Examples of tag questions structure

In a tag question, the speaker makes a statement, but is not completely certain of the truth, so he or she uses a tag question to verify the previous statement. Sentences using tag questions should have the main clause separated form the tag by a comma. The sentence will always end with a question mark.

For example:

• There are only twenty-eight days in January, aren’t there?

• It’s raining now, isn’t it?

• The boys don’t have class tomorrow, do they?

• You and I talked with the professor yesterday, didn’t we?

• You won’t be leaving for another hour, will you?

• Jill and John have been to USA, haven’t they?

Introduction to embedded questions structure

An embedded question is one which is included in a sentence or another question. The word order is not that of typical questions, except for subject questions. Study the following rule.

                         Subject + verb(phrase)+ question word + subject + verb

Note: There must not be an auxiliary between the question word and the subject in an embedded question.

For example:

• We haven’t ascertained where the meeting will take place.
• The authorities cannot figure out why the plane landed at the wrong airport.

The following rule applies if the embedded question is embedded in another question.

                         Auxiliary + subject + verb + question word + subject + verb

• Do you know where he went?
• Could you tell me what time it is?

Note: Question words can be single words or phrases. Phrases include: whose + noun, how many, how long, how often, how much, what kind, what time,.

For example;

• The professor didn’t know how many students would be in her afternoon class.
• I have no idea how long the interview will take.
• Do they know how often the bus runs at night?
• Can you tell me how far the museum is from the college?
• I’ll tell you what kind of ice cream testes best.
• The teacher asked us whose book was no his desk.

Information question structure

These are questions for which the answer is more than yes or no; there must be some information in the answer. There are three different rules in this part:

1. Who or what in subject questions: A subject question is one in which the subject is unknown.

Question for structure:

            Who, what + verb  + complement + modifier

For example:

• Who opened the door? (Someone opened the door.)
• What happened last night? (Something happened last night)

2 . Whom and what in complement questions: A complement question is one in which the complement is unknown.

            Whom, what + auxiliary do, does, did + subject + verb + modifier

Although in speech, most people use who rather than whom in these questions, in correct written English, you should use whom to indicate that the question word comes form the complement position.

For example:

• Whom does John know from USA? (John knows someone from USA)
• What did George buy at the store? (George bought something at the store.)

3. When, where, how, and why questions: These questions are formed the same as complement questions.

When, where, how, why + auxiliary be do, does, did + subject + verb + complement + modifier

For example:

• When did John move to Jacksonville?
• Where does John live?
• Why did George leave so early?
• How did John get to school today?
• Where has John gone?
• When will Jack go back to USA?

Introduction to Question sentence structure

Remember, when forming a questions, one must place the auxiliary or the verb be before the subject. If there is no auxiliary or be, one must use the correct form of do, does, or did. After do, does, or did, the simple form of the verb must be used. The tense and person are shown only by this auxiliary, not by the main verb.

Yes and No questions

The are questions for which the answer is yes or no. For structure:

             Auxiliary be do, does, did + subject + verb………

For example: 

• Is Mary going to school today?
• Was Mary sick yesterday?
• Have you seen this movie before?
• Will the committee decide on the proposal today?
• Do you want use the telephone?
• Does George like peanut butter?
• Did you go to class yesterday?