Basic English Questions
Quick Answer
English questions come in two types. Yes/no questions start with a helper word — am, is, are, do, or does. Wh- questions start with one of six question words — what, where, when, who, why, how.
Click any word below to learn it on its own page.
Yes/No Questions: Five Helper Words
A yes/no question starts with one of these helpers. The helper is always the very first word.
| Helper | Subject | Example | Lesson |
|---|---|---|---|
| am | I | Am I late? | Learn AM |
| is | he, she, it, one person/thing | Is she here? | Learn IS |
| are | you, we, they, plural | Are you ready? | Learn ARE |
| do | I, you, we, they | Do you like coffee? | Learn DO |
| does | he, she, it | Does she work here? | Learn DOES |
Wh- Questions: Six Question Words
A wh-question asks for information. Each question word opens a different door.
| Word | Asks about | Example | Lesson |
|---|---|---|---|
| what | things, names, information | What is your name? | Learn WHAT |
| where | place | Where do you live? | Learn WHERE |
| when | time | When is the meeting? | Learn WHEN |
| who | people | Who is that? | Learn WHO |
| why | reason | Why are you late? | Learn WHY |
| how | way, feeling, amount | How are you? | Learn HOW |
The Rule in One Line: Yes/no questions start with a helper. Wh-questions start with what, where, when, who, why, or how.
Learn Them One by One
Start with the yes/no helpers (am, is, are), then learn the question words one by one. Each step has the pattern, examples and one common mistake.
Step 1: Am
Use am at the start of a question only with I. Pattern: Am I + adjective/place/-ing verb? Example: Am I late?
Examples:
- Am I late? (Asking about yourself: am + I + adjective.)
- Am I in the right place? (Am + I + place.)
- Am I bothering you? (Am + I + -ing verb.)
Common mistake
Using am with you/he/she/it/we/they
✗ Am you ready?
✓ Are you ready?
How to remember: Am = only with I. One person, one helper.
Step 2: Is
Use is at the start of a question with he, she, or it (or any name of one person or thing). Pattern: Is + subject + …?
Examples:
- Is he tired? (Asking about one man.)
- Is she at home? (Asking about one woman.)
- Is it raining? (Asking about one thing.)
Common mistake
Using is for plural
✗ Is they here?
✓ Are they here?
How to remember: Is = one. He is, she is, it is, Tom is, the cat is. One subject = is.
Step 3: Are
Use are at the start of a question with you, we, they, or any plural subject. Pattern: Are + subject + …?
Examples:
- Are you tired? (Asking the person you are talking to.)
- Are they here? (Asking about more than one person.)
- Are we late? (Asking about you + others.)
Common mistake
Using is with you
✗ Is you tired?
✓ Are you tired?
How to remember: Are = you, we, they, or many. “You” always takes “are,” even for one person — that is just how English works.
Step 4: What
Use what to ask about things, names, or information. Pattern: What + helper + subject + verb? Example: What is your name?
Examples:
- What is this? (Asking about a thing.)
- What time is it? (Asking about time.)
- What do you want? (Asking about a wish.)
Common mistake
Forgetting the helper
✗ What your name?
✓ What is your name?
How to remember: What + helper + subject + verb? The helper is small but never skip it.
Step 5: Who
Use who to ask about people — names, identities, the person who did something. Pattern: Who + helper + subject + verb? OR Who + verb? Example: Who is that?
Examples:
- Who is at the door? (Asking about a person.)
- Who are they? (Asking about more than one person.)
- Who told you? (Asking about the person who did something.)
Common mistake
Using what for a person
✗ What is your teacher?
✓ Who is your teacher?
How to remember: Who = person. The answer is a name or a description of someone.
Step 6: Where
Use where to ask about a place or location. Pattern: Where + helper + subject + verb? Example: Where is the bathroom?
Examples:
- Where is the bathroom? (Asking about a location.)
- Where do you live? (Asking about home location.)
- Where are you from? (Asking about origin.)
Common mistake
Using what for place
✗ What is the bathroom?
✓ Where is the bathroom?
How to remember: Where = place. If the answer ends with “in/at/on (somewhere),” the question is “where.”
Step 7: When
Use when to ask about time — a day, a date, an hour, or a moment. Pattern: When + helper + subject + verb? Example: When is the meeting?
Examples:
- When is the meeting? (Asking about a time/date.)
- When do you start work? (Asking about a time of day.)
- When does the film begin? (Asking about a start time.)
Common mistake
Using where for time
✗ Where is the meeting? (if you want a time, not a room)
✓ When is the meeting?
How to remember: When = time. Listen for the answer: if it is a clock or a calendar, the question is “when.”
Step 8: Why
Use why to ask about a reason. Pattern: Why + helper + subject + verb? Example: Why are you sad?
Examples:
- Why are you crying? (Asking for the reason for tears.)
- Why do you study English? (Asking for the reason for an action.)
- Why is the shop closed? (Asking for the reason for a fact.)
Common mistake
Forgetting the helper
✗ Why you sad?
✓ Why are you sad?
How to remember: Why = reason. If the natural answer is “because…,” the question is “why.”
Step 9: How
Use how to ask about way, feeling, condition, or amount. Pattern: How + helper + subject + verb? Example: How are you?
Examples:
- How are you? (Asking about feeling/condition.)
- How do you cook rice? (Asking about a way.)
- How much is this? (Asking about an amount.)
Common mistake
Using how for a reason
✗ How are you sad? (if you want a reason)
✓ Why are you sad?
How to remember: How asks about way (how do you do it?), feeling (how are you?), and amount (how much/many/long/old?). Three jobs, one word.
Test Yourself: Basic English Questions
Choose an answer to see your feedback immediately. Your first answer counts towards your score.
1. _______ are you from?
2. _______ I in the right room?
3. _______ much does it cost?
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You now have a map of every basic question type in English: five helpers and six question words.
The first lesson is the simplest one — am, the helper for asking about yourself.
Next lesson: Basic Prepositions of Place
I’m Khamis Maiouf. I’m studying Health and Social Care and have completed Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Level 3 Hairdressing. I have taught ESOL in my community and helped students with GCSE English. I run English Teacher Site to help people learn and practise English.