Asking questions is one of the most fundamental communication skills in any language, yet English question formation trips up learners at every level. Word order changes, auxiliary verbs appear or disappear, and a rising or falling intonation can change the meaning entirely. This guide covers every major question type — from the simplest yes/no questions to subtle indirect forms and question tags — so you can ask confidently in any situation.
Yes/No Questions
A yes/no question requires only a yes or no answer. To form one, invert the subject and auxiliary verb. If there is no auxiliary, use do/does (present) or did (past) before the subject, with the main verb in its base form.
- With be: She is tired. → Is she tired?
- With have/modal: They have finished. → Have they finished? | You can swim. → Can you swim?
- With do: She works here. → Does she work here? | He left early. → Did he leave early?
Wh- Questions
Wh- questions ask for specific information. The wh- word comes first, followed by the same auxiliary-subject inversion used in yes/no questions. The main wh- words are: who, what, where, when, why, which, how, how long, how often, how much/many.
- Where do you live?
- What did she say?
- How long have you been waiting?
- Why does he always arrive late?
When the wh- word is the subject of the question, no inversion or auxiliary is needed: Who called you? (not Who did call you?). This catches many learners off guard.
Indirect Questions
Indirect questions are more polite and formal. They are embedded inside phrases like Could you tell me…, Do you know…, I wonder…, Can you explain… Crucially, word order in indirect questions reverts to normal statement order — no inversion, and if or whether is used for yes/no types.
- Direct: Where is the station? → Indirect: Could you tell me where the station is?
- Direct: Does she speak Spanish? → Indirect: Do you know if she speaks Spanish?
- Direct: What time does the film start? → Indirect: Can you tell me what time the film starts?
Question Tags
A question tag is a short question attached to the end of a statement to invite agreement or confirmation. The rule is: positive statement + negative tag, or negative statement + positive tag. The tag uses the same auxiliary as the main clause.
- It's cold today, isn't it?
- She didn't call, did she?
- They've met before, haven't they?
- He can't drive, can he?
The irregular exception: I am right, aren't I? (not amn't I). Tags on imperative sentences use will you?: Open the window, will you?
What You'll Practise
- Forming yes/no questions with be, modals and do/does/did
- Building wh- questions with correct auxiliary placement
- Distinguishing subject questions from object questions
- Converting direct questions into polite indirect forms
- Choosing the correct question tag (positive/negative, correct auxiliary)
Practice Exercises
Work through the exercises below to build confidence forming every type of English question. Each exercise targets a different skill.
Also useful: English Grammar Tenses Guide — understanding tenses helps you choose the right auxiliary when forming questions.
Practice What You've Learned
LexFizz has 30 free interactive exercises — no sign-up needed.
Browse All Exercises →
Explore other grammar topics: All Grammar TopicsNegative SentencesPresent SimpleReported Speech
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a yes/no question and a wh- question?
A yes/no question can be answered with yes or no: Are you ready? Does she work here? A wh- question begins with a question word (who, what, where, when, why, which, how) and requires specific information as an answer: Where do you live? What did she say? Both types use subject-auxiliary inversion, placing the auxiliary before the subject.
How do I form a question when there is no auxiliary verb in the sentence?
Add the auxiliary do (for I/you/we/they) or does (for he/she/it) in the present, or did for all persons in the past. The main verb returns to its base form. For example: She speaks French. → Does she speak French? (NOT Does she speaks French?) They left early. → Did they leave early? (NOT Did they left early?) Remember: the -s ending moves from the main verb to does, never appears on both.
What is a subject question and why does it not need do/does?
A subject question asks about the subject of the sentence — who or what performed the action. Because the wh- word itself fills the subject slot, no inversion or auxiliary is needed. Compare: Who called you? (who is the subject — correct, no did) vs. Who did you call? (you is the subject, who is the object — inversion needed). This is one of the most common sources of errors for intermediate learners.
What is an indirect question and when should I use one?
An indirect question is a question embedded inside a polite or formal phrase such as Could you tell me…, Do you know…, I'd like to know…, or I wonder…. After such phrases, word order returns to normal statement order (subject before verb, no auxiliary inversion), and yes/no direct questions become if/whether clauses. Use indirect questions when speaking to strangers, in customer service, in formal emails, or any time you want to sound polite rather than abrupt.
How do I choose the correct question tag?
Use the opposite polarity: positive statement → negative tag; negative statement → positive tag. Use the same auxiliary verb as the main clause, and the same subject (as a pronoun). Examples: She is a doctor, isn't she? They haven't arrived, have they? You can drive, can't you? If there is no auxiliary in the main clause, use do/does/did: He works late, doesn't he? She left yesterday, didn't she? The one irregular tag: I am correct, aren't I?
Why do question tags use a falling intonation sometimes and a rising intonation other times?
Intonation changes the meaning. A falling intonation on the tag means the speaker is confident and just seeking confirmation or agreement: It's a lovely day, isn't it? (I already think so.) A rising intonation means the speaker is genuinely unsure and wants real information: You've met her before, haven't you? (I'm not sure — please confirm.) Both use the same grammatical form; the difference is purely in how they are spoken.
What are the most common mistakes learners make when forming wh- questions?
The five most frequent errors are: (1) Not inverting the subject and auxiliary — Where she lives? instead of Where does she live? (2) Keeping the -s on the main verb after does — Where does she works? (3) Forgetting do/does/did with main verbs — What you want? (4) Using the wrong question word — What did you go? instead of Where did you go? (5) Treating subject questions as object questions and adding did — Who did call? instead of Who called?
How do I form negative questions in English?
Negative questions are formed by placing not (or its contraction n't) with the auxiliary. Contracted form: Isn't she coming? Didn't you know? Haven't they arrived? Full form (more formal): Is she not coming? Did you not know? Negative questions often express surprise, seek confirmation of something believed to be true, or make polite suggestions: Wouldn't you like some tea? Isn't this the right answer?
How are questions formed in reported speech?
When you report a question, word order reverts to statement order (no inversion) and tenses backshift. Direct: She asked, "Where do you live?" Reported: She asked me where I lived. (NOT She asked me where did I live.) For yes/no questions, use if or whether: Direct: He asked, "Are you ready?" Reported: He asked if I was ready. The question mark disappears in reported questions because they are no longer direct questions.
Are question tags used in IELTS Speaking?
Yes. Using question tags correctly in IELTS Speaking shows grammatical range and natural conversational ability, both of which contribute to your Grammatical Range and Accuracy score. Examiners notice candidates who use structures like It's important to recycle, isn't it? or That's quite a difficult topic, isn't it? naturally. However, avoid overusing them — one or two well-placed tags in Part 1 or Part 2 is more effective than forcing them artificially.