Questions in English Written by: Korn M. 001 sec1 & Suphathida K.058 sec 2
Overview General or Yes/No Questions Special or Wh-Questions Choice Questions Disjunction or Tag Questions Test
What are the General or Yes/No Questions Common questions that can be answered with a simple “ yes ” or “ no ” are logically called yes/no questions. As a rule, this kind of question relates to the whole sentence, and not to a separate element of it.
For example Do you like this country? Does Jane know about your new job? Can I call my sister? The answer can be a brief “ yes ” or “ no.” Or, a longer answer can be given: “Yes, I do.” “No, I don ’t like this country.” The response to a question depends on the verb used. It is similar to auxiliary verbs (do/does, did, will, have/has): Did she clean the room? – Yes, she did/No, she didn ’t. Have you done your homework? – Yes, I have/ No, I haven ’t. Will you buy that dress? – Yes, I will/ No, I won ’t.
What are the Special or Wh-Questions? A special question, as you can guess, uses a certain word at the beginning of the sentence to ask a specific question. The questions words who, what, where, when, why, how, how many, etc., are used to begin the question
For example Where is he from? When did you come here? How did you meet her? Note that questions about a subject (who? what?) have their own special structure; they do not require an auxiliary verb, we replace the subject with the question word. We go to the cinema. – Who goes to the cinema? The glass is on the table. – What is on the table? Most girls here wear skirts. – Who wears skirts here? You can see that after the question words who and what, the third-person singular form of the verb should be used. We use special questions to get specific information.
What are the Choice Questions? Choice questions are questions that offer a choice of several options as an answer (you might recognize them from your exams as multiple-choice questions). They are made up of two parts, which are connected by the conjunction or. Choice questions can be either general, open-ended questions, or more specific. If the question does not center on the subject of the sentence, a complete answer is needed.
For example Does she like ice cream or sweets? – She likes ice cream. Where would you go, to the cinema or the theatre? – I would go to the cinema. Is he a teacher or a student? – He is a student. However, when the question concerns the subject, the auxiliary verb comes before the second option. The answer is short: Does she make it or do you? – She does. Did they buy that house or did she? – They did.
What are the Disjunction or Tag Questions? Question tags are short phrases added to the end of a sentence that turns it into a question. They are used to check or confirm information, express uncertainty, or seek agreement or disagreement. Question tags are formed by using the auxiliary verb (or the main verb) from the statement and inverting the subject and the auxiliary verb. The intonation of the tag can change the meaning of the question.
Types of Questions Tags There are four types of question tags: Affirmative question tags Negative question tags Non-auxiliary verbs Let’ s question tags Examples of Affirmative Question Tags Affirmative question tags are used with positive statements. They are used to check if the person agrees with the statement. Here are some examples: You are coming to the party, aren ’t you? She ’ s a great dancer, isn ’t she?
Examples of Negative Question Tags Negative question tags are used with negative statements. They are used to check if the person agrees with the negative statement or not. Here are some examples: You aren ’t going to the party, are you? She doesn ’t like pizza, does she? He didn ’t pass the exam, did he? They won ’t be here soon, will they? It’ s not raining, is it?
Examples of Non-Auxiliary Question Tags Non-auxiliary verb question tags are used with statements that don ’t have auxiliary verbs. In such cases, the main verb is used to form the question tag. Here are some examples: They sing very well, don ’t they? You play the guitar, don ’t you? She speaks Spanish fluently, doesn ’t she? He loves pizza, doesn ’t he? They live in London, don ’t they?
Examples of Question Tags Let’ s question tags are used to make suggestions or to invite someone to do something. Here are some examples: Let’ s go to the movies, shall we? Let’ s have lunch together, shall we? Let’ s not be late, okay? Let’ s have a party, okay? Let’ s go for a walk, shall we?
Tag Questions Test 1. You’ll be there,___? A. won’t you B. wouldn’t you C. isn 't you D. don’t you 2. He’s not going to get lost,___? A. aren’t I B. I aren’t C. is he D. is she 3. Angela already knew him,___? A. knew she B. didn’t she C. did she D. did we 4. We’ve never met,___? A. haven’t we B. have we C. haven’t they D. have they 5. Joni and Sal don’t like me,___? A. do they B. do I C. do we D. do I 6. He was dating that celebrity chef,___? A. didn’t he B. wasn’t he C. weren’t he D. isn’t he
Tag Questions Test 7. You wouldn’t lie to me,___? A. wouldn’t you B. would you C. wouldn 't I D. would I 8. They aren’t serious,___? A. are they B. do they C. aren’t they D. don’t they 9. It isn’t too cold today,___? A. is it B. it is C. isn’t it D. isn’t he 10. You like chocolate,___? A. don’t it B. don’t you C. do you D. do I 11. We’re not going to have a problem,___? A. are they B. are we C. are you D. aren’t they 12. She’s a great listener,___? A. is he B. isn’t he C. is she D. isn’t she
Answer Sheet
1. You’ll be there,___? A. won’t you B. wouldn’t you C. isn 't you D. don’t you 2. He’s not going to get lost,___? A. aren’t I B. I aren’t C. is he D. is she 3. Angela already knew him,___? A. knew she B. didn’t she C. did she D. did we 4. We’ve never met,___? A. haven’t we B. have we C. haven’t they D. have they 5. Joni and Sal don’t like me,___? A. do they B. do I C. do we D. do I 6. He was dating that celebrity chef,___? A. didn’t he B. wasn’t he C. weren’t he D. isn’t he Tag Questions Test
Tag Questions Test 7. You wouldn’t lie to me,___? A. wouldn’t you B. would you C. wouldn 't I D. would I 8. They aren’t serious,___? A. are they B. do they C. aren’t they D. don’t they 9. It isn’t too cold today,___? A. is it B. it is C. isn’t it D. isn’t he 10. You like chocolate,___? A. don’t it B. don’t you C. do you D. do I 11. We’re not going to have a problem,___? A. are they B. are we C. are you D. aren’t they 12. She’s a great listener,___? A. is he B. isn’t he C. is she D. isn’t she