A1 Collocation Neutral 1 min read

answer a question

Respond to inquiry.

Practice it

Phrase in 30 Seconds

To provide a verbal or written response to an inquiry or request for information.

  • Means: Giving information back to someone who asked you something.
  • Used in: Classrooms, job interviews, and casual daily conversations.
  • Don't confuse: 'Answer to a question' (noun phrase) vs 'Answer a question' (verb phrase).
Question mark (?) + Person speaking = Answered question

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means to give an answer when someone asks you something. You use it when you speak or write to others.
You use 'answer a question' to describe the act of responding to an inquiry. It is a very common way to show you are participating in a conversation or a test.
This collocation is used to indicate the provision of information in response to a prompt. It is essential for classroom interaction and professional communication, where clarity and responsiveness are highly valued by the listener.
Beyond simple responses, 'answer a question' can denote the resolution of an intellectual inquiry. It is frequently employed in academic and professional discourse to signify that a specific problem or uncertainty has been addressed through the provision of data.
The phrase functions as a fundamental communicative act. In advanced discourse, it often bridges the gap between inquiry and resolution. Whether in a Socratic dialogue or a high-stakes negotiation, the ability to effectively answer a question demonstrates cognitive agility and linguistic precision.
From a cognitive linguistics perspective, 'answer a question' represents the closure of a pragmatic sequence initiated by an interrogative speech act. It is a performative verb phrase that establishes the speaker's role as a provider of information, thereby fulfilling the social contract of turn-taking in discourse.

Meaning

To provide a response to an inquiry.

🌍

Cultural Background

In US business, answering a question directly is seen as being 'to the point' and efficient. In the UK, people might add 'polite fillers' before answering a question to sound less blunt. In Japan, answering a question might involve a long preamble to show respect for the questioner.

💡

No Preposition

Never say 'answer to' when using it as a verb.

💡

No Preposition

Never say 'answer to' when using it as a verb.

Test Yourself

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I answered the question.

Answer is a transitive verb; no preposition is needed.

🎉 Score: /1

Visual Learning Aids

Practice Bank

2 exercises
Choose the correct answer Fill Blank

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer:
Choose the correct sentence. Choose A1

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I answered the question.

Answer is a transitive verb; no preposition is needed.

🎉 Score: /2

Frequently Asked Questions

1 questions

No, say 'I answered him'.

Related Phrases

🔗

Ask a question

contrast

To pose an inquiry.

🔗

Address a question

similar

To deal with a topic.

🔗

Field a question

similar

To handle a question.

Where to Use It

🎓

Classroom

Teacher: Does anyone know the answer?

Student: I can answer the question!

neutral
💼

Job Interview

Interviewer: Why do you want this job?

Candidate: That is a great question, I am happy to answer the question.

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Q' (Question) being hit by an 'A' (Answer) like a tennis ball.

Visual Association

Imagine a student raising their hand in a bright classroom, ready to provide the correct answer.

Rhyme

When you hear a question, give an answer in your session.

Story

Sarah walked into the interview. The manager asked her a tough question. Sarah paused, smiled, and decided to answer the question with confidence. She got the job.

In Other Languages

Most languages have a direct equivalent for 'answering a question' as it is a universal human interaction.

Word Web

inquiryresponsereplyasksolutionclarify

Challenge

Ask a friend three questions and ensure they answer each one clearly.

Review this phrase in 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days.

Pronunciation

Stress Stress on the first syllable.

The 'w' is silent, the 'a' is like 'cat'.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
I shall endeavor to answer the question.

I shall endeavor to answer the question. (General)

Neutral
I will answer the question.

I will answer the question. (General)

Informal
I'll answer that.

I'll answer that. (General)

Slang
I got the answer.

I got the answer. (General)

Derived from Old English 'andswaru'. It combines 'and-' (against) and 'swaru' (oath).

Middle English:

Fun Fact

The 'w' in answer is silent because it was lost in pronunciation centuries ago.

Cultural Notes

In US business, answering a question directly is seen as being 'to the point' and efficient.

“He answered the question in three words.”

In the UK, people might add 'polite fillers' before answering a question to sound less blunt.

“That's a good question, I'll answer the question by saying...”

In Japan, answering a question might involve a long preamble to show respect for the questioner.

“He spent time acknowledging the question before he answered.”

Conversation Starters

“

What is the hardest question you've ever had to answer?

Common Mistakes

✗

Answer to the question

✓

Answer the question

wrong preposition
You don't need 'to' when using 'answer' as a verb. 'Answer' is a transitive verb.

L1 Interference

0 1

In Other Languages

Spanish Very Similar

Responder a una pregunta

English 'answer' is transitive; Spanish 'responder' is intransitive.

French Very Similar

Répondre à une question

The preposition is mandatory in French but forbidden in English.

German Very Similar

Eine Frage beantworten

Word order is different due to German syntax.

Japanese moderate

質問に答える (Shitsumon ni kotaeru)

Japanese is SOV; English is SVO.

Arabic moderate

أجاب على سؤال (Ajaba 'ala su'al)

Arabic requires a preposition, English does not.

Spotted in the Real World

🎬

(2010)

“I'm not going to answer that question.”

A legal deposition scene.

Easily Confused

answer a question vs Answer to a question

Learners often use this as a verb phrase.

Only use 'answer to' if 'answer' is a noun.

Frequently Asked Questions (1)

No, say 'I answered him'.

grammar mechanics

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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