Yes/no questions and wh-questions differ in form and use. Yes/no questions can be answered with a yes or no and are used to request information. They begin with an auxiliary verb like "is" or "are" before the subject. Wh-questions begin with an interrogative word like "what", "when", or "why" followed by an auxiliary verb and subject. They are also used to request information. Wh-questions can include question phrases with "what" or "how" to ask for specific details like times, colors, frequencies, or durations.
2. Yes/no questions
I. Use
One that we can answer with yes or no
Are you ready? ~ Yes, nearly. No, not quite.
Has anyone seen my bag? ~ Yes, its on the
chair./ No, I dont think so.
These questions are asking for information
(Matthew wants to know if Vicky is ready or
not.)
3. Other uses (when Matthew says Shall we go
then? he is making suggestion, not asking
information
Different uses:
Making suggestion: Shall we eat out tonight?
Requesting: Can/Could you write the
address down for me, please?
Offering: Can I carry something for you?
~No, its OK, thanks.
Inviting: Would you like to come to a
party? ~Yes, Id love to.
Asking permission: May I use your phone? ~Yes, of
course.
4. II. Form
Questions begin with auxiliary verb
Auxiliary verb: form of be or have or modal verb
Auxiliary verb comes before subject
Main verb be also comes before subject
Is it cold out there? Was it easy?
Are you ready?
AUXILIARY SUBJECT VERB
Is
Has
Can
it
David
Emma
raining?
got a car?
drive?
STATEMENT: It is raining.
QUESTION : Is it raining?
5. If more than one auxiliary verb, only first one
comes before subject
Have you been working?
Could we have done better?
Form of do (Present Simple & Past Simple)
AUXILIARY SUBJECT VERB
Do
Does
Did
the
buses
Mark
you
run
every
day?
play
golf?
like the
concert?
STATEMENT:
They do run every day.
QUESTION : Do they run every
day?
6. Question cannot begin with ordinary verb
(run, play or like)
Plays Mark golf?
Liked you the concert?
Verb after subject does not end in s or ed
Does Mark plays golf?
Did you liked the concert?
7. Wh-questions
I. Introduction
Reporter Kitty Beamish is interviewing some
guerilla fighters.
Kitty : Why are you fighting?
Guerrillas : For our freedom.
Kitty : What can you do for the people?
Guerrillas : We can help them.
Kitty : When will the war be over?
Guerrillas : Very soon.
8. A wh-question begins with a question
word. Question words are who, what, which,
whose, where, when, why and how.
We use a wh-question to ask for
information.
9. II. Form
Begin with a question word + an auxiliary
verb + the subject
Auxiliary verb: form of be or have or modal
verb (can)
QUESTION WORD AUXILIARY SUBJECT VERB
What
Where
When
is
have
can
Kitty
you
we
doing ?
put the map?
travel safely?
10. Verb be also comes before the subject in
questions
Where is Kitty?
How are you?
What was that noise?
Only the first auxiliary verb comes before
the subject if there is more than one
The guerrillas have been hiding.
I should have said something.
Where have the guerrillas been
hiding?
What should I have said?
11. In the Present Simple and Past Simple we
use a form of do.
QUESTION WORD AUXILIARY SUBJECT VERB
Where
How
What
do
does
did
people
the radio
the guerrillas
meet?
work?
say?
12. III. Question phrases with what and how
What time is your friend arriving?
~ Half past eight.
What colour is your toothbrush?
~Yellow.
How often do you go out?
~About once a week, usually.
How long will the meeting last?
~An hour or so, I expect.