Practice
English practice: question forms
Sign in to saveYou want to ask about a bus. Where does it stop? is clear because where comes first, does comes before the subject, and stop stays in its base form.
Make clear English questions by choosing the right opening word, auxiliary verb, subject, and main verb order.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
Where does your brother work? /weə dʌz jɔː ˈbrʌðə wɜːk/
The short answer
For many English questions, use a question word if needed, then a helping verb, then the subject and main verb. Use be directly when be is the verb. Use do, does, or did when a simple present or past question has an ordinary verb.
Where does the train stop?
Why it works: Where asks for a place. Does comes before the subject, and stop is the base verb.
5 more examples
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Are you free after class?
The verb be moves before the subject to make a yes or no question.
Not this:
You arefree after class. What changes: This is a statement because the subject comes first. -
What do you usually eat for breakfast?
What asks for information. Do helps form a present-tense question with the ordinary verb eat.
Not this:
You usually eattoast for breakfast. What changes: The statement gives information instead of asking for it. -
Where does your brother work?
Does is used with a singular present-tense subject. Work stays in the base form.
Not this:Your
brother worksnear the station. What changes: In a statement, the present-tense verb takes s with a singular subject. -
Did they arrive before noon?
Did shows past time, so arrive does not need ed.
Not this:
They arrivedbefore noon. What changes: The statement has the past form arrived because it has no did. -
How can I get to the museum?
How asks about a method. Can comes before the subject, and get stays in its base form.
Not this:
You can getto the museum by bus. What changes: The statement begins with the subject and gives directions.
Read the full guide
First decide what you want to know. A yes or no question can begin with be, do, does, did, can, or another helping verb. An information question begins with a question word. Then check the order before you speak or write it.
Start with yes or no questions
A yes or no question can be answered with yes, no, or a short reply. Put a helping verb before the subject. Be can move directly: Are you busy? A modal can move too: Can she drive? The subject comes after that opening verb.
Is your phone in your bag?
Is comes before your phone, so the sentence is a question.
Can we sit near the window?
Can is the opening helping verb, followed by the subject we.
Turn She is ready into a question.
Write Is she ready? Move is before she.
Add a question word for information
Use what for things or information, where for places, when for time, why for reasons, who for people, and how for a method or condition. Put the question word before the usual question order. The rest of the question still needs a helping verb when the grammar requires one.
When is the next meeting?
When asks about time, and is comes before the subject the next meeting.
Why are the lights off?
Why asks for a reason. Are follows why because the statement uses be.
Choose a question word for asking about a location.
Use where. For example: Where is the nearest pharmacy?
Use do and does with present habits
Many present-simple statements have an ordinary verb such as live, study, need, or work. Use do with I, you, we, and they. Use does with he, she, it, and singular names or nouns. After do or does, use the base form of the main verb.
Do your friends speak English at home?
Friends is plural, so the question uses do and the base form speak.
Does Lina need a ticket?
Lina is singular, so the question uses does. Need has no final s after does.
Correct this question: Does he works on Saturdays?
Write Does he work on Saturdays? Does already carries the present-tense ending.
Use did for a finished past action
Use did for most simple past questions with ordinary verbs. Did works with every subject. Because did already shows past time, the main verb returns to its base form. Say Did they visit the gallery? rather than Did they visited the gallery?
Did you call your aunt yesterday?
Did marks the past, so call stays in the base form.
What did the teacher explain?
What begins the information question, while did forms the past question.
Complete the question: Where did you ____ last summer?
Use go: Where did you go last summer? Do not use went after did.
Check word order before you ask
A common mistake is to keep statement order after a question word. In a standard question, put the helping verb before the subject: Where do you live? Do not say Where you do live? unless you are using special emphasis. Read your question once and look for the order: question word, helping verb, subject, main verb.
How often do you visit your grandparents?
How often comes first. Do comes before you, and visit is the main verb.
Which bus does this route use?
Does comes before the subject this route. Use stays in the base form.
Put these words in order: why, did, you, leave, early?
Write Why did you leave early? The question word comes first, followed by did and the subject.
Before you go
Remember this
Put a question word first when you need information. Move be, a modal, or a helping verb before the subject. With ordinary verbs, choose do, does, or did, then use the base form of the main verb.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "English practice: question forms"
How do I make a basic English question?
Put a helping verb before the subject. Use be directly in questions such as Are you free after class? For many ordinary present and past verbs, use do, does, or did before the subject and main verb.
Are you free after class?
When should I use do or does in a question?
Use do with I, you, we, and they. Use does with he, she, it, and singular names or nouns. After either word, use the base form of the main verb, as in Does Lina need a ticket?
You are free after class.
Why does the main verb change after did?
Did already shows that the question is about the past. The next verb stays in its base form, so say Did you call your aunt yesterday? and not Did you called your aunt yesterday?
What do you usually eat for breakfast?
Which question words can I use in English?
Use what for information or things, where for places, when for time, why for reasons, who for people, and how for methods or conditions. For example, Where does your brother work? asks about a place.
You usually eat toast for breakfast.
What is the usual word order in an information question?
Start with the question word, then use a helping verb, the subject, and the main verb. The pattern appears in What do you usually eat for breakfast? and How can I get to the museum? Check that the helping verb comes before the subject.
Where does your brother work?