what would you answer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what would you answer" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking someone how they would respond to a specific question or situation. Example: "If I asked you about your favorite book, what would you answer?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

What would you answer?

The Guardian

When I turned to Cloverpop for guidance on whether to get a dog, the quiz began: If you had to decide right now, what would you answer?

The New Yorker

If you're asked "How satisfied are you with your life nowadays?" or "How happy did you feel yesterday?" – what would you answer?

The Guardian - Opinion

Text-based questions with open answer categories (e.g. "What would you answer Mister Fischer?" for the dimension of communication strategies) and with responses in multiple-choice format (e.g. "How would you deal with your emotions in this situation?" and then selecting one of four possible answers for the dimension of emotion regulation) were selected for the final version.

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

"If I was to ask you what did she do to deserve this, what would you answer?" an investigator asked in the interview footage.

Huffington Post

If I had to ask you 'Are you disabled?' what would you answer?

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

What would you do?" In answering this question, the individual must choose, based on the graduated scale, to either adjust his or her schedule to help colleagues, or not help them at all.

Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica

These nine criteria consisted of answers to the following questions, testing the child's ability to observe each picture and to decide whether or not to raise an alert: "What is happening?" and "You are alone with him (her), nobody is here to help you, what would you do?" The answers were classified into two categories: 'expected answer' (with keywords or synonyms) or 'other answer'.

BMJ Open

Spiritual advisor Deepak Chopra asks his audience, "If you had all the time and all the money, what would you do?" My answer is that I'd sit around reading Deepak Chopra books.

Huffington Post

What would you do?" Many cyclists answered by choosing to quit.

The New York Times - Books

Ask yourselves what would you do, because everyone answered that question wrong at Enron".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When posing hypothetical questions, use "what would you answer" to encourage thoughtful and detailed responses. This framing implies a deeper engagement than a simple "yes" or "no".

Common error

Instead of a general query, provide sufficient context. Don't ask "what would you answer?" without specifying the question or scenario you are referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what would you answer" functions as an interrogative clause, specifically designed to elicit a response from the listener or reader. As Ludwig AI states, this phrase is a direct way of inquiring about someone's potential reply to a question or scenario. It sets the stage for a hypothetical situation, prompting a verbal or written response.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what would you answer" is a grammatically sound and functionally versatile phrase used to solicit responses in various contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. The phrase functions as a direct interrogative, prompting reflection and information gathering, and maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse audiences. Though categorized as having uncommon frequency, it appears reliably in news, media, scientific and business environments. To improve its usage, ensure sufficient context is provided for the question being asked. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively employ "what would you answer" to engage others and elicit meaningful responses.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how would you respond

Focuses on the manner of responding, not just the answer itself.

what is your response

Directly asks for the response, suitable for formal contexts.

what would be your reply

Uses "reply" instead of "answer", implying a more thoughtful response.

what's your take on that

Informal way of asking for an opinion or perspective.

how do you react

Focuses on the emotional or behavioral reaction to a situation.

what are your thoughts

Asks for a more general opinion or reflection.

how would you handle it

Shifts the focus to the action taken in response to a situation.

what's your position

Asks for a specific stance or viewpoint on an issue.

what's your perspective

Seeks a particular viewpoint or angle on a situation.

how do you feel about it

Focuses on the emotional response to something.

FAQs

How can I use "what would you answer" in a sentence?

You can use "what would you answer" to ask someone how they would respond to a specific question or situation. For example: "If I asked you about your greatest achievement, "what would you answer"?"

What's a more formal way to ask "what would you answer"?

A more formal alternative to "what would you answer" is "what would be your response?" or "how would you reply?" depending on the context.

Is "what would you answer" grammatically correct?

Yes, "what would you answer" is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It's a common way to frame a question asking for someone's response to a hypothetical scenario.

What can I say instead of "what would you answer" if I want to focus on opinion?

If you want to focus on someone's opinion, you could ask "what's your take on that?" or "what are your thoughts?"