Asking and Answering Questions in English | Basic
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Lesson objectives: Learn about asking and answering questions in English.
Goals: Asking and answering questions in the present simple tense; distinguishing between affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences using “be,” auxiliary “do/does,” and basic modal verbs.
Prerequisite: A basic understanding of the present simple tense and modal verbs can and must.
Related Lesson: See What are Question Words?
Sentence Forms
In English, there are three basic sentence forms: affirmative, negative, and interrogative. It is different when you ask questions with “be” or other verbs.
Sentence Forms with “Be”
To ask a question with the verb “be,” you put the verb in front of the subject. When you answer, you can repeat the verb or make it negative.
Sentence forms | Example 1
Affirmative:
John is a student.
Interrogative:
Is John a student?
Affirmative answers:
Yes.
Yes, he is.
Negative answers:
No.
No, he is not.
No, he isn’t.
Sentence forms | Example 2
Affirmative:
My parents are from Peru.
Interrogative:
Are your Parents from Peru?
Affirmative answers:
Yes.
Yes, they are.
Negative answers:
No.
No, they are not.
No, they aren’t.
Sentence Forms with Other Verbs
To ask a question with other verbs (except modal verbs), you must use an auxiliary verb. You also use the auxiliary in the negative. When you answer, you can repeat the auxiliary.
Affirmative sentences
John is a student.
You are a good friend.
You’re a good friend.
These oranges are sweet.
My parents are from Peru.
They come from Lima.
John speaks French very well.
Negative sentences
John is not a student.
John isn’t a student.
You are not a good friend.
You aren’t a good friend.
These oranges are not sweet.
These oranges aren’t sweet.
My parents are not from Peru.
My parents aren’t from Peru.
They do not come from Lima.
They don’t come from Lima.
John does not speak French very well.
John doesn’t speak French very well.
Interrogative sentences
Is John a student?
Am I a good friend?
Are these oranges sweet?
Are your parents are from Peru.
Do they not come from Lima?
Does John speak French well?