Direct Question
What Is a Direct Question?
A direct question is a question that can be answered (i.e., it is not a statement) and always ends in a question mark. For example:- Have you ever sent a text message to the wrong person?
- Do you fold your pizza when you eat it?
- What would be the coolest animal to scale up to the size of a horse?
- Who was your worst teacher?
- Would you rather be a hobbit or an elf for a day?
- In the apocalypse, would you rather tough it alone or try to find a community to live in?
Table of Contents
- The Difference between a Direct Question and an Indirect Question
- The Three Main Types of Direct Question
- Forming Yes/No Questions (with Examples)
- Forming "Question Word" Questions
- Forming Choice Questions
- Rhetorical Direct Questions
- Why Direct Questions Are Important
- Test Time!
The Difference between a Direct Question and an Indirect Question
An indirect question is a question embedded within a statement or another question. A sentence featuring an indirect question might not end in a question mark. In the two examples below, the indirect questions are shaded.- Lee is asking if the ticket is valid. (This is a statement, not a question. The direct question is "Is the ticket valid?" Notice that the indirect question "if the ticket is valid" has the same subject-verb word order as a statement (i.e., "the ticket is valid"). This is an example of an indirect question in a declarative sentence (i.e., a statement). Note that there is no question mark.)
- Is Lee asking if the ticket is valid? (This time, the indirect question is embedded in a question. Again, the direct question is "Is the ticket valid?" This is an example of an indirect question in an interrogative sentence (i.e., a question). Note that there is now a question mark.)
The Three Main Types of Direct Question
There are 3 main types of direct question:(Type 1) Yes/No Questions
- Do you like celery? (The answer to a yes/no question will be yes or no.)
(Answer to this question: No.)
(Type 2) "Question Word" Questions
- What is celery salt? (The answer to a "question word" question will be some information.)
(Answer: Celery salt is a seasoned salt made from ground celery seeds and table salt.)
(Type 3) Choice Questions
- Do you want garlic salt or celery salt? (The answer to a choice question will be in the question.)
(Answer: Garlic salt)
Forming Yes/No Questions
Yes/no questions are formed:auxiliary verb
+ subject
+ main verb
+ remainder
Auxiliary Verb | Subject | Main Verb | Remainder | Possible Answer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Can | Simon | swim? | No, he can't. | |
Has | she | finished | screaming? | No, she hasn't. |
Does | Peter | want | to stay? | Yes, he does. |
Did | they | leave | soon after me? | Yes, they did. |
Will | you | be | happy? | Yes, I will. |
Verb To Be | Subject | Remainder | Possible Answer |
---|---|---|---|
Are | you | happy? | Yes, I am. |
Was | he | happy? | Yes, he was. |
Forming "Question Word" Questions
"Question word" questions are formed:question word
+ auxiliary verb
+ subject
+ main verb
+ remainder
Question Word | Auxiliary Verb | Subject | Main Verb | Remainder | Possible Answer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Where | did | she | go? | London. | |
Why | have | they | started | the play early? | Because of the rain. |
When | will | Lee | catch | a decent bass? | Probably never. |
Whom | is | he | fighting | on Saturday? | Some French lunatic. |
Question Word (and Subject) | Main Verb | Remainder | Possible Answer |
---|---|---|---|
Who | taught | Lee to fish? | No one. |
Who | is thinking | about Saturday? | I am. |
Question Word | Verb To Be | Subject | Remainder | Possible Answer |
---|---|---|---|---|
When | is | Easter Sunday? | Before Easter Monday. | |
Why | are | you | angry? | No reason. |
What | was | that noise? | It was an elephant. | |
When | were | they | made? | Over a thousand years ago. |
What are interrogative adjectives?
Forming Choice Questions
Choice questions are formed:auxiliary verb
+ subject
+ main verb
+ choice 1
+ "or"
+ choice 2
Auxiliary Verb | Subject | Main Verb | Choice 1 | or | Choice 2 | Possible Answer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Do | you | drink | tea | or | coffee? | Tea. |
Did | Lee | catch | a whelk | or | a bass? | A whelk. |
Verb To Be | Subject | Choice 1 | or | Choice 2 | Possible Answer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Is | it | true | or | false? | It's true. |
Were | you | disappointed | or | angry? | Angry. |
Rhetorical Direct Questions
A direct question could be rhetorical. A rhetorical question is a direct question that does not require an answer.Rhetorical questions are commonly used like obvious statements. For example:
- What's not to like?
- What is the matter with kids today?
- What happened to your vote?
- Was the project worth the money?
Why Direct Questions Are Important
If you're studying or teaching English, then learning the various question structures is essential. The ability to ask questions is important.- He who asks a question is a fool for a minute. He who does not remains a fool forever. (Chinese proverb)
- The important thing is never to stop questioning. (Physicist Albert Einstein)
(Reason 1) Don't use a question mark with a non-question.
By far the most common mistake related to direct questions is using a question mark at the end of a sentence that isn't a question. This mistake typically occurs when the sentence contains an indirect question. In these examples, the indirect questions are shaded.- Anna needs to know when the parcel will arrive?
- Tell me if you have any allergies? (These are not questions. There should be no question marks.)
- Does Anna need to know when the parcel will arrive?
- Will you tell me if you have any allergies?
(Reason 2) Rhetorical direct questions make good titles and are good for adding a touch of diplomacy.
Rhetorical direct questions make good titles because they encourage readers to consider the answer before reading on.- Who Was Responsible for the Flu Pandemic? (This is more engaging than a title like "Responsibility for the Flu Pandemic".)
- Was BREXIT worth it? (Presented as a rhetorical question, this title does not fully expose the author's bias on the matter of Britain's withdrawal from the European Union.)
Key Points
- Don't give a non-question a question mark.
- Explain why it's true? (This is not a direct question.)
- Use a rhetorical direct question as a title to engage your readers or like a soft statement when some diplomacy is required.
Learning Resources
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Test Time!
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