Asking Question

Yes/no Question
A. Use
 A yes/no question is one that we can answer with yes or no.
Are you ready? –Yes, nearly / No, not quite.
Has anyone seen my bag? – Yes, it’s on the chair / No, I don’t

 These questions are asking for information. For example, Daniel wants to know if Vicky
is ready or not.
 Sometimes yes/no questions have other uses, especially questions with modal verbs.
For example, when Matthew says Shall we go then? He is making a suggestion, not
asking for inforation. Here are some examples of different uses.
Making a 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, it’s OK, thanks.
Inviting : Would you like to come to a party? – Yes, I’d love to,
Asking permission : May I use your phone? – Yes, of course.

B. Form
A yes/no question begins with an auxiliary verb. An auxiliary verb is a form of be or have or
a modal verb e.g. can. The auxiliary verb comes before the subject.
AUXILIARY SUBJECT
Is it raining? STATEMENT: It is raining.
Has David got a car? QUESTION: Is it raining?
Can Emma drive?

The main verb be also comes before the subject in a question.

Is it cold out there? Are you ready? Was it easy?
If there is more than one auxiliary verb, only the first one comes before the subject.
Have you been working? Could we have done better?
In the present simple and past simple we use a form of do.

AUXILIARY SUBJECT
Do the buses run everyday? STATEMENT: They (do) run every day.
Does Mark play golf? QUESTION: Do they run every day?
Did you like the concert?

 A question cannot begin with an ordinary verb such as run, play, or like.
NOT Plays Mark golf? and NOT Liked your the concert?
 The verb after the subject does not end in s or ed.
NOT Does Mark plays golf ? and NOT Did you liked the concert?

EXERCISES 1
A. USES
Write down the use of each question. Choose from these uses:
asking for information, asking permission, inviting, making a suggestion, offering,
requesting
 Could you post this letter for me? requesting
 Can we get a number 35 bus from this stop? asking for information
1. Can I help you with those bags?
2. Shall we stop for a rest?
3. Is it Tuesday okay?
4. Could you wait a moment, please?
5. Would you like to have tea with us?
6. Will your friend be here next weekend?
7. May I sit down?

B. Form
Claude Jennings, the World Quiz Champion, is going to be on Guy’s chat show. Guy is
wondering what to ask Claude. Read what Guy is thinking and write down his questions.
 (I expect Claude has won lots of prizes.) Have you won lots of prize?
1. (I wonder if he’s a rich man.) .............................
2. (Perhaps quizzes are his only hobby.) .............................
3. (I expect he worked hard at school.) .............................
4. (I wonder if he’s got any other interests.) .............................
5. (I wonder if it’s an interesting life.) .............................
6. (Perhaps his wife asks him quiz questions.) .............................
7. (And maybe he answers questions in his dreams.) .............................

C. Yes/no questions
What would you say in these situations?
 You want to know if Mark has been to Los Angeles. Ask them.
Has Mark been to Los Angeles ?
1. You aren’t sure if Rachel and Vicky are going to America. Ask them.
2. You want to know if Laura plays tennis. Ask Trevor.
3. You are wondering if Claire enjoyed her holiday? Ask her.
4. You want to suggest to Rachel that you both go for a walk.
5. You need to know if David will be at the club tonight. Ask him.
6. You want to know if the train is on time. Ask Mark.
7. You are wondering if Mike and Harriet go camping. Ask David
8. You want to ask Matthew if you can borrow his squash racket.
9. You want to know if Nick has got a motor bike. Ask him.
 Short Answers, e.g. Yes, it is

A. Answering yes or no
Look at the answers to these questions.
Is it raining? – Yes.
Are we going to be late? – Yes, we are.
Did you say something? – No.
Did you finish the crossword? – No, I didn’t.
We can sometimes answer a quest ion with a simple yes or no, but we often use a short
answer like No, I didn’t. We usually put a comma after yes or no.

