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?