Question types
1. General questions
Also known as "Yes/No questions" because a short answer (yes or no) is expected.
- Are you from Armenia?
- Yes, I am / No, I am not
Also known as "Yes/No questions" because a short answer (yes or no) is expected.
- Are you from Armenia?
- Yes, I am / No, I am not
2. Special Questions
Special questions are those questions that ask for details.
Special questions are those questions that ask for details.
Special questions are also called Wh-questions as most of them start with "wh".
What? Which? When? Where? Why? Who? Whose?
What? Which? When? Where? Why? Who? Whose?
Other special questions include: How? How many? How much?
Who gave you birthday presents?
3. Alternative questions
An alternative question gives a choice of two or more answers in the question and includes or:
Are we eating in or out this evening?
4. Disjunctive questions(or tail questions, or tag questions)
Disjunctive questions are also called question tags. They are mini-questions that appear at the end of
Disjunctive questions are also called question tags. They are mini-questions that appear at the end of
sentence. We use them to show emphasis, politeness, irony or lack of confidence. A disjunctive question
requires the answer “yes” or “no”. Question tags are usually used in informal and spoken English.
Affirmative sentence + negative tag
+ --
+ --
Negative sentence + affirmative tag
-- +
e.g. You don’t like tea, do you? No, I don’t.
-- + --
You like tea, don’t you? Yes, I do.
+ -- +
-- +
e.g. You don’t like tea, do you? No, I don’t.
-- + --
You like tea, don’t you? Yes, I do.
+ -- +