We do not normally use a full sentence, but we can do if we want to add emphasis to the
answer.
Did you open my letter? – No, I didn’t open your letter.
Sometimes, to be polite, we may need to add information.
Did you get the tickets? – No, I didn’t. There wasn’t time, I’m afraid. Sorry.

B. Form
A positive short answer is yes + a pronoun + an auxiliary
Question SHORT ANSWER
Auxiliary Pronoun Auxiliary
Are you working tomorrow? - Yes, I am.
Has Emma got a computer? - Yes, she has.
Will I need my passport? - Yes, you will.
Did they repair your phone? - Yes, they did

We can also use the main verb be in a short answer.

Is it time to go? – Yes, it is. It’s ten past eleven.

Note that in the present simple and past simple we use a form of do.
Do you like classical music? – Yes, I do. NOT YES I LIKE.
Question SHORT ANSWER
Auxiliary Pronoun Auxiliary
Is the photocopier working now? - No, it isn’t.
Have the children gone to sleep? - No, they haven’t.
Will there be food at the party? - No, there won’t.
Does this train stop at Derby? - No, it doesn’t
But note No, I’m not.
Are you working tomorrow? – No, I’m not. NOT No, I amn’t.

C. Answering requests, suggestions, offers, and invitations

To answer a request, suggestion, etc, we normally use a phrase like Yes, of course or
Yes, please rather than a short answer. If we answer in the negative, we have to give
some explanation.

Request : Could you help me move these chairs, please? – Yes, of course.
OR I’m afraid I’m rather busy.
Suggestion : Shall we have a coffee? – Yes, OK. or Sorry, I can’t. I have to go.
Offer : Can I give you a hand? – Yes, please. That’s very kind of you. OR
It’s OK, thanks. I can manage
Invitation : Would you like to come to the barbecue? – Yes, please. I’d love
to, but I’ll be away
Short negative answers would sound strange or impolite here.

EXERCISES 2
A. FORM
It’s eleven o’clock, and everyone has arrived at a party. Put in the short answers.
 Have you got a drink? – Yes, I have, thank you. I’ve just put it down somewhere.
1. Can you speak Arabic? – . . . , but not very well.
2. Is it raining outside? – . . . It’s just started.
3. Has David come with you? – . . . He’s in hospital, actually.
4. Did you come by car, Tom? – . . . It took ages because of all the traffic.
5. Are those people over there your friends? – . . . I don’t know them at all.
6. Do you like England? – . . . I’m enjoying my stay here.
7. Is your brother here? – . . . He’s away on business at the moment.
8. Have you seen Nick recently? – . . . I think he’s moved away.

B. FORM
It’s one o’clock in the morning, and the party is in full swing.
People are still talking. Put in the short answers.
 Are you French? – No, I’m not. I’m Italian. I’m from Milan.
1. Will you and Laura be here in August? – . . . We’re going to French.
2. Did you remember to bring the photos? – . . . I’ll give them to you in a minute.
3. Has Rita broken up with her boyfriend? – . . . It’s all over, she told me.
4. Did you see that documentary about the ozone layer on television last night? – . . . I was
working late, unfortunately.
5. Does Laura like these old songs? – . . . She loves Elvis Presley.
6. Are you and Mike staying the night here? – . . . We have to get home tonight.
7. Can we afford a taxi? – . . . It’s quite a long way.
8. Are you OK, Vicky? – . . . I feel really awful.

