Basic English Questions
Quick Answer
Basic English questions help you ask for simple information. Use am, is, are, do, or does. Examples: “Are you ready?” and “Do you live here?”
Two Types of Basic Questions
At A1, start with two question types:
- Yes/no questions: Are you hungry? Do you like tea?
- Wh- questions: What is your name? Where do you live?
Questions With Am, Is, and Are
For the verb to be, put am, is, or are before the subject.
| Statement | Question |
|---|---|
| You are ready. | Are you ready? |
| She is your teacher. | Is she your teacher? |
| They are at home. | Are they at home? |
Questions With Do and Does
For most present simple verbs, use do or does.
| Subject | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I / you / we / they | do | Do you work here? |
| he / she / it | does | Does she work here? |
After does, use the basic verb: “Does he live here?” not “Does he lives here?”
The Rule in One Line: Use are/is for be questions. Use do/does for most other present simple questions.
Question Words
Use question words when you need more than yes or no.
| Question word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| what | thing | What is your name? |
| where | place | Where do you live? |
| who | person | Who is your teacher? |
| when | time | When do you study? |
| why | reason | Why are you tired? |
| how | way or feeling | How are you? |
Useful A1 Questions
- What is your name?
- Where are you from?
- Where do you live?
- Do you speak English?
- Are you ready?
- How are you?
Common Mistakes
✗ You are ready?
✓ Are you ready?
✗ Where you live?
✓ Where do you live?
✗ Does she likes tea?
✓ Does she like tea?
Quick Practice
Choose the best word.
- ___ you from Spain? (Are / Do)
- Where ___ you live? (are / do)
- ___ she work here? (Do / Does)
- What ___ your name? (is / do)
- How ___ you? (are / do)
Answers: 1. Are 2. do 3. Does 4. is 5. are
Related A1 Lessons
My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
