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Asking Questions in English: Structure and Examples

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Questions are how you keep a conversation going, but English question word order trips up learners at every level. Once you see the underlying pattern, most questions follow the same formula.

This guide is for A2 to B2 learners. It covers the three types of question, the word-order formula that works across tenses, the exceptions with be and modal verbs, and intonation. Three exercises are embedded so you can practice right away.

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A quick video summary

The three types of question

English has three main types of question. Knowing which one you are asking helps you choose the right structure and intonation.

  • Closed (yes/no) questions: the answer is yes or no. “Do you like coffee?”
  • Open (wh-) questions: several answers are possible. They start with a wh-word (what, where, when, why, who, how). “Where do you live?”
  • Choice questions: you offer someone a choice between options. “Tea or coffee?”

Question structure

Most English questions follow the same formula, whatever the tense. You put the auxiliary verb before the subject.

(Wh-word) + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb + complement?

TenseWh-wordAuxiliarySubjectMain verbComplement
Present simpleWheredoyougoto school?
Past simpleWhendidyoufinishschool?
Present perfectHaveyoufinishedyour homework?
FutureWhenwillyougoon holiday?

You can know the formula and still freeze when it is your turn to ask. The fix is practice with a person who answers back. Book a free trial lesson and ask real questions with an experienced native teacher, no credit card needed.

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Exceptions: be and modal verbs

There is no extra auxiliary with the verb be or with modal verbs. In those cases be or the modal takes the place of the auxiliary and goes before the subject.

AuxiliarySubjectMain verbComplement
Areyoua doctor?
Areyougoingto the wedding?
Wouldyoulikea glass of water?
CanIhavea piece of paper?

Intonation

Intonation, the rise and fall of your voice, changes the meaning of a question in English, so it is worth practising out loud.

Closed (yes/no) questions end with a rising tone. Open (wh-) questions end with a falling tone. In choice questions, each option rises except the last one, which falls: “Tea (rise) or coffee (fall)?”

Common mistakes when asking questions

  1. Forgetting the auxiliary. Say “Where do you work?”, not “Where you work?”
  2. Double auxiliary with be or modals. Say “Are you ready?”, not “Do you are ready?”
  3. Wrong word order. The auxiliary goes before the subject: “When did she leave?”, not “When she did leave?”
  4. Keeping question order in indirect questions. “Can you tell me where the station is?”, not “where is the station”.

Practice exercises on asking questions

Try this exercise and check your results straight away.

Reading questions is easy; asking them under pressure is the real test. In a free trial lesson, an experienced native teacher will have you asking natural questions and fixing your intonation in real time.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the three types of question in English?
Closed (yes/no) questions, which are answered with yes or no; open (wh-) questions, which start with a wh-word and have several possible answers; and choice questions, which offer a choice between two or more options.
What is the word order for English questions?
Most questions follow the formula: (wh-word) + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb + complement. For example, “Where do you work?” The key point is that the auxiliary comes before the subject.
When do I not use an auxiliary verb?
With the verb be (in the present and past simple) and with modal verbs (can, will, would, should and so on). In those cases be or the modal takes the auxiliary’s place: “Are you ready?”, “Can you help?”
How does intonation change a question?
Closed (yes/no) questions rise at the end, open (wh-) questions fall, and choice questions rise on each option except the last, which falls. The same words can sound like a real question or a surprised repeat depending on the tone.
What is a wh-word?
A wh-word is a question word used to start an open question: what, where, when, why, who, which and how (how does not start with wh but behaves the same way). Each one asks for a specific kind of information.

Key takeaways

  • There are three question types: closed (yes/no), open (wh-), and choice.
  • Most questions follow: (wh-word) + auxiliary + subject + main verb + complement.
  • The auxiliary always comes before the subject.
  • With be and modal verbs there is no extra auxiliary.
  • Yes/no questions rise, wh-questions fall, choice questions rise then fall.

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Written and reviewed by the experienced native English teachers at Live English, online since 2007.