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?')
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')
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?
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
48.1 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.
48.2 Make questions with who or what.
1. Somebody hit me.
_Who hit you?_
2. I hit somebody.
_Who did you hit?_
3. Somebody gave me the key.
Who ---
4. Something happened.
What ---
5. Diane told me something.
---
6. This book belongs to somebody.
---
7. Somebody lives in that house.
---
8 I fell over something.
---
9. Something fell on the floor.
---
10. This word means something.
---
11. I borrowed the money from somebody.
---
12. I'm worried about something.
---
48.3 Put the words in brackets in the correct order. All the sentences are questions.
1. (when/was/built/this house) _When was this house built?_
2. (how/cheese/is/made)
3. (when/invented /the computer/was)
4. (why/Sue/working/ isn't/today)
5. (what time/coming/your friends/are)
6. (why/was/cancelled/the concert)
7. (where/your mother/was/born)
8. (why/you/to the party/didn't/come)
9. (how/the accident/did/happen)
10. (why/this machine/doesn't/work)
48.4 Write negative questions from the words in brackets. In each situation you are surprised.
1. A: We won't see Ann this evening.
B: Why not? (she/not/come/to the party?) _Isn't she coming to the party?_
2. A: I hope we don't meet Brian tonight.
B: Why? (you/not/like/him?)
3. A: Don't go and see that film.
B: Why not? (it/not/good)
4. A: I'll have to borrow some money.
B: Why? (you/not/have/any?)
48.1
2 Where do you live now?
3 Are you married?
4 How long have you been married?
5 Have you got (any) children? or Do you have (any) children?
6 How old are they?
7 What does your husband do)
8 Does he enjoy his job?
9 Did he arrest anyone yesterday?
10 How often do you go on holiday?
11 Where are you going next year) or Where are you going to go ..?
48.2
3 Who gave you the key? or Who gave it to you?
4 What happened?
5 What did she tell you? or What did Diane tell you?
6 Who does it belong to? or Who does this book ...?
7 Who lives in that house? or Who lives there?
8 What did you fall over?
9 What fell on the floor?
10 What does it mean? or What does this word mean?
11 Who did you borrow it from? or ... borrow the money from?
12 What are you worried about?
48.3
2 How is cheese made?
3 When was the computer invented?
4 Why isn't Sue working today?
5 What time are your friends coming?
6 Why was the concert cancelled?
7 Where was your mother born?
8 Why didn't you come to the party?
9 How did the accident happen?
10 Why doesn't this machine work?
48.4
2 Don't you like him?
3 Isn't it good?
4 Haven't you got any? Don't you have any?
