Question formation overview

[James Trotta]

This is just an introduction to question formation in English. It is not meant to explain everything so please ask questions.

Question formation:

English questions usually have different word order than statements. When you are unsure about how to form a question, it can be helpful to make a statement and then change the word order. You may also need to change some words.

Present tense questions:

Do + subject + verb

You remember. => Do you remember?
He understands. => Does he understand?
You know Paul. => Do you know Paul?
Paul speaks French. => Does Paul speak French?
Paul and his wife smoke. => Do Paul and his wife smoke?
They live in Rome. => Do they live in Rome?

Be + subject + adjective OR noun

Paul is Italian => Is Paul Italian?
Paul and his wife are smart. => Are Paul and his wife smart?

Italian is a hard language to learn. => Is Italian a hard language to learn?
There are languages that are harder to learn. => Are there languages that are harder to learn?
Rome is a city in Italy. => Is Rome a city in Italy?

Wh + do + subject + verb

Paul speaks (how) many languages. => How many languages does Paul speak?
Paul works (where). => Where does Paul work?
He works there (why). => Why does he work there?

Wh + is + subject

Paul is (where). => Where is Paul?
It is (what time). => What time is it?
Paul's birthday is (when). => When is Paul's birthday?

To make past tense questions, just change the verb tense:

Did you remember? Did Paul and his wife smoke? Not Did Paul and his wife smoked?
Where did Paul work? Why did he work there?
Where was Paul? When was Paul's birthday?

Tenses other than present simple and past simple usually have an auxiliary verb which can be moved to form a question:

Present continuous: You are going. => Are you going?
Present perfect: They have gone. => Have they gone?
Future: They will go. => Will they go?

[Lee Hyun-Suk]

< Do + subject + verb >

He Plays baseball. => Does he play baseball?

David drives his car. => Does David drive his car?


< Be + subject + verb >

You are a student. => Are you a student?

Paul is a handsome boy. => Is Paul handsome boy?


< Wh + do + subject + verb >

Paul lives (where). => Where does Paul live?

She crys (why). => Why does she cry?


< Wh + is + subject>

The house is (where). => Where is the house?

Dance party is (when). => When is dance party?


< To make past tense questions, just change the verb tense >

Did he play baseball?

Did David drive his car?


< Tenses other than present simple and past simple usually have an auxiliary verb which can be moved to form a quwstion >

Present continuous : You are going. => Are you going?
Present perfect : They have gone. => Have they gone?
Future : They will go. => Will they go?

[Lee Yun Jung]

No.1 Do + subject + verb

You love me => Do you love me?

She thinks. => Does she think?

He studies English. => Does he study English?


No.2 Be + subject + adjective OR noun

You are a student.=> Are you a student?


No.3 Wh + do + subject + verb

you makes a box.=> Why do you make a box?


No.4 Wh + is + subject

Where is catholic university?

What is this?


NO.5 To make past tense questions, just change the verb tense

Did you graduated from catholic university?


No.6 Tenses other than present simple and past simple usually have an auxiliary verb which can be moved to form a question

You are walking => Are you walking?

You have drink => Have you drunk?

You will talk => will you talk?

[Yoon Jieen]

Do + subject + verb
Quote:
You know his room number. => Do you know his room number?
He forget your name. => Does he forget your name?
He leave a forwarding address. => Does he leave a forwarding address?


Be + subject + adjective OR noun
Quote:
You are still studying English. => Are you still studying English?
That is a new dress. => Is that a new dress?
There is anything wrong. => Is there anything wrong?


Wh + do + subject + verb
Quote:
You expect (when) him back. => When do you expect him back?
You want to see (what) about me. => What do you want to see about me?
You recommend. (by who) => Who do you recommend?


Wh + is + subject
Quote:
On your mine is (what). => What is on your mind?
You are late this morning (why). => Why are you late this morning?
The matter. (what is) => What is the matter?


To make past tense questions, just change the verb tense:
Quote:
What did you want to see me about?
Did he leave a forwarding address?
When did you expect him back?


Tenses other than present simple and past simple usually have an auxiliary verb which can be moved to form a question:
Quote:
Present continuous: They are playing tennis. => Are they playing tennis?
Present perfect: She has lived in New York => Has she lived in New York?
Future: You will ride a bicycle. => Will you ride a bicycle?

[James Trotta]

I like what you've contributed here but I do have one small suggestion:

Dance party is (when). => When is the dance party?

[James Trotta]

Just a few suggestions:

No.3 Wh + do + subject + verb

you make a box.=> Why do you make a box?

For a habit we would probably say "You make boxes." OR "Why do you make boxes?"

For something happening right now we would probably say "You're making a box." OR "Why are you making a box?"

NO.5 To make past tense questions, just change the verb tense

Did you graduated from catholic university?

Did you graduate from Catholic University?

No.6 Tenses other than present simple and past simple usually have an auxiliary verb which can be moved to form a question

You have drink => Have you drunk?

You have drunk.

[Ahn Tae Joon]

< Do + subject + verb >

I love you. => Do I love you?

He kills her. => Does he kill her?

< Be + subject + verb >

she is a girl => Is she a girl?

I am live => Am I live?


< Wh + do + subject + verb >

I go. => Where do I go?

I walk. => Why do I walk?


< Wh + is + subject>
He is killed => why he is killed?



< To make past tense questions, just change the verb tense >

Why he was killed?

