Question Words: How to ask questions in English
Hello Friend:
How are you?
This is probably the first question that most people learn in English, next to, what is your name? Today I will introduce the main question words in English and teach you how to build sentences using these words. I will also show you the inversion method of turning a phrase into a question by simply changing the word order of the sentence.
PART 1: Making questions with the 6 basic "question words"
New Words
1. Who
2. What
3. Where
4. When
5. Why
6. How
In order to make a question, you need at least 3 elements: question word + verb + subject/object.
Example Sentences
1. Who is your father?
Who [QUESTION WORD] + is [VERB] + your father [OBJECT]?
2. What is your name?
What [QUESTION WORD] + is [VERB] + your name [OBJECT]?
3. Where do you live?
Where [QUESTION WORD] + do [VERB] + you [SUBJECT] + live [SECOND VERB]?
4. When is your birthday?
When [QUESTION WORD] + is [VERB] + your birthday [OBJECT]?
5. Why are you here?
Why [QUESTION WORD] + are [VERB] + you [SUBJECT] + here [NOUN]?
6. How are you?
How [QUESTION WORD] + are [VERB] + you [SUBJECT]?
PART 2: Making yes/no questions with the inversion method
In order to make questions with the inversion method, you simply need to take a basic sentence and switch the word order to make it into a sentence.
Example 1
Basic Sentence: It is cold today.
Question: Is it cold today?
In this example, the first sentence is stating a fact, that today's weather is cold. Using the inversion method and switching the placement of "it" and "is" within the sentence, as well as adding a question mark to the end, we get a question asking if today's weather is cold. You can see how these two sentences would work in a conversation:
Person 1: Is it cold today?
Person 2: Yes, it is cold today.
The first person has asked the question and the second person has given the answer, simply by saying "yes" and switching the word order of the question.
Example 2
Basic sentence: That is the new house.
Question: Is that the new house?
In this example, "that" and "is" have been switched to change the statement into a question.
Person 1: Is that the new house?
Person 2: Yes, that is the new house.
Practice: Your Turn!
Fill in the sentences with the correct question word based on the list of new words above. Write your answers on paper and then post them in the comments section of this blog post if you have questions or would like direct feedback.
1. ________ are you going?
2. ________ did you say that?
3. ________ is the President?
4. ________ old are you?
5. ________ did you eat?
6. ________ does school start?
Use the inversion method to change these sentences into questions.
1. It is windy today.
________________________
2. This is your favorite song.
________________________
3. It is time to go.
________________________
Making questions is easy! Please share your answers to the practice section in the comments below. If you do not understand the content, please leave a comment and I will try to explain better. I will end this post with a question for you: what did you learn?
Want more? Check out these additional resources:
Oxford University Press Question Worksheet
Best Wishes,
Audrey
How are you?
This is probably the first question that most people learn in English, next to, what is your name? Today I will introduce the main question words in English and teach you how to build sentences using these words. I will also show you the inversion method of turning a phrase into a question by simply changing the word order of the sentence.
PART 1: Making questions with the 6 basic "question words"
New Words
1. Who
2. What
3. Where
4. When
5. Why
6. How
In order to make a question, you need at least 3 elements: question word + verb + subject/object.
Example Sentences
1. Who is your father?
Who [QUESTION WORD] + is [VERB] + your father [OBJECT]?
2. What is your name?
What [QUESTION WORD] + is [VERB] + your name [OBJECT]?
3. Where do you live?
Where [QUESTION WORD] + do [VERB] + you [SUBJECT] + live [SECOND VERB]?
4. When is your birthday?
When [QUESTION WORD] + is [VERB] + your birthday [OBJECT]?
5. Why are you here?
Why [QUESTION WORD] + are [VERB] + you [SUBJECT] + here [NOUN]?
6. How are you?
How [QUESTION WORD] + are [VERB] + you [SUBJECT]?
PART 2: Making yes/no questions with the inversion method
In order to make questions with the inversion method, you simply need to take a basic sentence and switch the word order to make it into a sentence.
Example 1
Basic Sentence: It is cold today.
Question: Is it cold today?
In this example, the first sentence is stating a fact, that today's weather is cold. Using the inversion method and switching the placement of "it" and "is" within the sentence, as well as adding a question mark to the end, we get a question asking if today's weather is cold. You can see how these two sentences would work in a conversation:
Person 1: Is it cold today?
Person 2: Yes, it is cold today.
The first person has asked the question and the second person has given the answer, simply by saying "yes" and switching the word order of the question.
Example 2
Basic sentence: That is the new house.
Question: Is that the new house?
In this example, "that" and "is" have been switched to change the statement into a question.
Person 1: Is that the new house?
Person 2: Yes, that is the new house.
Practice: Your Turn!
Fill in the sentences with the correct question word based on the list of new words above. Write your answers on paper and then post them in the comments section of this blog post if you have questions or would like direct feedback.
1. ________ are you going?
2. ________ did you say that?
3. ________ is the President?
4. ________ old are you?
5. ________ did you eat?
6. ________ does school start?
Use the inversion method to change these sentences into questions.
1. It is windy today.
________________________
2. This is your favorite song.
________________________
3. It is time to go.
________________________
Making questions is easy! Please share your answers to the practice section in the comments below. If you do not understand the content, please leave a comment and I will try to explain better. I will end this post with a question for you: what did you learn?
Want more? Check out these additional resources:
Oxford University Press Question Worksheet
Best Wishes,
Audrey
Comments
Post a Comment