In questions we usually put the subject after the first verb:

subject + verb verb + subject

I Tom
you
will
have
wi ll
have
Tom?
you?
0
C
Will Tom be here tomorrow?
Have you been working hard?
the house was was the house? C When was the house built?

Remember that the subject comes after the first verb:

\.....) Is Katherine working today? (not Is working Katherine)

In present simple questions, we use do/ does:

I you live ~ do you Live? C Do you Live near here?

L the film starts ~ does the film start? ~ What time does the film start?

In past simple questions, we use did:

you so ld ~ did you sell? C Did you sell your car?

L the train stopped ~ did the train stop? 0 Why did the train stop?

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

who object who subject

Emma phoned somebody somebody phoned Emma.

- object subject - - 1
Who did Emma phone? Who phoned Emma?

In these examples, who/what etc. is the subject:

u Who wants someth ing to eat? (not Who does want)
What happened to you last night? (not What did happen)
How many people came to the meeting? (not did come)
(1 Which bus goes to the centre? (not does go)

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

u Who do you want to speak to? :J What was the weather Like yesterday?
0 Which job has Tina applied for? 0 Where are you from ?
You can use preposition+ whom in formal style:
0 To whom do you wish to speak?

Isn't it ... ? I Didn't you ... ? etc. (negative questions)

We use negative questions especia lly to show surprise:
l) Didn't you hear the doorbell? I rang it three times.
or when we expect the listener to agree with us:
u Haven't we met before?' Yes, I think we have.'
I
1

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

, { Yes. (= Yes, I want to go)
0 Don t you want to go.7 N o. (= N o, 1d on ,t want to go)
Note the word order in negative questions beginning Why .. . ?:
Why don't we eat out tonight? (not Why we don't eat)
U Why wasn't Emma at work yesterday? (not Why Emma wasn't)

Questions 2 -+ Unit 50 Question tags (do you ? isn't it? et c.) -+ Unit 52
Exercises
Ask Joe questions. (Look at his answers before you write the questions.)

1 (where I live?) W.h~~ clo ~o-~ ~y~? In Manchester.

2 (born there?) ............................................. .......... No, I was born in London.
3 (married?) ........................................................................ ... .. Yes.
4 (how long I married?) ............................... ....................... 17 years.

5 (children?) ...... ................................. ....................... ....... ... ... Yes, two boys.
joe
6 (how old I they?) .......................... .. ..................... ..... .. 12 and 15.
7 (what I do?) ................................................................. I'm a journalist.
8 (what I wife I do?) ........... ..... .. ..... ..... . She's a doctor.

Make questions with who or what.

1 Somebody hit me. M:19.....b~. ~903.......... . . ..... ... ....... . ...... . .. . ..........
2 I hit somebody. "' .M:19.....c44. ~O..lA.....h~.?. . ... . .... ................. ....... .......... . . ........
3 Somebody paid the bill. Who ............................................... ..... .................... ....... .................... ..
4 Something happened . What ...
5 Diane sa id someth ing.
6 This book belongs to somebody.
7 Somebody lives in that house.
8 I fell over something.
9 Someth ing fell off the shelf.
10 This word means someth ing.
11 I borrowed the money from somebody.
12 I'm worried about something.

Put the words in brackets in the correct order. All the sentences are questions.
1 (when I was I built I this house) .....\Yn.~ ...~<&?. Jh~s..... b.9!A.?.~ b..~ -~t:.?. . ............................................ ...............................
2 (how I cheese I is I made) ................. ..... ...... ....................... .. .. .......... ........ ..................................................................
3 (when I invented I the computer I was) .... . ................... . .. .... .. ......... ......... . ... ... . . ....... .. ......................... ..
4 (why I Sue I working I isn't I today) ....... ... ................... ......... .................................. .. ....... ............... ....... . . ......... .........
5 (what time I com ing I your friends I are) .. ... ................. ..... .............. ........................ ......................................
6 (why I was I cancelled I the trip) .................. .................................................................................................................................................... .
7 (where I your mother I was I born) . ............................... ... .... ... ..... . .................... .................... .............................
8 (why I you I to the party I didn't I come) .. . ...................... . .. .. . . .............. .... . . . ........ .......... ........ .. .................. ..
9 (how I the accident I did I happen) ......... ... .. ... ......... .. .. . .. . .. . ............. .. . . ............... ..................................
10 (why I this machine I doesn't I work) ....................................... ............................................................................................................... .

• •., Write negative questions from the words in brackets. In each situation you are surprised.
1 A:We won't see Lisa this evening.
s: Why not? (s he I not I come I out w ith us?) .......I.?.Y.I)c.sne: .. 0.r:r..~g ... ov.~. w~ ~.?.? ................................
2 A: I hope we don't meet Luke tonight.
8 : Why? (you I not I like I him?) ............... .. . ................................. ...................... ... .. . .... . ......................................
3 A: Don't go and see that film .
8 : Why not? (it I not I good?) ..... ............. .... . .... .. ........... .... .... . ..... . ........................ ................................ .. . ................... .
4 A: I'll have to borrow some money.
8 : Why? (you I not I have I any?) ....

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