Interrogative Yes/No Questions and Wh- Questions

 Interrogative 

An interrogative sentence is a sentence that asks a question. It always ends with a question mark (?). Its purpose is to request information.

Example: Are you coming? (Yes/No question)
Example: Where do you live? (Wh- question)

Two Main Types of Interrogative Sentences

Type	Answer Type	Structure	Example
Yes/No Question	Short answer: Yes or No	Auxiliary verb + Subject + Main verb?	Do you like coffee? → Yes, I do. / No, I don't.
Wh- Question	Information (not just Yes/No)	Wh- word + Auxiliary verb + Subject + Main verb?	Where do you live? → I live in Kathmandu.

Type 1: Yes/No Questions

These questions expect the answer "Yes" or "No" (or a short confirmation/denial).

Structure:
Auxiliary Verb (do/be/have/can/will, etc.) + Subject + Main Verb + Rest?

Common Auxiliary Verbs Used:

Auxiliary	Example Question	Yes Answer	No Answer
1.      Do	Do you speak English?	Yes, I do.	No, I don't.
2.      Does	Does she like pizza?	Yes, she does.	No, she doesn't.
3.      Did	Did you see the movie?	Yes, I did.	No, I didn't.
4.      Is/Am/Are	Are you happy?	Yes, I am.	No, I'm not.
5.      Was/Were	Was he late?	Yes, he was.	No, he wasn't.
6.      Have/Has	Have you eaten?	Yes, I have.	No, I haven't.
7.      Can	Can you swim?	Yes, I can.	No, I can't.
8.      Will	Will they come?	Yes, they will.	No, they won't.

More Examples of Yes/No Questions:

1.      Is it raining outside?

2.      Did you finish your homework?

3.      Have you ever been to Japan?

4.      Can she drive a car?

5.      Should we wait for him?

Type 2: Wh- Questions

These questions begin with a Wh- word (question word) and ask for specific information. They cannot be answered with just "Yes" or "No."

Structure:
Wh- word + Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb + Rest?

Exception: When the Wh- word is the subject of the sentence, no auxiliary verb is used.
Who called you? (Not: Who did call you?)

Types of Wh- Words (Question Words)

Here are the main Wh- words with their meanings, uses, and examples:

Wh- Word	Use (Asks about)	Example Question	Example Answer
What	Things, actions, ideas	What is your name?	My name is Ram.
Which	Choice among options	Which color do you prefer, red or blue?	I prefer blue.
Who	Person (subject)	Who is that woman?	She is my teacher.
Whom	Person (object)	Whom did you meet?	I met the manager.
Whose	Possession	Whose bag is this?	It is Sita's bag.
Where	Place	Where do you live?	I live in Pokhara.
When	Time	When will you arrive?	I will arrive at 5 PM.
Why	Reason	Why are you late?	Because I missed the bus.
How	Manner, condition, degree	How do you go to school?	By bus.
How much	Quantity (uncountable)	How much sugar do you need?	One kilogram.
How many	Quantity (countable)	How many books do you have?	Ten books.
How long	Duration	How long have you waited?	Two hours.
How often	Frequency	How often do you exercise?	Every day.
How far	Distance	How far is the airport?	5 kilometers.
How old	Age	How old are you?	I am 25 years old.

Uses of Interrogative Sentences

Use	Explanation	Example
1.     Request information	To learn facts	What time is it?
2.     Clarify something	To check understanding	Did you say Monday or Tuesday?
3.     Make polite requests	Often with "Can/Could/Would"	Can you help me, please?
4.     Express surprise or disbelief	Rhetorical questions	Is that really true?
5.     Gather opinions	To ask preferences	Which movie do you like best?
6.     Confirm facts	Yes/No questions	You are coming, aren't you?

Special Rules & Notes

1. Wh- word as Subject (No auxiliary verb)

When the Wh- word is the subject of the sentence, do not use do/does/did.

Correct	Incorrect
Who called you?	Who did call you?
What happened?	What did happen?
Which train arrived first?	Which train did arrive first?

2. Prepositions in Wh- Questions

Prepositions can come at the end (common in speech) or at the beginning (formal).

Informal	Formal
Who are you talking to?	To whom are you talking?
Where did you come from?	From where did you come?

3. Negative Questions

Used to show surprise, seek agreement, or make suggestions.

Don't you like ice cream? (Surprise)
Can't you see the sign? (Annoyance)
Wouldn't you like some tea? (Offer)

4. Tag Questions (A special type of Yes/No question)

A short question added at the end of a statement.

You are coming, aren't you?
She doesn't like coffee, does she?

