Question forms: Yes/No, Wh- and Or-questions

Welcome to the World of Questions!

Have you ever wanted to ask a friend about their favorite food, or find out what time the next bus arrives? Questions are like the "keys" to communication—they help us unlock information and get to know the people around us. In this chapter, we will learn how to build three main types of questions: Yes/No questions, Wh- questions, and Or-questions.

By the end of these notes, you will feel much more confident starting conversations in English!

1. Yes/No Questions

As the name suggests, these are questions that can be answered with a simple "Yes" or "No." In English, we usually start these questions with a "Helper Verb" (an auxiliary verb).

How to build them:

[Helper Verb] + [Subject] + [Main Verb] + ... ?

Common Helper Verbs:
• Be: Is, Am, Are, Was, Were
• Do: Do, Does, Did
• Have: Have, Has (for Present Perfect)
• Modal: Can, Will

Examples:
• Are you a student? (Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.)
• Do you like som tam? (Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.)
• Did he finish his homework? (Yes, he did. / No, he didn’t.)
• Can she swim? (Yes, she can. / No, she can’t.)

Quick Tip: If the sentence already has a form of "to be" (is/am/are) or a modal (can/will), just move it to the front! If it doesn't have one, you usually need to bring in Do, Does, or Did to help.

Key Takeaway: Yes/No questions always start with a helper verb and usually end with a rising voice (high pitch at the end).

2. Wh- Questions (Information Questions)

We use these when we want more than just a "yes" or "no." We want specific details! We use "Wh-" words to ask for different types of information.

The Wh- Family:

• Who (ใคร): Asks about a person. (Who is your teacher?)
• What (อะไร): Asks about things or actions. (What are you doing?)
• Where (ที่ไหน): Asks about a place. (Where is the canteen?)
• When (เมื่อไหร่): Asks about time. (When is your birthday?)
• Why (ทำไม): Asks for a reason. (Why are you late?)
• How (อย่างไร): Asks about the way something is or the method. (How do you go to school?)

How to build them:

[Wh- word] + [Helper Verb] + [Subject] + [Main Verb] + ... ?

Examples:
• Where do you live?
• What does she eat for breakfast?
• When did the movie start?

Did you know? Even though "How" starts with an "H," we still call it a Wh- question!

Key Takeaway: Wh- questions ask for specific facts. Unlike Yes/No questions, our voice usually goes down at the end of a Wh- question.

3. Or-Questions (Alternative Questions)

These questions give the listener a choice between two or more options. We use the word "or" to connect the choices.

How to build them:

You can turn a Yes/No question into an Or-question by adding options!

Examples:
• Do you want tea or coffee?
• Is your bag red or blue?
• Will we go by bus or by train?

How to answer: You don't usually say "Yes" or "No." You pick one of the options!
Example: "Is it hot or cold today?" -> "It’s hot."

Key Takeaway: Or-questions use "or" to provide choices. The first choice usually has a rising voice, and the second choice has a falling voice.

4. Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Forgetting the "Helper":
Don't say: "You like pizza?" (Incorrect)
Say: "Do you like pizza?" (Correct)

2. Double Verbs:
When you use Does or Did, the main verb must go back to its simple form (no -s or -ed).
Don't say: "Does she likes cats?" (Incorrect)
Say: "Does she like cats?" (Correct)

3. Wrong Word Order:
In questions, the helper verb comes before the person (subject).
Don't say: "Where you are going?" (Incorrect)
Say: "Where are you going?" (Correct)

5. Quick Summary Review

• Yes/No Questions: Start with Is/Am/Are/Do/Does/Can. Answer with Yes/No.
• Wh- Questions: Start with Who, What, Where, When, Why, How. Answer with information.
• Or-Questions: Give choices using "or." Answer by choosing one option.

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first! The more you practice speaking with your friends and teachers, the more natural these patterns will feel. Try asking three questions in English today!