Types of questions

The 4 Main Types of Questions in English + Examples

In English, there are four types of questions: general or yes/no questions, special 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 look at each type in more detail.

1.Yes / No questions

Most of them start with an auxiliary verb and expect an answer Yes or No.

Yes / No Questions

Answers

Do you like your new teacher?

Yes / No (Yes I do / No I don’t)

Can you help me?

Yes / No (Yes I can / No I can’t)

Have you ever been here before?

Yes / No (Yes I have / No I haven’t)

Did you visit your aunt yesterday?

Yes / No (Yes I did / No I didn't)

2.Wh-Questions

As you can understand from its name, most of them start with a question word such as:

What / Where / Why / Who / Whose / When / Which

Wh-questions

Answers

What is your name?

My name is Allen.

When did you come?

I came yesterday.

Who is your teacher?

Mr. Jack is my teacher.

Whose book is that?

That’s mine.

Note: there are other question words that don’t start with "wh" as well.

How / how many / how often / how far / how much / how long / how old etc.

Examples:

How are you?

I am fine.

How old are you?

I am fifteen.

How much is it?

It is $5.

3.Tag questions (disjunctive or tail questions)

They are mini-questions asked at the end of a statement to confirm it.

Examples:

You love her, don’t you ?

She has seen it, hasn't she?

Nobody knew the answer, did they?

Let’s go, shall we?

See Question Tags

4.Choice Questions(Alternative)

We use choice questions when we offer choices.

Choice questions

Answers

Would you like a house or a flat?

A house, of course.

Do you go with your family or alone?

With my family.

Are you a little nervous or excited?

A little nervous.