C. Answering questions
Which would normally be the best answer?
 Are you busy today?
a) Yes, busy b) Yes, I am.
1. Is it too hot in here for you?
a) No, it isn’t. b) No, I’m fine, thanks.
2. Do you know Emma?
a) Yes b) Yes, we live in the same building.
3. Tell me, did you steal my money?
a) No. b) No, I didn’t steal your money.
4. Do you live on the campus?
a) Yes, I do. b) Yes, I live on it.
5. Would you like to come out with us for the day?
a) Yes, I would like. b) Yes, please.
6. Is it the eighteenth today?
a) Yes, it is. b) Yes, it is the eighteenth of November today.
7. Did you bring my CD?
a) No. b) No, sorry. I forgot it,
8. Can I carry your bags?
a) No, you can’t, b) It’s all right, thanks.
 Wh-questions

A. Introduction
Reporter Kitty Beamish is interviewing some guerrila fighters.
Kitty: Guerillas
Why are you fighting? For our freedom
What can you do for the people? We can help them
When will the war be over? Very soon

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.

B. Form
Most wh-questions begin with a question word + an auxiliary verb + the subject. An
auxiliary verb is a form of be or have or a modal verb, e.g. can.
QUESTION WORD AUXILIARY SUBJECT
What is Kitty doing?
Where have you put the map?
When can we travel safely?

The main verb be also comes before the subject in questions.

Where is Kitty? How are you? What was that noise?
If there is more than one auxiliary verb, only the first one comes before the subject.
The guerrillas have been hiding.  Where have the guerrillas been hiding?
I should have said something  What should I have said?
In the present simple and past simple, we use a form of do.
QUESTION WORD AUXILIARY SUBJECT
Where do people meet?
How does the radio work?
What did the guerrillas say?

An ordinary verb such as meet, work, or say cannot come before the subject.
NOT Where meet people? and NOT How works the radio?
The verb after the subject does not end in s or ed.
NOT How does the radio works? and NOT What did the guerrillas said?

Question phrases
Look at these question phrases with what and how.
What time is your friend arriving? – Half past eight.
What colour is your toothbrush? – Yellow.
What kind of/What sort of club is it? – A nightclub.
How old is your sister? – She’s twenty.
How often do you go out? – About once a week, usually.
How far is the beach? – Only five minutes walk
How long will meeting last? – An hour or so, I expect.
How many televisions have you got? –Three.
How much money did you spend? – About a hundred pounds.

EXERCISES 3

A. Wh-questions
What would you say in these situations?
 You are talking to a man at a party. Ask him where he works.
Where do you work?
1. You want to know what the date is today. Ask your friend.
2. You’ve forgotten when the course finishes. Ask your friend.
3. Your friend is having a party. You’d like to know who he has invited. Ask him.
4. Your favourite band are going to give a concert. Ask how you can get tickets.
5. You are in town with a friend, and you are wondering where the two of you are going to
have lunch. What do you ask?

B. Question words and phrases

Quiz champion Claude Jennings is answering questions. Put in these words and phrases:
how far, how long, how often, how many, what, what colour, what kind, when, where,
who
Quiz-master: Claude:
 What colour is the Greek flag? Blue and white
 1. . . . is Melbourne? It’s in Australia.
2. . . . centimetres are there in a kilometre? A hundred thousand.
3. . . . did the Second World War end? In 1945.
4. . . . did Romeo love? Juliet.
5. . . . is Sirius? It’s a star.
6. . . . is it from Los Angeles to San Fransisco? About 400 miles.
7. . . . are the Olympic Games held? Every four years.
8. . . . of food is Cheddar? It’s cheese.
9. . . . is a game of rugby? Eighty minutes.

C. Wh-questions
Guy is interviewing a guest on his chat show. It’s the actress Melissa Livingstone, who is
in the TV soap opera ‘Round the Corner’. Put in Guy’s questions.
 Guy: How often do you record ‘Round the Corner’?
Melissa: Oh, we record it every day. It’s a full-time job, you know.
1. Guy: And . . .
Melissa: In Birmingham, at the BBC studios.
2. Guy: ...
Melissa: How many? Well, let me see, I think we’ve done a thousand programmes.
3. Guy: ...
Melissa: I’m not going to tell you. How much money I earn is my business.
4. Guy: OK, I’m sorry. . . .
Melissa: Oh, a long time ago. I started acting when I was twelve.
5. Guy: ...
Melissa: My plans for the future? I just wan to go on with ‘Round the Corner’.
 Subject/Object Questions

A. Who and what

Who and what can be the subject of a Who and what can also be the object.
question. An auxiliary (e.g. did, will) comes before
The word order is the same as in a statement. the subject.

