Adult ESL/ELL High Beginner Quiz: Asking Varied Question Types
15 questions · exam conditions
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Asking Varied Question TypesQuestion 1 of 15

Invite a friend to your party. Choose the correct question.

Do you like to come?
Would you like to come?
Are you liking to come?
You would like to come?
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Adult ESL/ELL High Beginner Quiz

Adult ESL/ELL High Beginner Quiz: Asking Varied Question Types

Practice Asking Varied Question Types in Adult ESL/ELL High Beginner with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Asking Varied Question Types, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Adult ESL/ELL High Beginner.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

Invite a friend to your party. Choose the correct question.

  1. Do you like to come?
  2. Would you like to come? (correct answer)
  3. Are you liking to come?
  4. You would like to come?
Explanation: To invite someone, use the polite form 'Would you like to come?' It asks about their willingness to come to the party. The tempting choice 'Do you like to come?' actually asks whether you generally enjoy coming, not whether you accept this invitation.

Question 2

Your friend looks worried. Say: The bus hasn't arrived yet,  ?

  1. has it? (correct answer)
  2. hasn't it?
  3. is it?
  4. isn't it?
Explanation: The statement is negative (hasn't), so the tag must be positive and use the same auxiliary: has. 'Has it?' confirms. The tempting wrong choice is 'hasn't it?' because it repeats the negative, but tag questions flip polarity.

Question 3

You are in a warm office. You want to open the window yourself. Ask permission politely.

  1. Do you open the window?
  2. Would you open the window?
  3. May I open the window? (correct answer)
  4. You open the window.
Explanation: To ask permission to do the action yourself, use 'May I' plus the verb. 'May I open the window?' politely asks if you are allowed. The tempting wrong answer is 'Would you open the window?' because it is polite but asks the other person to open it, not you. Choose the one that uses 'May I'.

Question 4

Choose the correct words for the polite question: Do you know what time  ?

  1. does it
  2. is it
  3. it does
  4. it is (correct answer)
Explanation: After 'Do you know' the question becomes an embedded question, so the subject comes before the verb: 'what time it is.' The tempting mistake is 'is it,' which uses direct question word order, but that does not belong after an introductory question phrase like 'Do you know'.

Question 5

Your guest looks cold. Ask the guest to close the window. Which is correct?

  1. Would you mind closing it? (correct answer)
  2. Would you mind if I close it?
  3. Do you mind if I close it?
  4. Do you mind to close it?
Explanation: Because the guest is the one who should close the window, you need a polite request asking the guest to do that action. "Would you mind closing it?" directly asks the guest to close it. The tempting wrong answer "Would you mind if I close it?" asks permission for you to close the window, which is not what you want.

Question 6

Which of the following is an example of a WH- question (not a yes/no question)?

  1. Did she call you yesterday?
  2. Are they coming to the party?
  3. Why did he leave early? (correct answer)
  4. Is the store open on Sunday?
Explanation: In English, questions fall into two main categories: yes/no questions and WH- questions. Yes/no questions can be answered with simply "yes" or "no," while WH- questions ask for specific information and begin with words like who, what, where, when, why, or how. The key to this question is looking at how each sentence begins. Choice C, "Why did he leave early?" starts with the word why — a classic WH- word. You cannot answer this with just "yes" or "no." You need a real explanation, like "He left early because he was tired." That makes C the correct answer and a true WH- question. Now let's look at why the other choices are wrong. Choice A, "Did she call you yesterday?" begins with did, a helping verb used to form yes/no questions — you can simply answer "Yes, she did" or "No, she didn't." Choice B, "Are they coming to the party?" starts with are, another helping verb that signals a yes/no question. Choice D, "Is the store open on Sunday?" begins with is, which again invites a yes/no response. All three of these (A, B, D) follow the same pattern: they start with a helping verb (did, are, is), not a WH- word. A quick tip to remember: scan the first word of the question. If it's a WH- word (who, what, where, when, why, how), it's a WH- question. If it's a helping verb (is, are, do, did, can), it's a yes/no question.

Question 7

Which sentence is a correctly formed tag question?