Did he kills her?
< Tenses other than present simple and past simple usually have an auxiliary verb which can be moved to form a quwstion >

Present continuous : They are beating him. => Are they beating him?
Present perfect : he has gone. => Has he gone?
Future : The sun will rise. => Will the sun rise?

[Oh jang rock]

<Do+subject+verb>

She likes flower.=> Does she like flower?

paul studys his major.=>Does paul study his major?


<Be+subject+verb>
Maria is a good singer.=> Is Maria good singer?

You are best.=> are you best?


<Wh+do+subject+verb>

He die.=>why does he die?

She leaves.=>why does she leaves.


<Wh+is+subject>

The bank is => Where is the bank?

class is=> When is class?


<To make past tense questions, just change the verb tense>

Did she like flower?

Did paul study his major?


<Tenses other than present simple and past simple usually have an
auxiliary verb which can be moved to form a quwstion >

Present contiuos: You are working.=>Are you working?
Present perfect: They have rest.=>Have they rest?
Future: We will win.=> Will we win?

[Yoon Da Hye]

< Do + subject + verb >

You choise => Do you choise?
She want him. => Does she want him?

< Be + subject + verb >

Thet are craze => Are they craze?
Candy is lonely => Is Candt lonely?


< Wh + do + subject + verb >

Britney sings (how) many songs => How many songs does Britney sing?
You ask(why) the question at me =>
Why the question do you ask at me ?


< Wh + is + subject>

He is(where) => Where is he ?
Love is(what) => What is love?


< To make past tense questions, just change the verb tense >

Did they crazy?Where Did he?


< Tenses other than present simple and past simple usually have an auxiliary verb which can be moved to form a quwstion >

Present continuous : I am passing it => Am I passing it?
Present perfect : You have known => Have you known ?
Future : i will back. => Will i back?

[LeeMinJu]

Teacher ~homework is to late ~ very sorry I forgot it. very very sorry

<Do + subject + verb>
---------------------------------------------------

You go to school => Do you go to school?

He runs fast => Does he run fast?


<Be + subject + adjective OR noun>
---------------------------------------------------

There is a river in the city => Is there a river in the city?

He is a good doctor => Is he a good doctor?


<Wh + do + subject + verb>
---------------------------------------------------

She lives(where) => Where does She live?

You knows it (what) => What do you know it?

<Wh + is + subject>
---------------------------------------------------

Your bathroom is (where) => Where is your bathroom?

The weather is (how) => how is the weather?

<To make past tense questions, just change the verb tense: >
---------------------------------------------------

Did you study in your school days?

How did you feel yesterday?

<Tenses other than present simple and past simple usually have an auxiliary verb which can be moved to form a question:> --------------------------------------------------

Present continuous: She is going to school => Is she going to school?

Present perfect: You have studied this morning => Have you studied this morning?

Future: It will snow tomorrow => Will it snow tomorrow?

[Youn Do Yeul]

Do + subject + verb
Quote:
He knows her.=>Does he know her?
You understand.=>Do you understand?


Be + subject + adjective OR noun
Quote:
You are Korean.=> Are you Korean?
Seoul is a city in Korea.=>Is Seoul a city in Korea?



Wh + do + subject + verb
Quote:
You buy (how) many fruits.=>How many fruits do you buy?
You live (where).=>Where do you live?



Wh + is + subject
Quote:
You ar (where).=>Where are you?
Your birthday is (when).=>When is your birthday?


To make past tense questions, just change the verb tense:
Quote:
Did you understand?
When was your birthday?



Tenses other than present simple and past simple usually have an auxiliary verb which can be moved to form a question:
Quote:
Present continuous: He is going. => Is he going?
Present perfect: We have gone. => Have we gone?
Future: You will eat. => Will you eat?

[Jason M. Ham]

We usually talk about fruit in general as an uncountable.

How much fruit do you buy?
I buy a lot of fruit.

[tuma]

can i know how to use would and could?

This is just an introduction to question formation in English. It is not meant to explain everything so please ask questions.

Question formation:

English questions usually have different word order than statements. When you are unsure about how to form a question, it can be helpful to make a statement and then change the word order. You may also need to change some words.

Present tense questions:

Do + subject + verb

You remember. => Do you remember?
He understands. => Does he understand?
You know Paul. => Do you know Paul?
Paul speaks French. => Does Paul speak French?
Paul and his wife smoke. => Do Paul and his wife smoke?
They live in Rome. => Do they live in Rome?

Be + subject + adjective OR noun

Paul is Italian => Is Paul Italian?
Paul and his wife are smart. => Are Paul and his wife smart?

Italian is a hard language to learn. => Is Italian a hard language to learn?
There are languages that are harder to learn. => Are there languages that are harder to learn?
Rome is a city in Italy. => Is Rome a city in Italy?

Wh + do + subject + verb

Paul speaks (how) many languages. => How many languages does Paul speak?
Paul works (where). => Where does Paul work?
He works there (why). => Why does he work there?

Wh + is + subject

Paul is (where). => Where is Paul?
It is (what time). => What time is it?
Paul's birthday is (when). => When is Paul's birthday?

To make past tense questions, just change the verb tense:

Did you remember? Did Paul and his wife smoke? Not Did Paul and his wife smoked?
Where did Paul work? Why did he work there?
Where was Paul? When was Paul's birthday?

Tenses other than present simple and past simple usually have an auxiliary verb which can be moved to form a question:

Present continuous: You are going. => Are you going?
Present perfect: They have gone. => Have they gone?
Future: They will go. => Will they go?