Forming Questions

The basic rule for asking questions in English is straightforward:

Invert the order of the subject and the auxiliary verb.
YES / NO QUESTIONS

It is snowing.
=> Is it snowing?______________________?

1. He can speak German.

________________________________________?
2. They have lived here for a long time.
________________________________________?
3. She will arrive at ten o'clock.
________________________________________?
4. He was driving fast.
________________________________________?
5. You have been smoking.
________________________________________?
If there is no auxiliary, use a form of the verb 'to do'.

You speak fluent French.

=> Do you speak fluent French?___________?

1. She lives in Brussels.

________________________________________?
2. They enjoy flying to other countries.
________________________________________?
3. He lived in Manchester.
________________________________________?
4. You had an accident.
________________________________________?
5. Paul travels to France once a month.
________________________________________?
WH- & H- QUESTIONS
1

Most questions with question words are made in the same way:

She often uses a computer.

=> How often does she use a computer?

1. You work somewhere in Athens.

Whereabouts in Athens ______________________?
2. You bought some tickets.
How many ________________________________?
3. They arrived in the afternoon.
What time ________________________________?
4. He prefers riding a bicycle to work.
Why _____________________________________?
5. You arent coming to the dinner party.
Why _____________________________________?
6. You were driving someone elses car last night.
Whose car ________________________________?
7. Their country house is big.
How big __________________________________?
8. You graduated from university before I did.
When ____________________________________?
9. You parked your car outside.
Where exactly _____________________________?
10. You have been working here for a long time.
How long _________________________________?

WHO and WHAT

When we ask questions with who and what, we should be careful. There are
two ways.
Look at these examples:

Someone cleans the rooms.

=> Who cleans the rooms?

(Who is the subject of the verb. We dont use does in the question.)

Something happened.
=> What happened?

(What is the subject of the verb. We dont use did in the question.)

Subject questions
Question word Verb
Subject Verb
Who
ran
to the shop? Peter
ran
to the shop.
What
happened yesterday? A tragedy happened yesterday.

Now compare them with these examples:

You want to invite someone.

=> Who do you want to invite?

(Who is the object of the verb. We use do in the question.)

You did something.

=> What did you do?

(What is the object of the verb. We use did in the question.)

Object questions
Question word Auxiliary Subject Verb
Who
does
he
like?
Who
did
Mandy call?
What
are
you
reading?
3

Subject Verb
Object
He
likes
Debbie.
Mandy called her uncle.
I
m reading a novel.

Exercises
Who and what as subjects. Make questions.

She walks home from school.

=> Who walks home from school?______________?

1. Something caused the accident.

What ________________________________________?
2. Jenny doesnt sleep late.
Who _________________________________________?
3. Something happened late at night.
What ________________________________________?
4. Mark isnt interested in art.
Who _________________________________________?
Who and what as objects. Make questions.
John trusts his best friend.
=> Who does John trust?____________________?
1. Sandy is writing an e-mail.
What ________________________________________?
2. They bought a new car.
What ________________________________________?
3. They chose Michael to play in the team.
Who _________________________________________?
4. She loves her children.
Who _________________________________________?
5. You have eaten something.
What _________________________________________?