1. Making questions

1.1. General question / Yes/No question

This question requires yes or no answer.

Does / do / did + subject + verb + object?

He works long hours. → Does he work long hours? → Yes, he does. No, he does not (=doesn’t)

They considered a series of standard programs. → Did they consider a series of standard programs? → Yes, they did. No, they did not (=didn’t)

Is / are / am / was / were + subject + object?

He is dependable. → Is he dependable? → Yes, he is. No, he is not (=isn’t)

Have / has + subject + V_III/V_ed + object?

e.g. This company has assured follow-through on all the clauses of the contract. → Has this company assured follow-through on all the clauses of the contract? → Yes, it has. Not it has not. (hasn’t)

Will +subject+verb+object?

e.g. Well-designed branches will attract more customers → Will well-designed branches attract more customers?/ Yes, they will. No, they will not. (=won’t)

1.2. Special question / Information question / Open question

This questions is used to ask for more information than just conformation or denial.

Question words: when, where, how, how long, why, how old, how much (many), what kind of, what, whose

When

When how +do/does/did +subject+verb +object?

Why

e.g. Government agencies collect taxes. → What do government agencies collect?

When

When +is/are/am/was/were+subject+object?

Why

I am available for the interview at 3 p.m. → When are you available for the interview?

KEEP IN MIND: which is used for limited choice:

e.g. Which of the following job would you like to apply for: senior accounts manager or associate manager?

NOT: What of the following job would you like to apply for: senior accounts manager or associate manager?

1.3. Alternative question

Do / does / did+subject +verb +object +or + alternative?

e.g. Does he focus on past achievements or future benefits?

Is/are/was/were+subject +object +or+alternative?

e.g. Is direct communication valued or not in your company?

1.4. Tag question / Disjunctive question

Tags consist of an auxiliary verb and the pronoun referring to the subject.

KEEP IN MIND: the question tags.

I am …, aren’t I?

I am not …, am I?

He is …, isn’t he?

I sign …, don’t I?

I don’t sign, …, do I?

He signs …, doesn’t he?

He doesn’t sign …, does he?

Sign it …, will you/ won’t you / can you / could you?

Let’s sign …, shall we?

Let him sign …, will/won’t you?

Don’t sign …, will you?

He can hardly/ rarely/ …, can he?

There is / are …, isn’t / aren’t there?

I used to …, did not I?

Questions tags with positive tail phrases elicit negative answers:

e.g. He isn’t a white collar, is he? → No, he isn’t.

Questions tags with negative tail phrases elicit positive answers:

e.g. He is a white collar, isn’t he? → Yes, he is.

keep in mind: if you agree with a person or have something in common, you can use so or neither.

e.g. I have been working for a multinational retailer of electronic devices. → So have I.

I don’t expect job for life. → Neither do I.

We will set up a system of employee reports. → So will we.