Practice
Interrogative sentences: how to ask questions in English
You can say, "The train leaves at six," or ask, "Does the train leave at six?" The information stays close to the same, but the word order changes because the second sentence asks for an answer.
Build clear English questions by choosing the right opening word or auxiliary and putting the subject in the right place.
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
interrogative sentence /ˌɪntəˈrɑːɡətɪv ˈsentəns/
The short answer
For many English questions, put an auxiliary before the subject: Do you work here? Is she ready? Can they stay? Add a question word first when you need information: Where do you work? Why is she late?
Where does your sister work?
Why it works: Where asks for a place. Does comes before your sister, and work stays in its base form.
5 more examples
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Do you need a receipt?
This is a simple present yes-or-no question. Do comes before the subject you, and need is the base form.
Not this:
You needa receipt. What changes: In the statement, the subject comes before the verb. -
Why did the store close early?
Why asks for a reason. Did marks the past, so close does not change to closed.
Not this:The store
closed earlybecause of a power cut. What changes: The statement uses the past form closed because there is no auxiliary did. -
Are the documents in your bag?
With be, move are before the subject. Do not add do or does to this question.
Not this:
The documents arein your bag. What changes: The statement keeps the subject before are. -
When can we discuss the plan?
When asks for time. Can comes before we, and discuss stays in its base form after the modal verb.
Not this:
We can discussthe plan after lunch. What changes: The statement gives the time instead of asking for it. -
Who sent this message?
Who is the subject of the question. The question word already fills the subject position, so the verb does not move before it.
Not this:
Nina sentthis message. What changes: Nina is the subject in the statement and who replaces that subject in the question.
Read the full guide
First, decide what answer you need. Use a yes-or-no question when the answer can be yes or no. Use who, what, where, when, why, which, or how when you need a particular piece of information. Then choose the helper verb that matches the tense and the main verb.
Start with the answer you need
A yes-or-no question asks whether something is true. An information question asks for a missing detail. This choice tells you whether to begin with an auxiliary or with a question word.
Did you save the file?
The expected answer is yes or no, so did begins the question.
Which question word asks for a place?
Use where: Where did you save the file?
Use do, does, and did with ordinary verbs
Most simple present and simple past questions need do, does, or did. The auxiliary carries the tense. The main verb stays in its base form after it.
Does Marco drive to work?
Does matches Marco, and drive has no final s after does.
Complete the past question: ___ they finish the report yesterday?
Use did: Did they finish the report yesterday?
Move be before the subject
When be is the main verb or part of a continuous form, move be before the subject. Do not use do with be in these questions.
Is the printer working now?
Is comes before the printer because the question uses the present continuous form is working.
Put the words in question order: your colleagues / are / ready?
Are your colleagues ready?
Put question words before the auxiliary
Question words come at the beginning when you need a person, thing, place, time, reason, choice, or method. After the question word, use the same word order as another English question.
How often do you check your email?
How often asks about frequency. Do comes before the subject you.
Ask about a reason: ___ does the bus stop here?
Use why: Why does the bus stop here?
Notice subject questions
A subject question asks who or what performs the action. In this pattern, who or what takes the subject's place. You normally do not add do, does, or did.
What caused the delay?
What is the subject of caused, so the verb follows it directly.
Choose the subject question: Who called the client? or Who did call the client?
Use Who called the client? Who is the person doing the action.
Before you go
Remember this
Choose the question type first. For a yes-or-no question, start with the right auxiliary or form of be. For an information question, put the question word first, then use the normal question order. Keep the main verb in its base form after do, does, did, and modal verbs.
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
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Interrogative sentences: how to ask questions in English"
What is an interrogative sentence?
An interrogative sentence asks a question. It may ask for a yes-or-no answer, or it may ask for information such as a name, place, time, reason, or method. In writing, it normally ends with a question mark.
Do you need a receipt?
When do I use do or does in a question?
Use do with I, you, we, and they in simple present questions. Use does with he, she, and it. After either auxiliary, use the base form of the main verb, so write Does she work here? rather than Does she works here?
You need a receipt.
Why does the main verb stay in the base form after did?
Did already shows that the question is in the past. The main verb therefore stays in its base form. For example, a question uses Did they leave? while a past statement without did uses They left.
Why did the store close early?
Do questions with be use do or does?
No. Put the correct form of be before the subject: Are they available? Was the room quiet? Use do or does with many ordinary verbs in the simple present, but not with be as the main verb or an auxiliary in a continuous form.
The store closed early because of a power cut.
Why do some who questions have no auxiliary?
In a subject question, who or what is the person or thing doing the action. It takes the normal subject position, so the verb follows it directly: Who wrote the note? In an object question, an auxiliary is usually needed: Who did you write to?
Are the documents in your bag?