Welcome to the World of Questions!

Hello everyone! Have you ever wondered how to find out someone's name, where a toy is, or if your friend likes chocolate? We use questions! In this chapter, we will learn how to be "language detectives" by using three main types of questions: Yes/No questions, Wh- questions, and Or- questions. Being able to ask questions helps us make new friends and learn new things every day.

1. Yes/No Questions (คำถามที่ตอบว่า ใช่ หรือ ไม่ใช่)

These are the simplest questions. We use them when we want to check a fact. The answer is usually just "Yes" or "No".

How to build them:

In Primary school, we usually start these questions with special words like Is, Are, Can, Do, or Does.

  • Is / Are: Used for naming things or describing them.
    Example: Is it a cat? (Yes, it is. / No, it isn't.)
    Example: Are you happy? (Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.)
  • Can: Used to talk about ability (being able to do something).
    Example: Can you swim? (Yes, I can. / No, I can't.)
  • Do / Does: Used for actions or habits (common in ป.4–ป.6).
    Example: Do you like milk? (Yes, I do. / No, I don't.)
    Example: Does he play football? (Yes, he does. / No, he doesn't.)

Quick Tip: When asking a Yes/No question, your voice usually goes up at the end! Try it: Is it a dog? ↗

Key Takeaway:

If the question starts with Is, Are, Can, Do, or Does, the person is looking for a Yes or No answer.


2. Wh- Questions (คำถามที่ต้องการข้อมูล)

We use these when we want more than just a "Yes" or "No." We want information! We call them Wh- questions because most start with the letters "W" and "H."

The Question Words:

  • What (อะไร): To ask about things or actions.
    Example: What is it? / What are you doing?
  • Where (ที่ไหน): To ask about places.
    Example: Where is the book? (It is on the table.)
  • Who (ใคร): To ask about people.
    Example: Who is that? (That is my teacher.)
  • How many (เท่าไหร่): To ask about the number of things.
    Example: How many apples are there? (There are three.)
  • How old / How tall: To ask about age or height.
    Example: How old are you? / How tall is she?
  • When (เมื่อไหร่): To ask about time (added in ป.5–ป.6).
    Example: When is your birthday?
  • Why (ทำไม): To ask for a reason (added in ป.6).
    Example: Why are you late? (Because I missed the bus.)

Did you know? Unlike Yes/No questions, your voice usually goes down at the end of a Wh- question. Try it: What is your name? ↘

Common Mistake to Avoid:

Don't answer a "What" or "Where" question with "Yes" or "No."
Incorrect: "Where is the cat?" "Yes!"
Correct: "Where is the cat?" "In the kitchen."


3. Or- Questions (คำถามให้เลือกอย่างใดอย่างหนึ่ง)

From ป.4 onwards, we learn to give people a choice. We use the word "or" (หรือ) to connect two options.

Examples:

  • Is this a pen or a pencil?
  • Is he a doctor or a nurse?
  • Do you want milk or water?
  • Are you going to the park or the school? (ป.5–ป.6)

How to answer: You don't usually say Yes or No. You pick one of the options!
Question: "Is this a pen or a pencil?"
Answer: "It is a pencil."

Key Takeaway:

When you hear "or", you have to make a choice between the two things mentioned.


4. Summary Table for Quick Review

Don't worry if this seems like a lot to remember! Here is a simple guide to help you:

Type of Question: Yes/No Questions
Starts with: Is, Are, Can, Do, Does
Answer with: Yes / No

Type of Question: Wh- Questions
Starts with: What, Where, Who, When, Why, How
Answer with: Facts (Places, Names, Numbers)

Type of Question: Or- Questions
Includes: ... or ...?
Answer with: Choosing one option

Final Encouragement

Asking questions is the best way to learn English. Don't be afraid to make mistakes! Whether you are asking "What is this?" or "Can I play?", you are practicing the most important part of language: communication. Happy questioning!

Note: For more information on how to name objects or use prepositions in your answers, see the chapters "Nouns, articles & plurals" and "This/that, there is/are & prepositions of place".