  1. She works at the hospital, isn't she?
  2. They are coming tonight, aren't they? (correct answer)
  3. He doesn't like coffee, does he not?
  4. You went to the store, didn't you go?
Explanation: Tag questions are a common English grammar structure where you make a statement and then add a short question at the end to confirm it. The key rule is that the tag must match the verb tense and subject of the main statement, and it must use the opposite polarity — if the statement is positive, the tag is negative, and vice versa. Answer B, "They are coming tonight, aren't they?" follows all the rules perfectly. The main statement is positive and uses "are," so the tag becomes the negative contraction "aren't" and repeats the pronoun "they." Clean, correct, complete. Answer A has a mismatch problem. The subject is "she" and the verb is "works" (simple present, third person singular), so the correct tag should be "doesn't she?" — not "isn't she?" Using "isn't" would only be correct if the main verb were a form of "to be." Answer C makes a different mistake. The main statement is already negative ("doesn't like"), so the tag must be positive — "does he?" is correct. Writing "does he not?" is not standard tag question form; it sounds awkward and breaks the short-tag structure that tag questions require. Answer D adds an unnecessary extra verb. Tag questions are always short — just the auxiliary verb and the subject pronoun. "Didn't you?" is the correct tag. Writing "didn't you go?" repeats the main verb, which is never done in proper tag questions. A useful tip: always build your tag from just two parts — the auxiliary verb (matching tense, opposite polarity) and the subject pronoun. Nothing more.

Question 8

Ana is at a restaurant. She wants to ask the waiter to bring her a glass of water. She wants to be polite.

Which request is the MOST appropriate for Ana to use in this situation?

  1. Could I have a glass of water, please? (correct answer)
  2. I need a glass of water.
  3. Bring me a glass of water.
  4. Do you have water here?
Explanation: When someone asks for something in English, the way they phrase the request tells the listener how polite or demanding they are being. Questions like this one test your ability to choose language that is both clear and respectful — an important skill in everyday situations like restaurants, stores, and offices. The most polite way to make a request in English is to use a modal verb like could, would, or can along with the word please. Answer A, "Could I have a glass of water, please?" does exactly this. It frames the request as a question, gives the other person the feeling of choice, and adds please to soften it further. This is the natural, appropriate way a polite adult would speak to a waiter. Now look at why the other options fall short. B, "I need a glass of water," is a statement, not a request. It sounds demanding and impatient — more like a complaint than a polite ask. C, "Bring me a glass of water," uses a direct command with no softening language at all. This can sound rude or even bossy in a service setting. D, "Do you have water here?" is a yes/no question about availability, not a request for water. The waiter might simply answer "yes" and walk away — Ana still wouldn't get her water! A good tip to remember: polite requests in English usually follow the pattern Could/Can I have + [item] + please? Whenever you need to ask for something from a stranger or in a formal setting, this structure will almost always be appropriate.

Question 9

Which of the following correctly changes the statement 'The bus leaves at 8 o'clock' into a WH- question asking about the TIME the bus leaves?

  1. Does the bus leave at 8 o'clock?
  2. What does the bus leave?
  3. When is the bus leaving at?
  4. What time does the bus leave? (correct answer)
Explanation: When turning a statement into a WH- question about time, you need two things: the right question word and correct question grammar (auxiliary verb + subject + base verb). To ask about when something happens, English uses either "when" or "what time." Both work, but "what time" asks for a specific clock time, which fits perfectly here since we want to know what time the bus leaves. The original sentence uses simple present tense ("leaves"), so your question needs the auxiliary verb does before the subject. This gives you: "What time does the bus leave?" — making D the correct answer. Looking at the wrong choices helps you understand the pattern. A ("Does the bus leave at 8 o'clock?") is a yes/no question — it only confirms whether 8 o'clock is correct, but it doesn't ask about the time. You'd answer "yes" or "no," not with a time. B ("What does the bus leave?") uses "what" instead of "what time," which doesn't make sense — "what" asks about a thing, not a time. Someone would be confused by this question. C ("When is the bus leaving at?") has two problems: it uses present continuous ("is leaving") instead of simple present, and it adds an unnecessary "at" at the end, which is grammatically incorrect. You never end a clean WH- question with a preposition like that in this structure. A good study tip: when building WH- questions in simple present, always use the formula WH- word + does/do + subject + base verb. Write out a few examples with different question words (who, what, when, where) to make the pattern automatic.

Question 10

Kenji is calling a hotel to make a reservation. He wants to know the price of a room for two nights.

Which question should Kenji ask to get the specific information he needs?

