question
1 questions
2 answers
questions that you have to think about to find the answer PROBLEM
questions in grammar GRAMMAR
see also REQUEST
1 questions
- something you say or write that asks for an answer: question
Can I ask you a question? ◎ Why won't you answer my question? ◎ Have you got any questions on what I've just said?
- something that you need to be given an answer to: query
I have a few other queries.
- to put a question or questions to sb in order to find out some information: ask (sb) (sth), ask (sb) (about sb/sth), (formal) enquire (especially AmE inquire) (about sb/sth); noun (C/U): enquiry (especially AmE inquiry)
Don't forget to ask which train they're coming on. ◎ 'Are you going to watch the match?' she asked. ◎ She asked us if/whether we were going to watch the match. ◎ I'd like to enquire about flights to Nigeria. ◎ They appear to have made no further enquiry. ◎ I don't know the answer - I'll have to make some enquiries.
- to ask for news about sb (their health, etc): ask after sb, (formal) enquire (especially AmE inquire) after sb/sth
Phil asked after you in his letter.
- a person who asks a question or questions: questioner
- to ask questions in order to find out detailed information about sth: investigate sth, look into sth, (formal) inquire into sth; this type of activity: investigation (into sth) (noun C/U), inquiry (into sth)
The police are investigating the crime. ◎ We're still looking into the causes of the accident. ◎ a police investigation ◎ The company is under investigation. ◎ a public inquiry into safety procedures
- a person who investigates things: investigator
- a list of questions that you ask a lot of people in order to collect information about sth: questionnaire
Would you mind filling in this questionnaire?
- to ask sb questions in order to find out what they did or what they know about sth, for example to find out if they committed a crime: question sb, interrogate sb; this type of activity: questioning (noun U), interrogation (noun C/U)
I was stopped and questioned by the police. ◎ The three suspects were interrogated repeatedly. ◎ three days of questioning ◎ They accused the police of beating them during the interrogations.
- a person who interrogates people: interrogator
- to ask yourself a question in your own mind: wonder (sth)
I wonder what time it is. ◎ I wonder if they'll come. ◎ We'd been wondering about it for a long time.
- asking a question or a lot of questions: questioning (adverb questioningly), inquiring (adverb inquiringly)
a questioning look ◎ an inquiring mind ◎ She looked at me inquiringly.
- asking a lot of questions, especially about what other people are doing: inquisitive; noun (U): inquisitiveness
Don't be so inquisitive!
※ question words| QUESTIONS ABOUT ※¦ | QUESTION WORD | | a time or date | when? | | a place | where? | | a person | who? | | a thing, etc | what? | | the reason for sth | why? | | the way sth is done | how? |
these question words can be made stronger to show surprise, anger, etc. You can add -ever; for example: whenever? wherever? whoever? whatever? Or you can add on earth; for example: where on earth? who on earth? what on earth? why on earth?
Whatever could have happened to them? ◎ Why on earth didn't you call? ◎ How on earth did you find out?
- if you want to know a thing or person (from a limited group), you say which?
Which (one) is yours?
- if you want to know the person that sth belongs to, you say whose?
Whose (car) is that?
- questions to do with amount (of time, distance, etc) are asked with how?
How much is a ticket to Liverpool? ◎ How much bread did you buy? ◎ How many people were there? ◎ How long have you been living here? ◎ How far is it to Glasgow? ◎ How old is your sister? ◎ How often do you go to France?
2 answers
- to say or write sth to sb after they have asked you a question: answer (sb/sth), reply (to sb/sth)
I asked him a simple question but he couldn't answer. ◎ Make sure you answer all the questions. ◎ 'What's the time?' 'Four thirty,' she answered. ◎ 'Not just now,' he replied, 'I'm busy at the moment.'
- to reply to sb in a rude way: (only used to children) answer (sb) back
Don't answer back when I'm talking to you!
- what you say or write to sb after they have asked you a question: answer, reply
She gave a very surprising answer. ◎ Bob wasn't satisfied with her reply. ◎ Do you want a straight (= honest and open) answer?
- as a reply to sth: in answer (to sth), in reply (to sth), in response (to sth)
Paul nodded in response to my question.
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- a clever or amusing question or joke: riddle
Let me ask you a riddle and see if you can solve it.
- a game or competition in which people have to answer questions: quiz
a general knowledge quiz
- a question which you ask without expecting an answer: rhetorical question
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