Questions keep a conversation going, at work, at the doctor's office or on your first day in a new city. English questions follow one clear order: a helper verb comes before the subject. Learn that order and a few question words, and you can ask almost anything.
The pattern
Do you work on the weekend?
Where does she live?
Is your office downtown?
01Yes/no questions: do, does, did or be
Most verbs need a helper to make a question. Use do with I, you, we and they, does with he, she and it, and did for the past. After the helper, the main verb goes back to its base form: Does she work here? not Does she works here?
The verb be (am, is, are, was, were) is different. It doesn't need do. Just move it in front of the subject. Can, will and should work the same way: Can you drive?
| Statement | Question |
|---|---|
| You live in Austin. | Do you live in Austin? |
| He works nights. | Does he work nights? |
| They called. | Did they call? |
| She is tired. | Is she tired? |
| We were late. | Were we late? |
| You can swim. | Can you swim? |
02Question words
Put the question word first, then use the same order as a yes/no question: question word + helper + subject + verb. Where do you work? When did they arrive? Why is he upset?
| Word | Asks about | Example |
|---|---|---|
| what | a thing or an action | What do you do on Fridays? |
| where | a place | Where did you park? |
| when | a time | When does the store close? |
| who | a person | Who is your doctor? |
| why | a reason | Why are you so tired? |
| how | the way | How do you get to work? |
| which | a choice from a few | Which size do you want? |
| whose | the owner | Whose keys are these? |
03How much, how many, how long, how often
How joins other words to ask more exact questions. Use how much with things you can't count (money, time, water) and how many with plural nouns you can count (people, days, apples). How long asks about time, how often about habits, and how far about distance.
- How much is a ticket to Seattle?
- How many people work in your office?
- How long is the drive to the airport?
- How often do you call your parents?
- How far is the nearest pharmacy?
04What or which?
Use what when the choice is open. Use which when there are only a few options in front of you. What time and what kind of are very common in everyday questions.
- What do you want for dinner?
- Which one do you want, the red or the blue?
- What kind of music do you like?
- What time does your shift start?
05Common mistakes
Where you work?
Where do you work?
Add the helper do before the subject.
Does she lives near you?
Does she live near you?
After does, the main verb has no -s.
How much chairs do we need?
How many chairs do we need?
Chairs can be counted, so use how many.
Do you are ready?
Are you ready?
Questions with be don't use do.