Do you know what a direct question is? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on direct questions, including its definition, usage, example sentences, and more!
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Kevin
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December 15, 2021
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Common Questions
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What is a direct question?
According to Grammar Monster, a direct question is a question that can be answered and ends in a question mark. Direct questions have a specific answer and specific manner of structure. These questions use interrogative pronouns. There are three types of direct question: yes or no questions, question word questions that use ‘wh’ question words, and choice questions which often contain the word or. These are very different from something like an indirect question in which a question is not directly asked, but is instead embedded in another type of sentence.
An indirect question is a question embedded inside a statement or another question. An indirect question is considered a polite phrase and is often part of a longer sentence. These can come in a declarative sentence or an interrogative sentence. Indirect questions might use can, if, or whether. This is a common mistake to the correct way in which the word order changes and goes through an inversion with an indirect question. Indirect questions often use auxiliary verbs or a helping verb. The indirect question starts with the question word, but the word order is in the format of a statement not like a question word order.Â
What are examples of direct questions?
The use of direct questions can be used in many different contexts in the English language. Trying to use a word or literary technique in a sentence is one of the best ways to memorize what it is, but you can also try making flashcards or quizzes that test your knowledge. Try using this term of the day in a sentence today! Below are a couple of examples of direct question that can help get you started incorporating this tool into your everyday use. Take a look at these direct question examples from Grammar Monster, Espresso English and Thought Co and see how many you can identify the direct question in!
- Â How has he managed to get in shape so quickly?
- Â “Mother of mercy, is this the end of Rico?” (Edward G. Robinson as Caesar Enrico Bandello in Little Caesar, 1931)
- Â What is celery salt?
- Â Did you put table salt or seasoned salt on the bass?
- Â Are we sitting in the last row of the first table?
- Â Do you have a Facebook or a Twitter?
- Â Did Lee put ground celery seeds on the whelk on Saturday?
- Â Do you plan on traveling this summer?
- Â “Are you a good witch or a bad witch?” (Billie Burke as Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, addressing Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, 1939)
- Â Was there any confusion in the trial tonight with the type of question? It was the assumption that the testimony would not have any leading question in the cross-examination of the witness by the attorney.Â
- Â Can you provide your confirmation number for feedback?
- Â What happened to your vote?
- Â Where is the bathroom?
- Â “‘Where’s Papa going with that ax?’ said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast.” (E.B. White, Charlotte’s Web. Harper, 1952)
- Â What’s not to like?
- Â What time does the bank open?
- Â Did the employees remove him from the movie in a forceful manner?
- Â Was there inherent intent to harm another, or was there uncertainty?
- Â Is this a biased survey? The survey creator has many biases.
- Â “When I was crossing the border into Canada, they asked if I had any firearms with me. I said, ‘Well, what do you need?'” (Comedian Steven Wright)
- Â Does Anna need to know when the parcel will arrive?Â
- Â “Then our mother came in And she said to us two, ‘Did you have any fun? Tell me. What did you do?'” (Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat. Random House, 1957)
- Â Will you tell me if you have any allergies?Â
- Â Can we change the meeting to Thursday?
- Â “Open your eyes, and look within. Are you satisfied with the life you’re living?” (Bob Marley, “Exodus.” Exodus, 1977)
- Â “‘What you doing sitting here by yourself, Marguerite?’ She didn’t accuse, she asked for information. I said that I was watching the sky.” (Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Random House, 1969)
- Â Why did you move to Europe?
- Â “Didn’t Frankenstein get married?” “Did he?” said Eggy. “I don’t know. I never met him. Harrow man, I expect.” (P.G. Wodehouse, Laughing Gas, 1936)
- Â Are your parents joining us for dinner?
- Â “What’s in the box?” (Brad Pitt as Detective David Mills in Seven, 1995)
- Â Does Tom like Italian food?
- Â Has Barbara ever studied abroad?
- Â “‘Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” (Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, 1865)
- Â What is the matter with kids today?
- Â What would be the coolest animal to scale up to the size of a horse?
- Â Would you rather be a hobbit or an elf for a day?
- Â Have you ever sent a text message to the wrong person?
- Â Can you finish the project by tomorrow?
- Â Who was your worst teacher?
- Â In the apocalypse, would you rather tough it alone or try to find a community to live in?
- Â Where is Market Street?
- Â Do they speak English?
- Â How much does this motorcycle cost?
- Â Was the project worth the money?
- Â “Who’s on first?” (Lou Costello addressing Bud Abbot in a famous comedy routine)
- Â Do you want garlic salt or celery salt?
- Â Do you like celery?
- Â Do you fold your pizza when you eat it?
Overall, a direct question is one that asks a specific question with an answer.
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