Change the questions below to information questions. a) Are we having tomato/chicken/mushroom soup today? b) Was it raining/foggy/cold when we were in London?

Model Answer

a) Changing the statement to an information question

The original sentence is: "Are we having tomato/chicken/mushroom soup today?"

This is an interrogative sentence (a question), but it is not an information question because it does not seek specific information—it only asks for confirmation. To convert it into an information question, we must ask for specific details about the type of soup.

Possible information questions:

1. What kind of soup are we having today? (This asks for the specific type of soup.)
2. Which soup will we have today—tomato, chicken, or mushroom? (This provides options and seeks a choice.)
3. What soup is being served today? (A more general but still informative question.)

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b) Changing the statement to an information question

The original sentence is: "Was it raining/foggy/cold when we were in London?"

Again, this is an interrogative sentence but not an information question because it does not seek specific details—it only asks for confirmation. To convert it into an information question, we must ask for specific weather conditions during the visit.

Possible information questions:

1. What was the weather like when we were in London? (This asks for a general description of the weather.)
2. Was it raining, foggy, or cold when we visited London? (This provides options and seeks a specific condition.)
3. How was the weather during our stay in London? (A more conversational but still informative question.)
4. What kind of weather did we experience in London? (This asks for a detailed description.)

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Explanation of Information Questions

An information question (also called a wh-question) seeks specific details rather than just a "yes" or "no" answer. It typically begins with wh-words such as:

• What (for things, types, or descriptions)
• Which (for choices from a limited set)
• Where (for places)
• When (for time)
• Why (for reasons)
• How (for methods, manners, or conditions)

In the given examples:

• For (a), the original sentence asks if soup is being served, but an information question would ask what kind of soup.
• For (b), the original sentence asks if certain weather conditions existed, but an information question would ask what the weather was like or which condition prevailed.

By restructuring the sentences to include wh-words, we transform them into information questions that require detailed responses rather than simple yes/no answers.

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Additional Practice Examples

This exercise helps students understand how to convert declarative or yes/no questions into information-seeking questions, which is a key skill in English grammar and communication.