Question Formation in CBSE Class 10 English: Rules for Framing ‘Wh’ and Yes/No Questions Question Formation Get PDF @ Rs. 99 – All Chapter Notes Get PDF @ Rs. 199 – Class 10 Notes Question Formation What is Question Formation? A question is asked either to seek information or to expect an affirmation or negation on a matter. In each case, the structure of questions varies depending on the function they perform. 1. Questions Which Seek Information While framing a question to seek information, the auxiliary verb in the sentence is brought forward and a question word is added before it. Such questions are also known as ‘Wh’ Questions. They cannot be answered with ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. Examples: What did the archbishop find in the casket? Why should I tell you who I am? When will the winner be announced? Where are the stairs to the next level? How did the thieves enter? The general structure of such questions is: Question word + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb + Object OR Question word + Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb The placement of the Subject and Object depends on which part is the answer to the question. Example: Answer: The detective Answer: The report Other Variations to the Structure When the question word is also the subject of the sentence: The auxiliary verb is omitted. The format used is Subject + Main Verb + Object? Examples: What happened to the chicken? / What did happen to the chicken? Who told you this story? / Who did tell you this story? If the question word is the Object of the sentence: An auxiliary verb is used after it to complete the question. Examples: What will you gift her? (Will – auxiliary verb) Whom did the children call? (Did – auxiliary verb) Questions with Prepositions When asking for information regarding location or position, the placement of the preposition affects the formality of the question (this is not a strict rule): If the preposition is placed before the question word, it is more formal. If the preposition is placed at the end of the question, it is more casual but not always grammatically correct. Examples: Formal Informal To whom did the client speak? Whom did the client speak to? For how many guests did you order? How many guests did you order for? From where was the shot fired? Where was the shot fired from? 2. Questions Which Ask for Affirmation or Negation (Yes/No Questions) These questions are framed differently based on the presence or absence of auxiliary verbs. Sentences with an Auxiliary Verb If a sentence to be converted contains an auxiliary verb (including modals), place the auxiliary verb before the subject in the question. Examples: Was the gallon filled when the buzzer sounded? Answer: Yes, the gallon was filled when the buzzer sounded. Can you see the reason for this argument? Answer: No, I can’t understand the reason for this argument. Will they report the incident? Answer: Yes, they will report the incident. Sentences Without an Auxiliary Verb If there is no auxiliary verb, use do, does, or did before the subject, maintaining the original sentence order. Examples: Did the school nurse treat your injury? Answer: Yes, the school nurse treated my injury. Did you learn this craft at school? Answer: Yes, I learned this craft at school. In such cases, do, does, and did act as auxiliary verbs and do not need an additional question word before them. Question Tags Question tags are short interrogative phrases added at the end of a declarative or imperative sentence to ask for confirmation. Examples: Reena has been busy with her dance classes, hasn’t she? There is no smoke without fire, isn’t it? Kunal does not know how to drive, does he? Dushant and Veena are not present today, are they? Additional Examples with Sentence Components ArticleNounAuxiliary VerbMain VerbArticleNoun Thedetectivewillfilethereport. SubjectSubjectPredicatePredicateObjectObject 1. Whowillfilethe report? Question wordAuxiliary VerbMain VerbObject 2. Whatwillthe detectivefile? Question wordAuxiliary VerbSubjectMain Verb Formal Informal To whom did the client speak? Whom did the client speak to? For how many guests did you order? How many guests did you order for? From where was the shot fired? Where was the shot fired from? JOIN TELEGRAM CHANNEL Join Our WhatsApp Channel JOIN NOW padding: 20px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; max-width: 900px; margin: auto; background-color: white; } .docx-html h2 { border-bottom: 2px solid #444; padding-bottom: 5px; } .docx-html .question { color: #1565c0; font-weight: bold; } .docx-html .answer { color: #2e7d32; font-weight: bold; } .docx-html .option { margin-left: 20px; } .docx-html table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 20px; overflow-x: auto; display: block; } .docx-html th, .docx-html td { border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 8px; text-align: left; } @media (max-width: 600px) { .docx-html { font-size: 14px; padding: 10px; } } Question Formation Get PDF @ Rs. 99 – All Chapter Notes Get PDF @ Rs. 199 – Class 10 Notes QUESTION FORMATIONWhat is Question Formation?A question is asked either to seek information or to expect an affirmation or negation on a matter. In each of the cases, the structure of questions varies depending on the function they perform.