  1. Do you have rooms available?
  2. Is the hotel expensive?
  3. How much does a room cost for two nights? (correct answer)
  4. Can I make a reservation?
Explanation: When you need specific information, the key is matching your question precisely to what you want to know. Vague questions get vague answers; specific questions get the exact details you need. Here, Kenji has a very clear goal: he wants to know the price of a room for two nights specifically — not just general information about the hotel. Choice C, "How much does a room cost for two nights?" is the right question because it asks for exactly that. "How much" targets the price, and "for two nights" makes the timeframe specific. The hotel clerk can answer this with a clear number, which is precisely what Kenji needs. Choice A, "Do you have rooms available?" only asks whether rooms exist — it says nothing about cost. Kenji would still need to ask a follow-up question about price, so this doesn't get him the information he needs right away. Choice B, "Is the hotel expensive?" is too vague and subjective. "Expensive" means different things to different people. This question won't give Kenji an actual number he can work with. Choice D, "Can I make a reservation?" asks about booking a room, not about the price. This moves toward completing the reservation before Kenji even knows what it will cost. Study tip: On questions like this, underline the specific goal in the passage — here, "price" and "two nights." Then eliminate any answer that doesn't directly address both parts of that goal. The best question always matches the specific information needed.

Question 11

Read the situation: David wants to ask his boss if it is acceptable for him to leave work one hour early today. He wants to sound respectful and professional.

Which question is BEST for David to ask his boss?

  1. Can I leave an hour early today?
  2. Am I allowed to leave an hour early today?
  3. I want to leave an hour early today. Is that okay?
  4. Would it be all right if I left work an hour early today? (correct answer)
Explanation: When you need to make a polite request at work, the way you phrase it matters. In professional settings, more formal and indirect language signals respect — it shows you understand the other person has authority and you're not assuming the answer will be "yes." Choice D, "Would it be all right if I left work an hour early today?" is the best option because it uses conditional phrasing ("would it be all right if") combined with the past tense form "left," which together create a softer, more respectful tone. This structure is a classic polite request pattern in English, and it's especially appropriate when speaking to someone in a position of authority like a boss. Choice A, "Can I leave an hour early today?" is grammatically correct but too casual — it's the kind of question you'd ask a friend, not a supervisor. Choice B, "Am I allowed to leave an hour early today?" sounds slightly more formal, but it can come across as blunt or even slightly confrontational, as if David is questioning a rule rather than making a polite personal request. Choice C, "I want to leave an hour early today. Is that okay?" starts with "I want," which sounds demanding and self-focused — not ideal when you're trying to sound professional and considerate. A helpful tip to remember: in professional English, polite requests often follow the pattern "Would it be possible/all right if I + past tense verb?" This structure softens the request and shows respect for the other person's decision-making power.

Question 12

Read the conversation: Carlos:   you mind if I sit here? Stranger: No, not at all. Please, go ahead.

Which word correctly completes Carlos's question to make it a polite request?

  1. Do
  2. Will
  3. Would (correct answer)
  4. Are
Explanation: When making polite requests in English, the modal verb you choose changes both the tone and the grammatical structure of your sentence. The phrase "Would you mind if...?" is a fixed, formal expression used specifically to ask permission politely — and recognizing fixed expressions like this is key to answering questions like this one. "Would you mind if I sit here?" is the natural, polite way Carlos asks the stranger for permission. The word C) Would completes this correctly because "Would you mind if...?" is a standard English formula for making respectful requests. Notice that the stranger's response — "No, not at all" — confirms the polite tone of the question, which matches "Would" perfectly. Looking at the wrong choices: A) Do creates "Do you mind if I sit here?" which is grammatically correct but more casual and direct — it's not wrong in everyday speech, but "Would" is considered more polite and is the better fit for this formal exchange with a stranger. B) Will creates "Will you mind if I sit here?" which sounds unnatural and is not standard English — "will" works for future promises or predictions, not permission requests with "mind." D) Are creates "Are you mind if I sit here?" which is completely grammatically incorrect — "mind" here is a verb, not an adjective or noun, so "are" cannot precede it this way. A helpful tip: memorize "Would you mind if...?" as a complete chunk. When you see "mind if" in a sentence asking permission, "Would" is almost always the correct modal — it signals both politeness and proper grammar.

Question 13

Maria is at a library and wants to know where the restrooms are. She does not know the librarian well.