Summary Table: Yes/No vs. Wh- Questions

Feature	Yes/No Question	Wh- Question
Answer type	Yes or No (or short confirmation)	Specific information
Starts with	Auxiliary verb (Do, Is, Can, etc.)	Wh- word (What, Where, Who, etc.)
Example	Do you like tea?	What do you like?
Answer	Yes, I do. / No, I don't.	I like coffee.
Question mark	Yes (?)	Yes (?)

Practice Examples (Mixed)

Question	Type	Wh- Word (if any)
1.      Are you feeling well?	Yes/No	–
2.      Where did you buy that shirt?	Wh-	Where
3.      Has she finished her work?	Yes/No	–
4.      Why are you crying?	Wh-	Why
5.      Whose phone is ringing?	Wh-	Whose
6.      Can you speak French?	Yes/No	–
7.      How often do you visit your family?	Wh-	How often

20 More Examples of Interrogative Sentences

No.	Question	Type
1	Do you play football?	Yes/No
2	Are they coming to the party?	Yes/No
3	Did you finish your homework?	Yes/No
4	Can she speak Spanish?	Yes/No
5	Will it rain tomorrow?	Yes/No
6	Have you ever visited Nepal?	Yes/No
7	Should we start the meeting now?	Yes/No
8	Was he absent yesterday?	Yes/No
9	What is your favorite subject?	Wh- Question
10	Where do you live?	Wh- Question
11	When will the train arrive?	Wh- Question
12	Why are you late today?	Wh- Question
13	Who is your best friend?	Wh- Question
14	Whose book is this?	Wh- Question
15	Which dress do you like more?	Wh- Question
16	How do you solve this problem?	Wh- Question
17	How many students are in your class?	Wh- Question
18	How much money do you need?	Wh- Question
19	How often do you exercise?	Wh- Question
20	How far is your school from home?	Wh- Question

 

Definition of Interrogative Sentence (प्रश्नवाचक वाक्यको परिभाषा)

English:
An interrogative sentence is a sentence that asks a question. It always ends with a question mark (?)

Nepali:
प्रश्नवाचक वाक्य (Prashnavachak vākya) त्यो वाक्य हो जसले प्रश्न सोध्छ। यो सधैं प्रश्नचिन्ह (?) मा समाप्त हुन्छ।

Example / उदाहरण:
Are you coming? (के तपाईं आउँदै हुनुहुन्छ?)
Where do you live? (तपाईं कहाँ बस्नुहुन्छ?)

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2. Two Main Types (दुई मुख्य प्रकार)

English	Nepali	Example (English/Nepali)
Yes/No Question	हो/होइन प्रश्न	Do you like tea? → के तपाईंलाई चिया मन पर्छ?
Wh- Question	प्रश्नार्थक शब्द प्रश्न	Where do you live? → तपाईं कहाँ बस्नुहुन्छ?

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Type 1: Yes/No Questions (हो/होइन प्रश्न)

These questions expect the answer "Yes" or "No".
यी प्रश्नहरूको जवाफ "हो" वा "होइन" हुन्छ।

Structure (संरचना):

Auxiliary Verb (सहायक क्रिया) + Subject (कर्ता) + Main Verb (मुख्य क्रिया) + Rest?

Common Auxiliary Verbs with Examples (सहायक क्रिया र उदाहरण):

Auxiliary	English Question	Nepali Question	Yes Answer	No Answer
Do	Do you speak English?	के तपाईं अंग्रेजी बोल्नुहुन्छ?	Yes, I do.	No, I don't.
Does	Does she like pizza?	के उसलाई पिज्जा मन पर्छ?	Yes, she does.	No, she doesn't.
Did	Did you see the movie?	के तपाईंले चलचित्र हेर्नुभयो?	Yes, I did.	No, I didn't.
Is/Am/Are	Are you happy?	के तपाईं खुसी हुनुहुन्छ?	Yes, I am.	No, I'm not.
Was/Were	Was he late?	के उ ढिलो थियो?	Yes, he was.	No, he wasn't.
Have/Has	Have you eaten?	के तपाईंले खानुभयो?	Yes, I have.	No, I haven't.
Can	Can you swim?	के तपाईं पौडी खेल्न सक्नुहुन्छ?	Yes, I can.	No, I can't.
Will	Will they come?	के उनीहरू आउँछन्?	Yes, they will.	No, they won't.

