Abstract: An embodiment may receive a question at a computing device; obtain a search result set in response to the question; identify, using the computing device, one or more entities that are associated with at least one document referenced by the search result set; select, using the computing device, one or more relevant entities identified as being associated with (i) documents referenced by the search result set and (ii) the question; and output, using the computing device, an answer to the question based at least on the selected one or more entities.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for classifying queries. A query that includes one or more query terms is received. One or more entity identifiers are extracted from one or more search results that are responsive to the query. One or more of the query terms are compared with the extracted entity identifiers. Based on comparing the query terms with the extracted entity identifiers, the query is classified as an entity-triggering query or as a description-triggering query.

Abstract: An embodiment may receive a question at a computing device; obtain a search result set in response to the question; identify, using the computing device, one or more entities that are associated with at least one document referenced by the search result set; select, using the computing device, one or more relevant entities identified as being associated with (i) documents referenced by the search result set and (ii) the question; and output, using the computing device, an answer to the question based at least on the selected one or more entities.