Which question is the MOST polite and appropriate for Maria to ask the librarian?

  1. Where are the restrooms?
  2. Could you please tell me where the restrooms are? (correct answer)
  3. You know where the restrooms are?
  4. Tell me where the restrooms are, please.
Explanation: When asking for help from someone you don't know well — like a librarian, store employee, or receptionist — the level of formality and politeness in your language matters. In English, we show politeness by using specific question structures and polite phrases, not just by adding "please." The most polite way to ask a question to a stranger is to use an indirect question with a modal verb like could or would. Choice B — "Could you please tell me where the restrooms are?" — does exactly this. It softens the request by asking if the person is able to help, rather than demanding information directly. This phrasing is both natural and respectful in formal or semi-formal settings. Looking at the other options: Choice A ("Where are the restrooms?") is grammatically correct, but it is too direct and blunt for speaking to a stranger. It sounds more like something you'd say to a close friend. Choice C ("You know where the restrooms are?") is informal and sounds more like casual spoken English between people who know each other — it's not appropriate for a librarian. Choice D ("Tell me where the restrooms are, please.") uses a command form, which feels demanding even with "please" added at the end. Adding "please" to a command doesn't fully fix the impolite tone. A useful tip: when you want to make a request more polite in English, look for the option that uses could, would, or can at the beginning — these modal verbs signal respect and formality, making B the best choice here.

Question 14

A student wants to ask his classmate about the homework. Which question uses the CORRECT word order for a yes/no question in English?

  1. You did finish the homework already?
  2. Did you finish the homework already? (correct answer)
  3. You finished the homework already, did?
  4. Finish the homework already did you?
Explanation: When forming a yes/no question in English, the key rule is: the helping verb (also called an auxiliary verb) must come before the subject. This is called "inversion," and it's what makes a sentence a question rather than a statement. In the past tense, the helping verb for yes/no questions is "did." The correct structure looks like this: Did + subject + base verb? So for this situation, the correct question is "Did you finish the homework already?" — which is answer B. Notice that "did" comes first, "you" is the subject in the middle, and "finish" is the base form of the verb (not "finished"). Here's why the other choices fail: A ("You did finish the homework already?") keeps the subject "you" first, which makes it sound like a statement with a question mark — not proper English question word order. C ("You finished the homework already, did?") is a common mistake where the verb "did" is tacked on at the end, which is incomplete — a correct tag question would need to say "didn't you?" at the end. D ("Finish the homework already did you?") puts the base verb first, which creates a scrambled, incorrect word order that doesn't follow any standard English grammar pattern. A helpful memory trick: think of yes/no questions as "DID + [person] + [action]?" — always lead with the helping verb. Whenever you write a question in the past tense, check that "did" comes before the subject, and that the main verb stays in its base form.

Question 15

A student wants to ask her teacher for more time to finish an assignment. Which sentence uses the BEST polite request frame for this situation?

  1. Would it be possible for me to have more time to finish the assignment? (correct answer)
  2. Can I have more time to finish the assignment?
  3. I want more time to finish the assignment.
  4. Do I have more time to finish the assignment?
Explanation: When asking someone for a favor — especially someone in authority, like a teacher — the level of formality and politeness in your language matters a great deal. English has different "request frames," or sentence structures, that signal how polite or direct you are being. For formal situations, the most polite frames use softer, more indirect phrasing. Choice A, "Would it be possible for me to have more time to finish the assignment?" is the strongest option because it uses an indirect, formal structure. The phrase "Would it be possible..." doesn't demand anything — it gently opens a door and gives the teacher full freedom to say no. This is exactly the tone a student should use with a teacher. Choice B, "Can I have more time?" is a common, everyday request, but "Can" sounds casual and informal — better suited for asking a friend, not a teacher. It's not rude, but it's not the best choice for a formal situation. Choice C, "I want more time to finish the assignment," is a direct statement of desire, not a polite request at all. It sounds demanding and does not show respect for the teacher's authority. Avoid this phrasing in formal settings. Choice D, "Do I have more time?" is a yes/no question asking about a fact, not making a request. It sounds confused rather than polite — the student seems unsure whether extra time already exists, rather than asking for it. A good study tip: when a question asks for the "most polite" or "most formal" option, look for indirect phrases like "Would it be possible..." or "I was wondering if..." — these are your signals for high-register, respectful English.