Different types of questions in English
There are many types of questions that the English language has. A sentence which asks a question is known as an Interrogative sentence. But every interrogative sentence is not the same. Here are the different types of questions in English.
1. Yes/No questions
This is the simplest type of question in English Language. These types of questions are such which expect the answers as either a Yes or No. Though, sometimes they can be accompanied with a reason but not always.
Example:
Can I have a glass of water?
Do you like mangoes?
Did you hear what I said?
2. Choice questions
These types of questions ask the other person to choose between two or more options, which are presented to them. These options are connected to each other using the conjunction OR.
Example:
Would you like to have chocolate or butter scotch?
Who do you like more, Harry or Ron or Hermione?
What do you prefer, dogs or cats?
3. ‘Wh’ questions
These are those questions that start with the words having ‘Wh’ in them. Such words are: Why, when, where, what, who, whose, which
Example:
What is your name?
When is the movie going to start?
Whose book is this?
There are other questions that do not start with ‘Wh’ but do fall in this category. These are the ‘how’ questions.
How are you?
How much is that shirt for?
4. Indirect Questions
These are also known as embedded questions. They are not asked directly but are embedded within another sentence or question. They are either polite questions or reported speech.
Example:
Could you tell me if the next train is on schedule? (indirect)
Is the next train on schedule? (Direct)
I was wondering if I can have a piece of the cake? (Indirect)
Can I have a piece of the cake? (Direct)
Do you know where I can find a water filter? (Indirect)
Where can I find a water filter? (Direct)
5. Rhetorical questions
These are such questions that do not expect any answers and are used for expression or stylist purposes. Such questions are mostly expressions or reactions. This is the reason why they are mostly written with an exclamation mark instead of a question mark.
Example:
Are you really serious?
What! I really got the job?
Girl- I think I will have to cancel the meeting today?
Boy- What? But everything is scheduled.
Understanding the four types of questions worksheet
1. Use the different words to form Yes/No questions:
You, Delhi, from, Are
- From Delhi, are you?
- You are from Delhi?
- Are you from Delhi?
Right Answer Are you from Delhi?
They, do, horses, have
- Do they have horses?
- Have horses, do they?
- They horses, do have?
Right Answer Do they have horses?
2. Form Wh/how questions:
Dinner, is, what, for
- What dinner is for?
- What is for dinner?
- What for is dinner?
Right Answer What is for dinner?
Spell, name, your, you, do, how
- How you do spell your name?
- How your name do you spell?
- How do you spell your name?
Right Answer How you do spell your name?
3. Change these direct questions into indirect questions:
- What do you mean by that?
- What do you mean by that, tell me?
- What you do mean by that, tell me?
- Tell me, what do you mean by that?
Right Answer Tell me, what do you mean by that?
- What are your plans?
- Would like to know your plans?
- I would like to know what are your plans?
- What plans do you have?
Right Answer I would like to know what are your plans?
4. Which of these are rhetorical questions?
A1. a. How are you? b. Sure, why not? (Right Answer)
A2. a. Are you sad? b. Are you kidding me? (Right Answer)
A3. a. Is there anything I can do? b. Where have you been all my life? (Right Answer)