Making questions

In English questions, the word order changes: a helping verb (⟦do⟧, ⟦does⟧, ⟦did⟧, ⟦is⟧, ⟦are⟧, ⟦can⟧) comes before the subject. ⟦You like tea.⟧ becomes ⟦Do you like tea?⟧ Questions with ⟦wh-⟧ words put the question word first: ⟦Where do you live?⟧

Key facts

  • With ⟦be⟧, swap the verb and the subject: ⟦She is ready.⟧ → ⟦Is she ready?⟧
  • With ⟦can⟧, ⟦will⟧ or ⟦must⟧, put it first: ⟦He can swim.⟧ → ⟦Can he swim?⟧
  • With other verbs, add ⟦Do⟧ or ⟦Does⟧ (present) or ⟦Did⟧ (past), and use the verb with no ending: ⟦Does she like tea?⟧ ⟦Did they go home?⟧
  • ⟦wh-⟧ questions: question word + helping verb + subject + verb: ⟦What do you want?⟧ ⟦Where is the station?⟧
  • Question words: ⟦What⟧ (a thing), ⟦Where⟧ (a place), ⟦When⟧ (a time), ⟦Who⟧ (a person), ⟦Why⟧ (a reason), ⟦How⟧ (the way; ⟦how old⟧, ⟦how many⟧).
  • A question ends with a question mark: ⟦?⟧

Worked examples

Example 1

Make a question: ⟦They are at home.⟧

  1. The verb is ⟦are⟧, a form of ⟦be⟧.
  2. Swap the verb and the subject: ⟦are they⟧.
  3. ⟦Are they at home?⟧

Answer: ⟦Are they at home?⟧

Example 2

Make a question: ⟦She plays the piano.⟧

  1. ⟦plays⟧ is an ordinary verb, so we need a helping verb.
  2. ⟦she⟧ is one person, so we use ⟦Does⟧, and ⟦plays⟧ loses its ⟦-s⟧.
  3. ⟦Does she play the piano?⟧

Answer: ⟦Does she play the piano?⟧

Example 3

Put the words in order: ⟦you / where / live / do⟧

  1. The question word ⟦Where⟧ goes first.
  2. Then the helping verb ⟦do⟧, the subject ⟦you⟧ and the verb ⟦live⟧.
  3. ⟦Where do you live?⟧

Answer: ⟦Where do you live?⟧

Example 4

Correct the mistake: ⟦Did you went to the park?⟧

  1. ⟦Did⟧ already shows the past.
  2. So the main verb goes back to its base form: ⟦went⟧ → ⟦go⟧.
  3. ⟦Did you go to the park?⟧

Answer: ⟦Did you go to the park?⟧