Question forms

 

Question forms, also known as interrogative sentences, are structures used to ask for information or to make a request.

In English, there are several main types of question forms, each with a specific structure and purpose.

1. Yes/No Questions

These questions are answered with a simple "yes" or "no."

Structure

They typically follow an inversion of the subject and the auxiliary verb (or the main verb be).

 * Auxiliary Verb (Be/Have/Do/Modal) + Subject + Main Verb (+ Object/Complement)?

Examples

 * Is the store open? (using be)

 * Are you coming to the party? (using be)

 * Do you like coffee? (using do as the auxiliary for the simple present)

 * Did they finish the project? (using do for the simple past)

 * Have you seen this movie? (using have for the present perfect)

 * Can I help you? (using a modal verb)

2. Wh- Questions (Information Questions)

These questions use a question word (Wh-word) to ask for specific information, so they cannot be answered with just "yes" or "no."

Question Words

 * Who (person)

 * What (thing/idea/action)

 * When (time)

 * Where (place)

 * Why (reason)

 * Which (choice between options)

 * How (manner/way)

 * Whose (possession)

 * How much/many (quantity)

Structure

 * Wh-word + Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb (+ Object/Complement)?

Examples

 * Where are you going?

 * What did she say?

 * When will they arrive?

 * Why is the door locked?

Note on Subject Questions

When the Wh-word (Who or What) is the subject of the sentence, the auxiliary verb do/does/did is not used, and the word order is like a statement.

 * Who ate the last cookie?

 * What happened?

3. Tag Questions (Question Tags)

These are short questions added to the end of a statement to ask for agreement or confirmation.

Structure

 * Statement, + Auxiliary Verb (opposite polarity) + Subject Pronoun?

The polarity (positive or negative) of the tag is the opposite of the main statement.

 * Positive Statement ~ Negative Tag

 * Negative Statement ~  Positive Tag

Examples

 * It's a beautiful day, isn't it? (Positive statement ~ Negative tag)

 * You haven't finished your homework, have you? (Negative statement ~ Positive tag)

4. Choice Questions (Alternative Questions)

These questions present two or more options to the listener, usually connected by "or."

Structure

 * They typically use the Yes/No Question structure but include options.

Examples

 * Do you want tea or coffee?

 * Are you traveling by train or by bus?

5. Indirect Questions

These are questions embedded within a statement or another question. They are not inverted and use statement word order.

Structure

 * Introductory phrase + question word/if/whether + Subject + Verb (+ Complement).

Examples

 * I wonder what time it is. (Statement word order)

 * Could you tell me where the bathroom is? (Embedded in a question, but the embedded part uses statement word order)

 * I don't know if he will come. (Using if or whether for a Yes/No question)

Excercise 

a) Has she finished her homework already? (Has, Does)

b) What do you usually have breakfast?  (When, What)

c) Did you hear that sound just now? (Did, Do)

d) Whose bag is lying near the window? (Whose, Who's)

e) Who is knocking at the door? (Who, What)

f) Which she like best—tea or coffee? (What, Which)

g) Why  they meet every Sunday? (Why, When)

h) Where have you kept the house keys? (Where, What) 

i) Have the children gone out to play? ( Have, Are)

j) What is your favourite Mangalorean dish? (What, Which)

k) How does your sister travel to college every day? (How, Where)

l) Are you going to the Yakshagana tonight? (Are, Do)

m) When did the power go off last night? (When, Where)

n) Why does Arjun call so late at night? (Why, Where)

o) Who has been reading in the library all afternoon? (Who, Whom)