UNIT 48. Questions (1)

A. We usually make questions by changing the word order: we put the first auxiliary verb (AV) before the subject (S):

Tom will -> will Tom?

* Will Tom be here tomorrow?

you have -> have you?

* Have you been working hard?

I can -> can I?

* What can I do? (not 'What I can do?')

the house was -> was the house?

* When was the house built? (not 'When was built the house?')

B. In present simple questions, we use do/does:

you live -> do you live?

* Do you live near here?

the film begins -> does the film begin?

* What time does the film begin? (not 'What time begins...?')

In past simple questions, we use did:

you sold -> did you sell?

* Did you sell your car?

the accident happened -> did the accident happen?

* How did the accident happen?

But do not use do/does/did in questions if who/what/which is the subject of the sentence. Compare:

who object

Emma telephoned _somebody._(object)

_Who_(object) did Emma telephone?

who subject

_Somebody_(subject) telephoned Emma.

_Who_(subject) telephoned Emma?

In these examples, who/what/which is the subject:

* Who wants something to eat? (not 'Who does want')

* What happened to you last night? (not 'What did happen')

* Which bus goes to the city centre? (not 'Which bus does go')

C. Note the position of prepositions in questions beginning Who/What/Which/Where...?:

* Who do you want to speak to?

* What was the weather like yesterday?

* Which job has Jane applied for?

* Where do you come from?

D. Negative questions (isn't it...?/didn't you...?)

We use negative questions especially to show surprise:

* Didn't you hear the bell? I rang it four times.

or when we expect the listener to agree with us:

* 'Haven't we met somewhere before 'Yes, I think we have.'

* Isn't it a beautiful day! (= It's a beautiful day, isn't it?)

Note the meaning of yes and no in answers to negative questions:

* Don't you want to go to the party? Yes. (=Yes, I want to go)

* Don't you want to go to the party?.No. (=No, I don't want to go)

Note the word order in negative questions beginning Why...?:

* Why don't we go out for a meal tonight? (not 'Why we don't...')

* Why wasn't Mary at work yesterday? (not 'Why Mary wasn't...')

EXERCISES

Ask Liz questions. (Look at her answers before you write the questions.)

1. (where/from?) Where are you from?

_From London originally._

2. (where/live/now?) Where ---

In Manchester.

3. (married?) ---

Yes.

4. (how long/married?) ---

12 years.

5. (children?) ---

Yes, three boys.

6. (how old/they?) ---

4, 7 and 9.

7. (what/husband/do?) ---

He's a policeman.

8. (he/enjoy his job?) ---

Yes, very much.

9. (arrest anyone yesterday?) ---

I don't know.

10. (how often/go/on holiday?) ---

Usually once a year.

11. (where/next year?) ---

We don't know yet.

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