• Questions which seek information: While framing a question to seek information, the auxiliary verb in the sentence is brought forward and a question word is added before it. Such questions are also known as ‘Wh’ Questions. They cannot be answered with ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.Examples:• What did the archbishop find in the casket?• Why should I tell you who I am?• When will the winner be announced?• Where are the stairs to the next level?• How did the thieves enter?The general structure of such questions isQuestion word + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb +Object ORQuestion word + Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main VerbThe placement of the Subject and the Object in these forms depends on which part is the answer to the question.Example:Answer: The detectiveAnswer: The reportOther variations to the structure:• When the question word is also the subject of the sentence:• The auxiliary verb is omitted and• The Subject + Main Verb + Object? format is used.Examples: What happened to the chicken? What did happen to the chicken?Who told you this story? Who did tell you this story?• If the order is reversed and the Question word is the Object of the sentence:• An auxiliary verb is used after it to complete the question.Examples: What will you gift her? Will – Auxiliary Verb Whom did the children call? Did – Auxiliary VerbQuestions with prepositions:When asking for information regarding some location or position, the placement of the preposition determines the formality of the question. (Note: This is not a hard and fast rule.)Usually if the preposition is placed right before the question word, it makes the sentence appropriate for a formal conversation of inquiry.If the preposition is placed at the end of the question statement, then it makes the statement acceptable for a casual conversation, though it may not always be grammatically correct.Examples:• 2. Questions which ask for an affirmation or negation as the answer (Yes/No questions)These questions are framed differently based on three different types of sentences.Sentences with an auxiliary verb: If a sentence which is to be converted to an affirmation or negation reply contains an auxiliary verb (including modal auxiliaries)i. The appropriate form of the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject in the question.Examples:• Was the gallon filled when the buzzer sounded?Yes. The gallon was filled when the buzzer sounded.Subject: the gallon; The gallon Auxiliary Verb: Was; wasAnswer: YesCan you see the reason for this argument?No. I can’t understand the reason for this argument.Subject: you; I Auxiliary Verb: Can; can’tAnswer: No• Will they report the incident?Yes. They will report the incident.Subject: they; they Auxiliary Verb: Will; willAnswer: YesSentences without an auxiliary verb: If the auxiliary verb is absent in the sentences.• Verbs do, does or did are used before the subject and the original order of the sentence ismaintained.Examples:• Did the school nurse treat your injury? Yes. The school nurse treated my injury.• Did you learn this craft at school? Yes. I learned this craft at school.In such cases, the verbs do, does or did become the question words and do not need an additional Question word before them.• Question tags: Question tags are phrases added at the end of declarative or imperative sentences to turn them into questions asking for confirmation. Interrogative phrases are used to form question tags.Question tags are formed in the following manner:Examples:Reena has been busy with her dance classes, hasn’t she? There is no smoke without fire, isn’t it?Examples:Kunal does not know how to drive, does he?Dushant and Veena are not present today, are they?ArticleNounAuxiliary VerbMain VerbArticleNounThedetectivewillfilethereport.SubjectSubjectPredicatePredicateObjectObject1. Whowillfilethe report?Question wordAuxiliary VerbMain VerbObject2. Whatwillthe detectivefile?Question wordAuxiliary VerbSubjectMain VerbFormalInformalTo whom did the client speak?Whom did the client speak to?For how many guests did you order?How many guests did you order for?From where was the shot fired?Where was the shot fired from? JOIN TELEGRAM CHANNEL Join Our WhatsApp Channel JOIN NOW