Casa ESL · grammar guides · level A2–B1
How to Form Questions in English — Complete Guide
English questions run on one engine: an auxiliary verb jumping in front of the subject. Master QASV — Question word, Auxiliary, Subject, Verb — and every question snaps into place.
Yes/no questions: invert or add do
If the sentence has be, a modal, or have (perfect), invert it: "She is ready" → "Is she ready?" / "You can swim" → "Can you swim?"
If the verb is a plain simple tense, summon do/does/did: "You like jazz" → "Do you like jazz?" / "He left" → "Did he leave?" — and the main verb returns to base form.
Wh- questions: QASV
Where do you live? What has she done? Why did they leave? The question word simply sits in front of the yes/no machine.
Who/what as subject breaks the rule beautifully — no auxiliary needed: "Who called you?" (who = subject) vs "Who did you call?" (you = subject).
Indirect questions: politeness restores order
Inside "Could you tell me…" or "Do you know…", the question un-inverts back to statement order: "Where is the station?" → "Could you tell me where the station is?" No do/does/did survives: "What time does it start?" → "Do you know what time it starts?"
| Type | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yes/no with be/modal | V + S | Are you tired? / Can he drive? |
| Yes/no, simple tenses | Do/Does/Did + S + base | Did they arrive? |
| Wh- | Wh + aux + S + V | Why did she leave? |
| Subject question | Who/What + V | Who broke this? |
| Indirect | intro + Wh + S + V | I wonder where he went. |
Common mistakes
✓ Where do you live?
Simple tenses need do-support in questions.
✓ What does this word mean?
QASV: auxiliary before subject, verb to base.
✓ Can you tell me where the bank is?
Indirect questions use statement order.
Practice
- "She works here." → question:
show answer
Does she work here? - "Someone ate my sandwich." → who-question:
show answer
Who ate my sandwich? - Make polite: "Where is the exit?"
show answer
Could you tell me where the exit is?
FAQ
How do I form a question in English?
Put an auxiliary before the subject. With be or modals, invert directly (Is she…? Can you…?). With simple tenses, add do, does, or did and return the main verb to base form.
When do questions not use do?
When who or what is the subject (Who called?), and inside indirect questions, which keep statement order (Do you know where she lives?).
What are indirect questions?
Polite question frames like Could you tell me…, Do you know…, I wonder… — the embedded question keeps normal word order and drops do-support.
Want this to actually stick?
One-on-one lessons with a real teacher, or free worksheets for this level — your pace, your goals.
More guides: Present Simple · Past Simple · Present Continuous · Present Perfect