hard question

Meaning

A 'hard question' is a query or problem that is difficult to understand, resolve, or answer. It usually requires deep thought, analysis, or advanced knowledge. Students often encounter these in exams or academic discussions.

Examples

• The math exam ended with a very hard question about geometry.

  The math exam ended with a very hard question about geometry.

• That is a hard question, and I need some time to think about it.

  That is a hard question, and I need some time to think about it.

• The professor loves to ask a hard question at the start of every lecture.

  The professor loves to ask a hard question at the start of every lecture.

• I skipped the hard question and went straight to the next page.

  I skipped the hard question and went straight to the next page.

• Even the smartest student in the class struggled with that hard question.

  Even the smartest student in the class struggled with that hard question.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ This is a heavy question that I cannot answer.

  ✓ This is a hard question that I cannot answer.

  Learners sometimes translate literally from languages where 'heavy' is used to mean difficult or complex.

• ✗ The exam had many difficults questions.

  ✓ The exam had many hard questions.

  Adjectives in English do not take plural endings, even when describing plural nouns.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I couldn't finish the test because the last one was a very ___.

  💡 A highly difficult problem or query.

  Show answer

  hard question

• That is a ___ to answer without looking at my notes.

  💡 A query that requires a lot of effort to solve.

  Show answer

  hard question