More Examples (थप उदाहरणहरू):

English	Nepali
Is it raining outside?	के बाहिर पानी परिरहेको छ?
Did you finish your homework?	के तपाईंले गृहकार्य सक्नुभयो?
Have you ever been to Japan?	के तपाईं कहिल्यै जापान जानुभएको छ?
Can she drive a car?	के उनी गाडी चलाउन सक्छिन्?
Should we wait for him?	के हामीले उसको पर्खनु पर्छ?

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Type 2: Wh- Questions (प्रश्नार्थक शब्द प्रश्न)

These questions begin with a Wh- word and ask for specific information.
यी प्रश्नहरू प्रश्नार्थक शब्द ले सुरु हुन्छन् र विशेष जानकारी माग्छन्।

Structure (संरचना):

Wh- word + Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb + Rest?

Exception (अपवाद): When the Wh- word is the subject, no auxiliary verb is used.
(जब प्रश्नार्थक शब्द नै कर्ता हुन्छ, सहायक क्रिया प्रयोग हुँदैन।)

Who called you? (कसले तपाईंलाई बोलायो?) – Not: Who did call you?

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Types of Wh- Words (प्रश्नार्थक शब्दका प्रकार)

Wh- Word	Use (प्रयोग)	English Question	Nepali Question	Answer Example
What	Things, actions (वस्तु, काम)	What is your name?	तपाईंको नाम के हो?	My name is Ram.
Which	Choice (विकल्प)	Which color do you prefer?	तपाईंलाई कुन रङ मन पर्छ?	Blue.
Who	Person – subject (व्यक्ति – कर्ता)	Who is that woman?	त्यो महिला को हुन्?	She is my teacher.
Whom	Person – object (व्यक्ति – कर्म)	Whom did you meet?	तपाईं को सँग भेट्नुभयो?	I met the manager.
Whose	Possession (स्वामित्व)	Whose bag is this?	यो झोला कसको हो?	It is Sita's.
Where	Place (ठाउँ)	Where do you live?	तपाईं कहाँ बस्नुहुन्छ?	In Pokhara.
When	Time (समय)	When will you arrive?	तपाईं कहिले आउनुहुन्छ?	At 5 PM.
Why	Reason (कारण)	Why are you late?	तपाईं किन ढिलो हुनुहुन्छ?	Because I missed the bus.
How	Manner, condition (तरिका, अवस्था)	How do you go to school?	तपाईं स्कूल कसरी जानुहुन्छ?	By bus.
How much	Quantity – uncountable (परिमाण – नगण्य)	How much sugar?	कति चिनी?	One kg.
How many	Quantity – countable (सङ्ख्या – गण्य)	How many books?	कति पुस्तकहरू?	Ten books.
How long	Duration (अवधि)	How long have you waited?	तपाईंले कति बेर पर्नुभयो?	Two hours.
How often	Frequency (बारम्बारता)	How often do you exercise?	तपाईं कति पटक व्यायाम गर्नुहुन्छ?	Every day.
How far	Distance (दूरी)	How far is the airport?	एयरपोर्ट कति टाढा छ?	5 km.
How old	Age (उमेर)	How old are you?	तपाईंको उमेर कति हो?	25 years.

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3. Uses of Interrogative Sentences (प्रश्नवाचक वाक्यका प्रयोगहरू)

Use (प्रयोग)	English	Nepali
Request information	What time is it?	कति बज्यो?
Clarify something	Did you say Monday?	के तपाईंले सोमबार भन्नुभयो?
Make polite requests	Can you help me?	के तपाईं मलाई मद्दत गर्न सक्नुहुन्छ?
Express surprise	Is that really true?	के त्यो साँच्चै सत्य हो?
Gather opinions	Which movie do you like?	तपाईंलाई कुन चलचित्र मन पर्छ?
Confirm facts	You are coming, aren't you?	तपाईं आउँदै हुनुहुन्छ, हैन?

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4. Special Rules (विशेष नियमहरू)

Rule 1: Wh- word as Subject (No auxiliary verb)

(प्रश्नार्थक शब्द कर्ता भए – सहायक क्रिया छैन)

Correct (सही)	Incorrect (गलत)
Who called you? (कसले बोलायो?)	Who did call you?
What happened? (के भयो?)	What did happen?
Which train arrived first? (कुन गाडी पहिले आयो?)	Which train did arrive first?

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Rule 2: Prepositions in Wh- Questions (प्रश्नार्थक शब्दमा विभक्ति)

Informal (अनौपचारिक)	Formal (औपचारिक)
Who are you talking to? (तपाईं कसँग कुरा गर्दै हुनुहुन्छ?)	To whom are you talking?
Where did you come from? (तपाईं कहाँबाट आउनुभयो?)	From where did you come?

