Common Error

problem
question

These two words are often confused because they are the same in Chinese: 问题. The thing to remember is this:

problem = needs a solution, needs ACTION.
question = needs an answer, needs INFORMATION.

Complete these sentences with 'problem' or 'question':

Teacher, can I ask a _________?
I'm having _________ with my homework. Can you help?
The ________ is, why did she tell him a lie?
The ________ is, I don't know what to do about it.
The country has many _________. It will take a long time to sort them all out.
The audience had so many _________, it took the speaker an extra 30 minutes to answer them all.