Questions in English (with Arabic): Yes/No & Wh-Questions, Rules, 40+ Examples & Exercises

Yes/No Questions

Pattern: Auxiliary + subject + main verb … ? (Invert the auxiliary and subject.)

القاعدة: فعل مساعد + الفاعل + الفعل … ؟ (نعكس ترتيب الفعل المساعد والفاعل.)

Verb Type	Pattern	Example	Arabic
be (am/is/are/was/were)	be + subject	Are you ready?	هل أنت مستعد/ة؟
do-support (present/past simple)	Do/Does/Did + subject + base	Do they work here? Did she call?	هل يعملون هنا؟ هل اتصلت؟
have (perfect)	Have/Has/Had + subject + V3	Have you finished?	هل انتهيت؟
progressive	Be + subject + V-ing	Is he studying?	هل هو يذاكر؟
modals	Modal + subject + base	Can she swim?	هل تستطيع السباحة؟
future	Will + subject + base	Will you come?	هل ستأتي؟

No do with be or modals: ✗ Do you are… ✓ Are you… • ✗ Do she can… ✓ Can she…

Wh-Questions (who/what/where/when/why/how)

Pattern: Wh-word + auxiliary + subject + main verb … ?

القاعدة: كلمة Wh + فعل مساعد + الفاعل + الفعل … ؟

Wh-word	Meaning (AR)	Example	Arabic
who	من	Who is at the door?	من عند الباب؟
what	ماذا/ما	What do you mean?	ماذا تقصد؟
where	أين	Where do you live?	أين تعيش؟
when	متى	When did they arrive?	متى وصلوا؟
why	لماذا	Why are you late?	لماذا تأخرت؟
which	أيّ	Which bus should I take?	أيّ حافلة آخذ؟
whose	لِمَن	Whose jacket is this?	لِمَن هذه السترة؟
how	كيف	How do you spell it?	كيف تتهجّاه؟
how much/many	كم/كم عدد	How many books?	كم عدد الكتب؟
how often/long/far/old	كل كم/لمدة كم/كم بعيد/كم عمرك	How often do you study?	كل كم تذاكر؟

Prepositions often stay at the end: Who are you talking to? (natural) • Formal: To whom are you talking?

Subject vs Object Questions

Object questions ask about the object → need auxiliary + inversion.

سؤال عن المفعول → نحتاج فعلًا مساعدًا وعكس الترتيب.

Who did you meet? (you = subject, who = object) ✓
من قابلت؟ (أنت الفاعل، من = المفعول)

Subject questions ask about the subject → no auxiliary or inversion in Present/Past Simple.

سؤال عن الفاعل → بدون فعل مساعد أو عكس في المضارع/الماضي البسيط.

Who called you? (who = subject) ✓ (not ✗ Who did call you?)
من اتصل بك؟ (من = الفاعل)

Short Answers

Answer with auxiliary + subject pronoun.

نجيب بفعل مساعد + ضمير الفاعل.

Question	Yes	No
Do you like tea?	Yes, I do.	No, I don’t.
Is she at home?	Yes, she is.	No, she isn’t.
Have they finished?	Yes, they have.	No, they haven’t.
Can he drive?	Yes, he can.	No, he can’t.
Did it work?	Yes, it did.	No, it didn’t.
Will we meet?	Yes, we will.	No, we won’t.

40+ Examples (EN ⇄ AR)

Do you like pizza?
هل تحب البيتزا؟
Does he work here?
هل يعمل هنا؟
Did they arrive on time?
هل وصلوا في الوقت؟
Are you tired?
هل أنت متعب/متعبة؟
Is she at school?
هل هي في المدرسة؟
Can we start now?
هل يمكننا البدء الآن؟
Have you seen my keys?
هل رأيت مفاتيحي؟
Will you come tomorrow?
هل ستأتي غدًا؟
Where do you live?
أين تعيش؟
When does the class begin?
متى تبدأ الحصة؟
Why are they late?
لماذا تأخروا؟
What did you buy?
ماذا اشتريت؟
Who called you?
من اتصل بك؟
Which color do you prefer?
أيّ لون تفضّل؟
Whose bag is this?
لِمَن هذه الحقيبة؟
How do you spell your name?
كيف تتهجّى اسمك؟
How many brothers do you have?
كم عدد إخوتك؟
How much is this?
بكم هذا؟
How often do you exercise?
كل كم تتمرن؟
How long does it take?
كم يستغرق؟
Are you talking to me?
هل تتحدث إليّ؟
Who are you waiting for?
من تنتظر؟
What does this word mean?
ماذا تعني هذه الكلمة؟
Where are they from?
من أين هم؟

Show 16 more

Do you speak Arabic?
هل تتحدث العربية؟
Does it work now?
هل يعمل الآن؟
Is there a bank near here?
هل يوجد بنك قريب؟
Was the exam difficult?
هل كان الامتحان صعبًا؟
Were you at home yesterday?
هل كنت في البيت أمس؟
Had they left before 8?
هل كانوا قد غادروا قبل الثامنة؟
Could you help me?
هل يمكنك مساعدتي؟
Should I call later?
هل ينبغي أن أتصل لاحقًا؟
What are you looking for?
عمّ تبحث؟
Who opened the door?
من فتح الباب؟
Which train goes to Oxford?
أيّ قطار يذهب إلى أكسفورد؟
Whose is this umbrella?
لِمَن هذه المظلة؟
How far is the station?
كم يبعد المحطة؟
How old is your sister?
كم عمر أختك؟
Why didn’t you call?
لماذا لم تتصل؟
When will you be free?
متى ستكون متفرّغًا؟

Common Mistakes

✗ Where you live? → ✓ Where do you live?
✗ Do you are ready? → ✓ Are you ready?
✗ What means this? → ✓ What does this mean?
✗ Do she can drive? → ✓ Can she drive?
✗ Who did call you? (subject Q) → ✓ Who called you?
✗ Double auxiliary: Did you did finish? → ✓ Did you finish?

مع be والمودال لا نستخدم do.
أسئلة الفاعل لا تحتاج فعلًا مساعدًا في الماضي/المضارع البسيط.
احذر ترتيب الكلمات: Wh + فعل مساعد + فاعل + فعل.

Exercises

1) Make Yes/No questions

(you / like / coffee) → __________ ?
(she / at home / now) (be) → __________ ?
(they / finish) (present perfect) → __________ ?

2) Make Wh-questions

I live in Cairo. → Where __________ ?
They arrived at 7. → When __________ ?
Ali called me. → Who __________ ? (subject question)

3) Choose the correct option

(Do / Are) they work on Sundays?
(Can / Do) she play the piano?
(What does / What is) this word mean?

4) Short answers

Is he from Jordan? → Yes, __________. / No, __________.
Did you enjoy it? → Yes, __________. / No, __________.

Answers

1) Do you like coffee? • Is she at home now? • Have they finished?

2) Where do you live? • When did they arrive? • Who called you?

3) Do • Can • What does

4) Yes, he is. / No, he isn’t. • Yes, I did. / No, I didn’t.

1-Minute Quiz

Pick the best answer.