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Direct Question
This Page Includes...
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?
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?

Examples of Direct Questions
There are 3 basic types of question:- (Type 1) Yes/No Questions.
Example: 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.
Example: 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.
Example: 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
Here are some examples of yes/no questions:
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. |
With the verb to be in the present tense or the past tense, the format is:
Verb To Be | Subject | Remainder | Possible Answer |
---|---|---|---|
Are | you | happy? | Yes, I am. |
Was | he | happy? | Yes, he was. |
Note: As an auxiliary verb is required to form the future tense, the format for the verb to be in the future tense is the same as normal. (Look at the last row of the first table above.)
Forming "Question Word" Questions
"Question word" questions are formed:Question Word + Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb + Remainder
Here are some examples of "question word" questions:
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. |
When the question word is who, the format is:
Question Word (and Subject) | Main Verb | Remainder | Possible Answer |
---|---|---|---|
Who | taught | Lee to fish? | No one. |
Who | is thinking | about Saturday? | I am. |
When using the verb to be in the present or past tense, the format is:
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. |
Read more about the question words: What are interrogative pronouns?
What are interrogative adjectives?
Forming Choice Questions
Choice questions are formed:Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb + Choice 1 + "or" + Choice 2
Here are some examples of choice questions:
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. |
When using the verb to be in the present or past tense, the format is:
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. |
More about 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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