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Rule 3: Negative Questions (नकारात्मक प्रश्न)

English	Nepali	Purpose
Don't you like ice cream?	के तपाईंलाई आइसक्रिम मन पर्दैन?	Surprise
Can't you see the sign?	के तपाईंले संकेत देख्नुहुन्न?	Annoyance
Wouldn't you like some tea?	के तपाईं चिया चाहनुहुन्न?	Offer

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Rule 4: Tag Questions (ट्याग प्रश्न)

A short question added at the end of a statement.
(वाक्यको अन्त्यमा थपिएको छोटो प्रश्न।)

English	Nepali
You are coming, aren't you?	तपाईं आउँदै हुनुहुन्छ, हैन?
She doesn't like coffee, does she?	उनलाई कफी मन पर्दैन, होइन र?

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5. Summary Table (सारांश तालिका)

Feature (विशेषता)	Yes/No Question (हो/होइन प्रश्न)	Wh- Question (प्रश्नार्थक शब्द प्रश्न)
Answer type (जवाफको प्रकार)	Yes or No (हो वा होइन)	Specific information (विशेष जानकारी)
Starts with (सुरु हुने)	Auxiliary verb (सहायक क्रिया)	Wh- word (प्रश्नार्थक शब्द)
Example (उदाहरण)	Do you like tea?	What do you like?
Nepali Example	के तपाईंलाई चिया मन पर्छ?	तपाईंलाई के मन पर्छ?
Answer (जवाफ)	Yes, I do. / No, I don't.	I like coffee. (मलाई कफी मन पर्छ।)

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6. Practice Examples with Nepali Translation (अभ्यास उदाहरणहरू)

English Question	Nepali Question	Type
Are you feeling well?	के तपाईंलाई सन्चो छ?	Yes/No
Where did you buy that shirt?	तपाईंले त्यो सर्ट कहाँ किन्नुभयो?	Wh-
Has she finished her work?	के उनले आफ्नो काम सकिन्?	Yes/No
Why are you crying?	तपाईं किन रुँदै हुनुहुन्छ?	Wh-
Whose phone is ringing?	कसको फोन बजिरहेको छ?	Wh-
Can you speak French?	के तपाईं फ्रेन्च बोल्न सक्नुहुन्छ?	Yes/No
How often do you visit your family?	तपाईं कति पटक आफ्नो परिवार भेट्न जानुहुन्छ?	Wh-
Did you eat breakfast?	के तपाईंले बिहानको खाना खानुभयो?	Yes/No
What is your mother's name?	तपाईंकी आमाको नाम के हो?	Wh-
Shall we go now?	के हामी अहिले जाऔं?	Yes/No

 

Set 1: Yes/No Questions (1–10)

1. Which of the following is a correct Yes/No question?
A) Where you live?
B) You live where?
C) Do you live in Paris?
D) You do live in Paris?

Answer: C

2. Choose the correct Yes/No question:
A) She is coming?
B) Is she coming?
C) Coming she is?
D) She coming is?

Answer: B

3. Which is correct?
A) Have you eaten lunch?
B) You have eaten lunch?
C) Have eaten you lunch?
D) Eaten you have lunch?

Answer: A

4. Select the correct Yes/No question:
A) Can he swim fast?
B) He can swim fast?
C) Swim fast can he?
D) Does he can swim fast?

Answer: A

5. Which is a proper Yes/No question?
A) Did she called you?
B) Did she call you?
C) She did call you?
D) Called she you?

Answer: B

6. Choose the correct form:
A) Are they coming to the party?
B) They are coming to the party?
C) Coming they are to the party?
D) Are coming they to the party?

Answer: A

7. Which is correct?
A) Does he plays football?
B) Does he play football?
C) He does play football?
D) Play does he football?

Answer: B

8. Select the right Yes/No question:
A) Will she be at the meeting?
B) She will be at the meeting?
C) Be she will at the meeting?
D) Will be she at the meeting?

Answer: A

9. Which is correct?
A) Have you ever seen a tiger?
B) You have ever seen a tiger?
C) Have seen you ever a tiger?
D) Ever you have seen a tiger?

Answer: A

10. Choose the correct Yes/No question:
A) Should we wait for them?
B) We should wait for them?
C) Should wait we for them?
D) Wait should we for them?

Answer: A

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Set 2: Wh- Questions (11–20)

11. Which is a correct Wh- question?
A) What you are doing?
B) What are you doing?
C) What doing you are?
D) What you doing are?

