Question Formation for Standups & Clarifying Questions
5 exercises — form clear wh-questions, polite indirect questions, subject questions, and tag questions for standups, code reviews, and clarifications.
0 / 8 completed
1 / 8
In a standup you want to ask a colleague about progress in the present simple. Which question is correctly formed?
Subject–auxiliary inversion in wh-questions: Questions in the present continuous invert the subject and the auxiliary be: What are you working on today? Option A keeps statement word order (you are) without inversion. Option C wrongly mixes the auxiliary do with the -ing form. Option D fronts the preposition awkwardly and omits the auxiliary. In standups, well-formed wh-questions keep updates flowing clearly.
2 / 8
You want to politely check whether a deployment finished. Which indirect question is correct?
Indirect questions use statement word order: After an introductory phrase such as Could you tell me, the embedded question reverts to statement order with no inversion: whether the deployment has finished. Option A keeps the inverted has the deployment, which is only correct in a direct question. Option C wrongly inverts after whether. Option D misplaces whether. Indirect questions sound more polite and are common when clarifying in meetings.
3 / 8
You want to ask who is responsible for a service, where the question word is the subject. Which form is correct?
Subject questions take no auxiliary "do": When the wh-word is the subject of the question (who performs the owning), there is no inversion and no auxiliary do: Who owns the payment service? Option A and C wrongly insert do/does, which is only used in object questions (Who do you support?). Option D uses the object form whom, but here the question word is the subject, so who is required.
4 / 8
A reviewer asks about a past blocker in the past simple. Which question is correctly formed?
Past simple questions: did + base form: Past simple questions use the auxiliary did followed by the base form of the main verb: Why did the build fail? Option A omits the auxiliary entirely. Option C wrongly keeps the past form failed after did — the tense is already carried by did, so the main verb stays in its base form. Option D places did after the subject, breaking the inversion.
5 / 8
You want to add a tag question to confirm a shared assumption in a standup. Which is correct? "The migration is scheduled for tonight, _____"
Tag questions mirror the auxiliary and invert polarity: A tag question repeats the auxiliary of the main clause and flips its polarity. The statement is positive and uses is, so the tag is the negative isn't it? Option B wrongly uses does instead of be. Option C keeps the same (positive) polarity, which expresses genuine doubt rather than seeking confirmation. Option D uses the wrong pronoun (they for a singular migration). Tag questions are a polite way to confirm shared understanding in standups.
6 / 8
Alice: 'We're running tests on the new API endpoint. Are you seeing any errors?' You need to ask a clarifying question to ensure she's covering all potential issues. Which of the following is the most appropriate?
The key here is to elicit more specific information about the errors. Option B directly asks for action (re-running), while the other options either demand further explanation or introduce unrelated considerations. Asking 'What kind of errors are you encountering?' prompts Alice to detail the problems, allowing you to address them effectively.
7 / 8
David: 'I've finished implementing the user authentication module.' Sarah asks for clarification. Which question is correctly formed to ensure she understands the scope of David's work?
This question focuses on *clarifying scope*, a common need in standups and code reviews. Option A asks about testing which is too narrow. Option C probes for details but doesn't explicitly ask Sarah to confirm David's understanding. Option D shifts the focus to user experience rather than the technical implementation, making it an inappropriate clarifying question. Option B directly addresses the scope of the work, ensuring Sarah understands what David has accomplished.
8 / 8
PR Description: 'The new feature uses a different database connection string.' John needs to ensure this change hasn't inadvertently broken existing functionality. Which question is best suited for this purpose?
This scenario tests the ability to ask *proactive clarifying questions* during code reviews. Option A is too broad. Option B focuses on an example which isn't immediately relevant to potential breakage. Option C directly addresses a key concern – compatibility. Option D asks for justification, delaying the critical issue of potential problems.
What will I practise in "Question Formation for Standups & Clarifying Questions — Grammar Exercises"?
Practise wh-questions, indirect questions, subject questions, and tag questions for standups and clarifications.
How many exercises are in this module?
This module has 8 multiple-choice exercises, each with instant feedback and a full explanation of the correct answer.
Is this exercise free to use?
Yes. Every exercise on CoderSlingo, including this one, is free to use with no account, sign-up, or paywall.
Do I need to create an account to do these exercises?
No account is required. Just click an option to answer — your score for this session is tracked automatically in the progress bar above.
What happens if I choose the wrong answer?
You'll immediately see which answer was correct, plus a full explanation covering the grammar rule and reasoning behind it — mistakes are where most of the learning happens.
Can I retry the exercises if I want a higher score?
Yes — use the "Try again" button on the results screen to reset and go through all the questions again.
Is my progress saved if I close the page?
No. Progress is tracked only for your current visit; reloading or leaving the page resets the counter. This keeps the exercise simple and account-free.
Where can I find more Grammar exercises?
Browse the full Grammar hub for related drills, or check the "Next up" link below to continue with a connected topic.
How is this different from reading an article on the same topic?
Articles explain grammar rules in prose; this exercise tests and reinforces those rules through active recall with immediate feedback — the two work best together.
Who writes these exercises?
Every exercise is written by the CoderSlingo team, drawing on real workplace English used in IT roles, then reviewed for accuracy and clarity.