Unit 5: Questions
1. Interrogative Words & Structures
Interrogative Words: These words ask for specific information.
- Who: Used for people (e.g., Who is he?).
- Which: Used for a choice between things (e.g., Which do you prefer?).
- What: Used for things (e.g., What sport do you play?).
- Where: Used for location (e.g., Where is the museum?).
- When: Used for time or date (e.g., When do you leave?).
- Why: Used for reasons (e.g., Why are you late?).
- Whose: Used for possession (e.g., Whose pen is this?).
- How: Used for manner or means (e.g., How do you spell your name?).
Past Interrogatives:
To form questions in the past simple, weusually use the auxiliary did.
Did you watchtelevision last night? (Subject + Verb)
Note: With the verb ‘to be’, we use Was orWere.
Were you at the party?
2. Question Tags & Short Questions
Question Tags: Mini-questions at the end of a sentence to ask for agreement or confirmation. If the sentence is positive, the tag is negative. If the sentence is negative, the tag is positive.
- You’re a doctor, aren’t you?
- Heisn’t here, is he?
- They work together, don’t they? (Present Simple)
- He went onvacation, didn’t he? (Past Simple)
Short Questions: In informal situations, we use shortened forms.
- Any problems? (Instead of: Have you been having any problems?)
- Louder, please? (Insteadof: Could you speak a bit louder?)
How long… for / Since when:
- How long… for: Used for a period of time (e.g., How long have you been waiting for?).
- Since when: Used for a specific starting point (e.g., Since when has it been snowing?).
Exercise 1: Interrogative Words
Fill in the blanks with the correct question word (Who, Which, What, How, Why, Where, When, Whose).
- is your best friend?
- time does the store open?
- bag is this? Is it yours?
- are you crying? Are you sad?
- color do you prefer, red or blue?
- does this machine work?
- did you go on holiday last year?
- is your birthday?
Exercise 2: Past Interrogatives
Complete the questions using Did, Was, or Were.
- you watch the football match yesterday?
- she at the library last night?
- they finish their homework on time?
- it raining when you left the house?
- you go to the cinema last weekend?
- John happy with his test results?
- we supposed to bring our books?
- you see the accident happen?
Exercise 3: Question Tags
Match the statement on the left with the correct tag on the right.
| Statement | Question Tag |
|---|---|
| 1. You are a student, | a. didn’t he? |
| 2. He went to the park, | b. isn’t she? |
| 3. She is reading a book, | c. aren’t you? |
| 4. They didn’t like the movie, | d. have they? |
| 5. You haven’t seen my keys, | e. did they? |
| 6. We are late, | f. aren’t we? |
| 7. He can swim, | g. doesn’t he? |
| 8. John plays tennis, | h. can’t he? |
Exercise 4: Short Questions
Match the short question to its full meaning.
- Any thoughts? (A. Do you have any suggestions?)
- Suggestions? (B. Are the problems serious?)
- Ideas? (C. Can you give me some ideas?)
- Any problems? (D. Do you have any thoughts on what I said?)
- Objections? (E. Have you been having any problems?)
- Anything serious? (F. Does anyone have any objections?)
- Louder, please? (G. Could you speak a bit louder?)
- Sorry? (H. I didn’t hear what you said.)
Exercise 5: How long / Since when
Complete with for or since when.
- How long have you been waiting ?
- has it been raining?
- How long has she worked here ?
- have you known him?
- How long have they been married ?
- has the shop been closed?
- How long did you play football ?
- have you been a teacher?
Exercise 6: Mixed Question Formation
Turn these sentences into questions.
- She lives in London. ->
- They went to the beach yesterday. ->
- He can drive a car. ->
- The book is on the table. ->
- You have finished your work. ->
- She will visit us tomorrow. ->
- Tom likes ice cream. ->
- They were watching TV. ->
