Lesson 6 - Asking Questions
Introduction
In this lesson you'll learn how to ask questions in English. You'll also learn how to make negative statements. The English verb do is also introduced. Try the quiz to see how well you have learned the concepts included in this lesson.
Conversations
English
Eric and Tom are at a seminar for work. Tom stands up and puts on his jacket.
Eric: Where are you going?
Tom: I'm going to the store.
Eric: Can you get me some juice while you're there?
Tom: Sure. What kind of juice do you want?
Eric: I'd like some orange juice. Do you need some money?
Tom: No. You can pay me later.
Vocabulary and Phrases
Where are you going?
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I'm going to the store.
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Can you get me some ___?
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Do you need some ___?
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What kind of ___?
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I'd like some ___.
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store
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juice
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money
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to want
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to need
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to go
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to pay
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Question Words
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how
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what
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when
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where
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which
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who
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whose
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why
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Grammar
To Do
The verb do in English is very common. Aside from its meaning of to act, cause, or perform an action, it is used to add emphasis to another verb. For example: I do eat healthy food.
Although most verbs can be used with do to add emphasis, there are some common verbs where this is not allowed, such as can, be, will, shall, and must.
The following table shows the present tense for the verb do.
| do | |
|---|---|
| I do | |
| you do | |
| he does | |
| she does | |
| it does | |
| we do | |
| they do |
Negative Statements
A negative statement is used to say that someting is not true. There are a few different ways to create negative statements.
Most sentences can be turned into a negative statement by using the helper verb do along with the word not in front of the main verb. Do not is often shortened to don't. For example: I don't eat healthy food.
A sentence can also be made negative by adding words like never, nobody, no one, and nowhere to it.
Sentences with verbs such as:
- be
- do
- have
- will
- shall
- may
- must
| do | be | can | |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | do not, don't | am not | cannot, can't |
| you | do not, don't | are not, aren't | cannot, can't |
| he | does not, doesn't | is not, isn't | cannot, can't |
| she | does not, doesn't | is not, isn't | cannot, can't |
| it | does not, doesn't | is not, isn't | cannot, can't |
| we | do not, don't | are not, aren't | cannot, can't |
| they | do not, don't | are not, aren't | cannot, can't |
Another way to make a negative statement is to add the word no before a noun in the sentence.
Examples
| I don't see the cup. | |
| She doesn't read the book. | |
| They don't think he is wrong. | |
| I don't believe you. | |
| He isn't happy. | |
| I'm not walking to the store. | |
| He doesn't open the door. | |
| It's not raining. | |
| We can't wait for you. | |
| I can't go today. |
Asking Questions
There are several ways to ask questions in English.
- Start the sentence with the verb do followed by the subject followed by the main verb of the sentence.
- Start the sentence with the main verb followed by the subject when the verb is be, will, can, may, shall, or must.
- Start the sentence with a question word such as who, where, what, when, how, or why.
Sentences that are questions end in a question mark "?" instead of a period "."
Examples
| Can you go to the store? | |
| Do you go to the store? | |
| Does the store sell shoes? | |
| Why do you go to the store? | |
| Is it possible? | |
| How is it possible? | |
| Who goes to the theater? | |
| Why does it do that? | |
| Does he not wash the dishes? | |
| When does the movie start? | |
| What is wrong? |
Practice
Play the audio, then write the English word or sentence that you hear. Press the Check button to see if your answers are correct.
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Quiz
Here is an online quiz to help you learn the English vocabulary introduced in this lesson.
