What is Question Formation?

A question is asked either to seek information or to expect an affirmation or negation on a matter. In each of the cases, the structure of questions varies depending on the function they perform.

1. Questions which seek information

While framing a question to seek information, the auxiliary verb in the sentence is brought forward and a question word is added before it. Such questions are also known as ‘Wh’ Questions. They cannot be answered with ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

Examples:

• What did the archbishop find in the casket?
• Why should I tell you who I am?
• When will the winner be announced?
• Where are the stairs to the next level?
• How did the thieves enter?

Questions seeking information begin with words such as What, Why, When, Where and How.

The general structure of such questions is

Question word + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb + Object

                                              OR

Question word + Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb

Other variations to the structure:

1. When the question word is also the subject of the sentence:

i. The auxiliary verb is omitted and

ii. The Subject + Main Verb + Object? format is used.

Examples: What happened to the chicken? What did happen to the chicken?

Who told you this story? Who did tell you this story?

2. If the order is reversed and the Question word is the Object of the sentence:

i. An auxiliary verb is used after it to complete the question.

Examples: What will you gift her? Will – Auxiliary Verb Whom did the children call? Did – Auxiliary Verb

Questions with prepositions:

When asking for information regarding some location or position, the placement of the preposition determines the formality of the question. (Note: This is not a hard and fast rule.)

Usually if the preposition is placed right before the question word, it makes the sentence appropriate for a formal conversation of inquiry.

If the preposition is placed at the end of the question statement, then it makes the statement acceptable for a casual conversation, though it may not always be grammatically correct.

Examples:

2. Questions which ask for an affirmation or negation as the answer (Yes/No questions)

These questions are framed differently based on three different types of sentences.

Sentences with an auxiliary verb: If a sentence which is to be converted to an affirmation or negation reply contains an auxiliary verb (including modal auxiliaries)

i. The appropriate form of the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject in the question.

Examples:

1. Was the gallon filled when the buzzer sounded?

Yes. The gallon was filled when the buzzer sounded.

Subject: the gallon; The gallon          Auxiliary Verb: Was; was          Answer: Yes 

Can you see the reason for this argument?

No. I can’t understand the reason for this argument.

Subject: you; I        Auxiliary Verb: Can; can’t          Answer: No

2. Will they report the incident?

Yes. They will report the incident.

Subject: they; they            Auxiliary Verb: Will; will          Answer: Yes

Sentences without an auxiliary verb: If the auxiliary verb is absent in the sentences

i. Verbs do, does or did are used before the subject and the original order of the sentence is maintained.

Examples:

1. Did the school nurse treat your injury?

Yes. The school nurse treated my injury.

2. Did you learn this craft at school?

Yes. I learned this craft at school.

In such cases, the verbs do, does or did become the question words and do not need an additional Question word before them.

3. Question tags

Question tags are phrases added at the end of declarative or imperative sentences to turn them into questions asking for confirmation. Interrogative phrases are used to form question tags.

Question tags are formed in the following manner:

auxiliary + n’t + subject (for positive statements)

Examples:

Reena has been busy with her dance classes, hasn’t she? There is no smoke without fire, isn’t it?