There are four types of questions in English: general or yes/no questions, questions using wh-words, choice questions, and disjunctive or tag/tail questions.
Each of these different types of questions is used commonly in English, and to give the correct answer to each you’ll need to be able to be prepared.
Let’s take a look at how many types of questions are there in English.
4 types of questions in English
In this section, we’ll walk you through each question type and provide real-world examples.
1. General or Yes/No Questions
Common questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no” are logically called yes/no questions.
As a rule, this kind of question relates to the whole sentence, and not to a separate element of it.
For example:
- Do you like this country?
- Does Jane know about your new job?
- Can I call my sister?
- Is it cold outside?
- Are they ready for the trip?
- Are you hungry?
To ask such general questions, the appropriate rising intonation should be used at the end of the sentence.
The answer can be a brief “yes” or “no.” Or, a longer answer can be given: “Yes, I do.” “No, I don’t like this country.” The response to a question depends on the verb used.
Try to remember this formula: answer the question the way it was asked.
If the question begins with a form of the verb “to be” – am, is, are – then answer “Yes, I am/he is/they are,” or “No, I am not/he isn’t/they aren’t.”
It is similar to auxiliary verbs (do/does, did, will, have/has):
- Did she clean the room? – Yes, she did/No, she didn’t.
- Have you done your homework? – Yes, I have/ No, I haven’t.
- Will you buy that dress? – Yes, I will/ No, I won’t.
2. Special or Wh-Questions
A special question, as you can guess, uses a certain word at the beginning of the sentence to ask a specific question. The questions words who, what, where, when, why, how, how many, etc., are used to begin the question:
- Where is he from?
- When did you come here?
- How did you meet her?
- How many eggs do we need for this cake?
- Whose children are playing in the yard?
Note that questions about a subject (who? what?) have their own special structure; they do not require an auxiliary verb, we replace the subject with the question word.
For example:
- We go to the cinema. – Who goes to the cinema?
- The glass is on the table. – What is on the table?
- Most girls here wear skirts. – Who wears skirts here?
You can see that after the question words who and what, the third-person singular form of the verb should be used.
We use special questions to get specific information. This implies that the answer will be more detailed.
You can find even more information on this topic in our article on basic small talk questions.
3. Choice Questions
Choice questions are questions that offer a choice of several options as an answer (you might recognize them from your exams as multiple-choice questions). They are made up of two parts, which are connected by the conjunction or.
Choice questions can be either general, open-ended questions or more specific ones. If the question does not center on the subject of the sentence, a complete answer is needed.
For example:
- Does she like ice cream or sweets? – She likes ice cream.
- Where would you go, to the cinema or the theatre? – I would go to the cinema.
- Is he a teacher or a student? – He is a student.
However, when the question concerns the subject, the auxiliary verb comes before the second option. The answer is short:
- Does she make it or do you? – She does.
- Did they buy that house or did she? – They did.
4. Disjunctive or Tag Questions
This type of question is also made up of two parts, where the first part is a positive statement, and the second part is negative, or vice-versa.
The first part of the sentence defines the expected answer. If the statement is positive, a positive answer is expected; if the statement is negative, a negative answer is expected.
For example:
- She sent him an invitation, didn’t she? – Yes, she did.
- You aren’t getting married, are you? – No, I am not.
- Jane isn’t in France, is she? – No, she isn’t.
- Our dad will come soon, won’t he? – Yes, he will.
There are also exceptions:
I am going with you, aren’t I? – Yes, you are.
You can’t say, “I am a great person, am I not?” That would be incorrect. Just remember that when the pronoun “I” is used, the tag is are/aren’t.
Tag questions are only used in conversational speech to clarify information or to confirm or refute something if there are doubts.
You can find more materials on this and other types of questions by reading our article on conversation questions to sharpen your skills and catch native speaker’s attention.
Final thoughts
Mastering the different types of questions in English is crucial for effective communication. Understanding the nuances and usage of each type can help you express yourself clearly and ask the right questions in different situations.
If you’re learning English as a second language, taking the time to practice and perfect your questioning skills can greatly improve your communication abilities.
However, if you need extra help, taking 1-to-1 lessons with an English tutor on Preply can help you reach your goals and become confident in using more than just the different types of questions in English.
So, book a trial lesson today and if you’re not happy with your tutor you can try another tutor for free or get a full refund.