SUBJECT OBJECT
Who rang you? Who did you ring?
(Someone rang you.) (You rang someone)
Who is helping you? Who are you helping?
(Someone is helping you) (You are helping someone)
What will happen next? What will they do next?
(Something will happen next.) (They will do something next.)

Who and what can also be the object of a preposition, e.g. to, with. Compare these
sentences.

SUBJECT OBJECT
Who was talking to you? Who were you talking to?
(Someone was talking to you) (You were talking to someone.)
What wine goes with fish? What does this colour go with?
(Some wine goes with fish.) (This colour goes with something.)

B. Which, whose, how many and how much

These words can also be either the subject or the object.

SUBJECT OBJECT
Which program will work best? Which program will you use?
(One of the programs will work best.) (You will use one of the programs.)
Whose dog is barking over there? Whose dog is Melanie walking?
(Someone’s dog is barking over there.) (Melanie is walking someone’s dog.)
How many people came past? How many people did you see?
(Some people came past.) (You saw some people.)
How much oil got into the river? How much oil did you buy?
(Some oil got into the river.) (You bought some oil.)
EXERCISES 4

A. Who and what as subject and object

Read about the situations and answer each question in a single phrase.
 The morning after his party, Tom was cleaning up. David came along and took away
some empty bottles for him. Nick had just woken up after spending the night on Tom’s
sofa. He watched them for a while.
a) Who helped Tom? David b) Who did Nick help? no one
1. Nick wants to marry Rita. She’s been out with him a few times, but really she’s in love
with Tom. Unfortunately he isn’t in love with her.
a) Who is Nick in love with? . . . b) Who is in love with Tom? . . .
2. Mark met Sarah at the airport. The plane was two hours late. On the way out they
passed Mike standing at a bus stop, but they didn’t notice him.
a) Who met Sarah? . . . b) What was Mike waiting for? . . .
3. There was an accident at the crossroads. A lorry crashed into a van that was waiting at
the lights. The van slid forward and crashed into a car. The van driver had to go to
hospital.
a) What hit the van? . . . b) What did the van hit? . . .

B. Who and what as the subject and object

People aren’t giving you enough information. Ask questions with who or what.
 Something has happened. – Oh? What has happened?
 I’ve invited someone to tea. – Well? Who have you invited?
1. Somebody is having a party. – Oh, really? . . .
2. I was reading something. – Oh? . . .
3. I’ve learnt something. – Go on, tell me. . . .
4. We should do something. – Yes, I know, but . . .
5. Someone is looking for you. – Oh? . . .
6. I’m looking for someone. – Maybe I can help . . .
7. Rachel is planning something. – Is she? . . .
8. Somebody has moved in next door. – Oh, really? . . .
9. Something is worrying me. – Well, tell me. . . .
10. I want to meet someone. – What do you mean?

C. Which, whose, how many and how much

Harriet is visiting her grandmother, Mrs. Evans. It’s Mrs. Evan’s birthday. She can’t hear
very well, and she sometimes gets confused. Complete her questions.
Harriet: Mrs Evans:
 So ten people have sent cards. Pardon? How many people have sent cards?
 I met David’s friend yesterday. What? Whose friend did you meet?
1. You can keep those photos. Photos? Which . . .
2. Those flowers look lovely. Do they? Which . . .
3. Fifty pounds went missing. Missing? How much . . .
4. I passed Mark’s house earlier. Pardon? Whose . . .
5. The doctor has four children. Really? How many . . .
6. Doctors earn lots of money. I don’t know. How much . . .
7. Mike’s uncle has died. What’s that? Whose . . .
8. Trevor’s wife is coming later. Oh? Whose . . .