Explanation
Exercises

❓ Asking Questions in English — Forms, Word Order & Question Words

Core order = QWASM → Question word + W (same as Q) + Auxiliary + Subject + Main verb. In Yes–No questions there’s no question word.
QWASM order Yes–No questions Be as main verb Do-support (present/past simple) Have / have got / present perfect Modal questions Subject vs Object questions Preposition at the end Embedded (polite) questions How much/How many · Which vs What
🧭QWASM: the default order
PATTERN Question word + Auxiliary + Subject + Main verb
  • Where do you live?
  • When did they arrive?
  • Why are we waiting here?
Yes–No questions (no question word)
  • Do you like sushi?
  • Is she at home?
  • Will they join us?
  • Short answers: Yes, I do / No, I don’t · Yes, she is / No, she isn’t.
⚙️Which auxiliary goes in the “A” slot?
be (as main verb)QWASM with be itself → Are you ready? · Where is your office?
do (present/past simple)Use do/does/did with other main verbs → What time did you leave?
have (present perfect)Have/has + past participle → What have you done?
have got (possession, present only)Have you got any brothers? (no past form; use did … have)
modalsmodal + subject + base verb → Can she swim? · Should we call?
📦“Have” in questions
  • Present perfect: What have you cooked for lunch?
  • Possession (AmE/BrE both ok): Do you have a bike?
  • Possession with have got (present only): Have you got a bike?
  • ✗ What time had you dinner yesterday? → ✓ What time did you have dinner yesterday?
  • ✗ Had you got many toys as a child? → ✓ Did you have many toys…?
🧑‍🏫Subject vs Object questions (quick reminder)
  • Who called Teresa? (subject → no do/does/did in present/past simple)
  • Who did Jack call? (object → auxiliary + subject + base verb)
🧩Questions with prepositions
SPOKEN / NATURAL Put the preposition at the end.
  • Who did you play tennis with?
  • What company do you work for?
  • What are you looking at?
Formal alternative
  • With whom did you play tennis?
🏷️Embedded (polite) questions
PATTERN Intro phrase + normal statement word order (no inversion, no do).
  • Could you tell me where the station is?
  • Do you know what time the show starts?
  • ✗ … what time does the show start?
🔤Question words (uses & examples)
who (person)Who is that man?
where (place)Where do you live?
when (time)When did he arrive?
why (reason)Why did you leave?
how (manner)How did you get here?
what (thing/idea/action)What are you doing?
which (limited choice)Which car do you like, the red or the blue?
whose (possession)Whose bag is this?
how many (countable quantity)How many beds are there?
how much (uncountable quantity / price)How much tea is there? · How much is the jacket?
how long (duration)How long did you stay?
how often (frequency)How often do you go?
how far (distance)How far is the town?
how old (age)How old is your sister?
Which vs What
  • Which + noun when options are limited: Which dessert would you like, cake or ice cream?
  • What + noun when the set is open: What car have you got?
🚫Common mistakes
  • ✗ Who did win the match? → ✓ Who won the match?
  • ✗ What time had you dinner? → ✓ What time did you have dinner?
  • ✗ How much books… → ✓ How many books…
  • ✗ Where you are from? → ✓ Where are you from?
✅Quick checks
  • Use QWASM for most questions; remove the Q-word for Yes–No questions.
  • With be as main verb, invert be directly.
  • In present/past simple (not be): use do/does/did.
  • Subject question? → no do/does/did (Who called?).
  • Preposition questions in speech → preposition at the end.
Recap: Think QWASM. Choose the right auxiliary (be, do, have, modals), keep subject questions auxiliary-free in the simple tenses, and place prepositions at the end in natural speech. Use the right question word (how much/many, which/what, etc.). 🌟
Exercises:
1
2
3

Asking questions in English: Question forms

Choose the correct forms to complete the questions below.
1
you like spicy food?
2
What time the train leave?
3
she been to London before?
4
Where they going tomorrow?
5
you finish your report yesterday?
6
Why he yelling?
7
anyone know the answer?
8
How long it take to fly to Tokyo?
9
we start now or wait for them?
10
you ever tried sushi?

Asking questions in English: Question forms

Choose the correct forms to complete the questions below.
1
How long ____ in Paris?
A.
B.
C.
2
How ____ to Barcelona?
A.
B.
C.
3
Which ____ your favourite colour?
A.
B.
C.
4
What time ____ tomorrow?
A.
B.
C.
5
Why ____ late yesterday?
A.
B.
C.
6
How often ____ coffee?
A.
B.
C.
7
Where ____ last summer?
A.
B.
C.
8
Who ____ this laptop?
A.
B.
C.
9
What ____ on TV right now?
A.
B.
C.
10
How much ____ this phone?
A.
B.
C.

Asking questions in English: Question forms

Fill in the gaps with question words.
1
A: do you live?  B: In a small town near here.
2
A: does the train leave?  B: At 7:45.
3
A: are you late?  B: Because the bus broke down.
4
A: people are in your class?  B: Twenty-four.
5
A: is the ticket?  B: $12.
6
A: do you prefer, tea or coffee?  B: Coffee.
7
A: did you move here?  B: Last year.
8
A: did you stay in Paris?  B: For two weeks.
9
A: jacket is this?  B: It's Tom’s.
10
A: called you last night?  B: My sister.