Answer: B

12. Choose the correct question:
A) Where she lives?
B) Where does she live?
C) Where live she?
D) Where she does live?

Answer: B

13. Which is correct?
A) Why you are sad?
B) Why are you sad?
C) Why sad you are?
D) Why you sad are?

Answer: B

14. Select the right Wh- question:
A) When he will arrive?
B) When will he arrive?
C) When arrive will he?
D) When he arrive will?

Answer: B

15. Which is correct?
A) How you go to school?
B) How go you to school?
C) How do you go to school?
D) How you do go to school?

Answer: C

16. Choose the correct question:
A) Whose this book is?
B) Whose book is this?
C) Whose is this book?
D) Whose book this is?

Answer: B (or C — both are acceptable, but B is standard)

17. Which is correct?
A) Who did you meet yesterday?
B) Who you met yesterday?
C) Who did you met yesterday?
D) Who you did meet yesterday?

Answer: A

18. Select the right Wh- question:
A) Which color you prefer?
B) Which color do you prefer?
C) Which do you prefer color?
D) Which color you do prefer?

Answer: B

19. Which is correct?
A) How many books you have?
B) How many books do you have?
C) How many do you have books?
D) How many books you do have?

Answer: B

20. Choose the correct question:
A) How long you have been waiting?
B) How long have you been waiting?
C) How long you have waiting been?
D) How long have been you waiting?

Answer: B

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Set 3: Wh- word as Subject (No auxiliary verb) (21–25)

21. Which is correct?
A) Who did call you?
B) Who called you?
C) Who did called you?
D) Who you called?

Answer: B

22. Select the correct sentence:
A) What did happen last night?
B) What happened last night?
C) What was happen last night?
D) What did happened last night?

Answer: B

23. Which is correct?
A) Which train did arrive first?
B) Which train arrived first?
C) Which train did arrived first?
D) Which arrived train first?

Answer: B

24. Choose the correct question:
A) Who did make this cake?
B) Who made this cake?
C) Who did made this cake?
D) Who this cake made?

Answer: B

25. Which is correct?
A) What caused the accident?
B) What did cause the accident?
C) What caused did the accident?
D) What did caused the accident?

Answer: A

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Set 4: Negative Questions & Tag Questions (26–30)

26. Which is a correct negative question expressing surprise?
A) Don't you like pizza?
B) You don't like pizza?
C) Do you not like pizza?
D) Like you not pizza?

Answer: A

27. Choose the correct tag question for: "You are coming, _____?"
A) aren't you?
B) are you?
C) don't you?
D) isn't you?

Answer: A

28. Select the correct tag question for: "She doesn't eat meat, _____?"
A) does she?
B) doesn't she?
C) does he?
D) isn't she?

Answer: A

29. Which is a correct negative Yes/No question?
A) Didn't you see the sign?
B) You didn't see the sign?
C) Did you not see the sign?
D) All of the above

Answer: D

30. Choose the correct tag question for: "They will help us, _____?"
A) will they?
B) won't they?
C) don't they?
D) aren't they?

Answer: B

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Set 5: Mixed Questions (31–40)

31. Which question asks about a person (object position)?
A) Who is that?
B) Whom did you call?
C) Whose bag is this?
D) What is that?

Answer: B

32. Which question asks about possession?
A) Who is she?
B) Where is the car?
C) Whose car is this?
D) Why is the car here?

Answer: C

33. Which question asks about reason?
A) Where are you going?
B) When will you return?
C) Why are you crying?
D) How did you do that?

Answer: C

34. Which question asks about manner?
A) How did you solve it?
B) Where did you solve it?
C) When did you solve it?
D) Why did you solve it?

Answer: A

35. Which question asks about choice among limited options?
A) What do you want?
B) Which shirt do you want, red or blue?
C) How do you want it?
D) Why do you want it?

Answer: B

36. Which is the correct Yes/No question for: "He has finished his work."
A) Has he finished his work?
B) Have he finished his work?
C) Has finished he his work?
D) He has finished his work?

Answer: A

37. Which is correct for asking about duration?
A) How many time have you waited?
B) How long have you waited?
C) How much have you waited?
D) How often have you waited?

Answer: B

38. Which is correct for asking about frequency?
A) How long do you exercise?
B) How much do you exercise?
C) How often do you exercise?
D) How far do you exercise?

Answer: C

39. Which question asks about distance?
A) How long is the river?
B) How far is the station?
C) How much is the fare?
D) How often is the bus?

Answer: B

40. Which is the correct Wh- question for: "She is my sister."
A) Who is she?
B) What is she?
C) Whose is she?
D) Which is she?

Answer: A