Friday, February 8, 2013

Making Questions



The basic rule for asking questions in English is straightforward: Invert the order of the subject and the first auxiliary verb.

  • It is snowing. = Is it snowing?
  • He can speak German. = Can he speak German?
  • They have lived here a long time. = Have they lived here a long time?
  • She will arrive at ten o'clock. = Will she arrive at ten o'clock?
  • He was driving fast. = Was he driving fast?
  • You have been smoking. = Have you been smoking?
  • You would travel to Germany if you had more time. = Would you travel to Germany if you had more time?
  • I should study tonight. = Should I study tonight?
  • She is reading. = Is she reading?
  • Robert was having lunch. = Was Robert having lunch?
  • We will be taking an exam on Saturday. = Will we be taking an exam on Saturday?
  • Ann would have gone with us if we had asked her. = Would Ann have gone with us if we had asked her?

If there is no auxiliary, use part of the verb 'to do'.

  • You speak fluent French. = Do you speak fluent French?
  • She lives in Brussels. = Does she live in Brussels?
  • They lived in Manchester. = Did they live in Manchester?
  • He had an accident. = Did he have an accident?
  • We have a break at 11:45. = Do we have a break at 11:45?

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

  • How often does she use it?
  • Why don't you come?
  • Where do you work?
  • How many oranges did you buy?
  • What time did you go to the cinema?
  • Which restaurants do you like in Canovas?
  • Whose car were you driving?
  • When does class begin?
  • Why do you study English?
  • Who do you visit on Sundays?
  • Who do you know in Madrid? Who is the indirect object in these sentences

Note who, what and which can be the subject. Compare:
  • Who is coming to lunch? (who is the subject of the verb)
  • Who do you want to invite to lunch? (you is the subject of the verb)
  • Who plays football after lunch?
  • What’s wrong?
  • What happened? (what is the subject of the verb)
  • What did you do? (you is the subject of the verb)
  • What's new?

Note the position of the prepositions in these questions:

  • Who did you speak to?
  • What are you looking at?
  • Where does he come from?