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Direct Question
What Is a Direct Question? (with Examples)
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
- Printable Test

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.
- Is Lee asking if the ticket is valid?
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 (with Examples)
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?
- 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?
- 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.)
- Don't give a non-question a question mark.
- Explain why it's true?
- Use a rhetorical direct question as a title to engage your readers or like a soft statement when some diplomacy is required.
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