……

• Who met you yesterday?
• Who is calling me?

Using of ‘to be’ in simple present and past

Question word + Verb (to be) + Subject + …

• When is next holiday?
• Why is Ali there?

Tag Questions

Tag questions are short questions which are used when we are in doubt or when we want to confirm something. Tag question is added at the end of declarative sentence preceded by comma. If the declarative sentence is positive, the tag question must be negative and vice versa.

• He is an officer, is not she?
• He does not work hard, does he?

We use ‘it’ in tag question for this/that and ‘they’ for these/those.

• That is Ali, is not it?
• These are students, are not these?

We use ‘shall’ in tag question when we give suggestion with let’s, should, etc.

• Let’s go on a trip, shall not we?

Form of Tag Question

Declarative Sentence + Comma + Auxiliary + Subject

• Ali studies math, does not she?

Choice Questions

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 basically 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 something.