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Questions: Subject + Verb Verb Subject

The document summarizes question formation in English. It discusses: 1. Word order in questions, with the subject coming after the first verb. 2. Using do/does/did in present simple and past simple questions. 3. Not using auxiliary verbs with who/what/etc. as the subject. 4. Position of prepositions in questions beginning with who/what/which/where. 5. Forming negative questions to show surprise or expectation of agreement.

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Ayu Rizky Amalia
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106 views

Questions: Subject + Verb Verb Subject

The document summarizes question formation in English. It discusses: 1. Word order in questions, with the subject coming after the first verb. 2. Using do/does/did in present simple and past simple questions. 3. Not using auxiliary verbs with who/what/etc. as the subject. 4. Position of prepositions in questions beginning with who/what/which/where. 5. Forming negative questions to show surprise or expectation of agreement.

Uploaded by

Ayu Rizky Amalia
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Questions 1

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


subject + verb verb + subject
Tom will - will Tom? o Will Tom be here tomorrow?
you have - have you? o Have you been working hard?
the house was - was the house? D When was the house built?

Remember that the subject comes after the first verb:


o Is Catherine working today? (not Is working Catherine)
In present simple questions, we use do/does:
you live - do you live? O Do you live near here?
the film begins - does the film· begin? o What time does the film begin?
In past simple questions, we use did:
you sold - did you sell? o Did you sell your car?
the train stopped -+ did the train scop? o 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 telephoned somebody Somebody telephoned Emma.
r--- object __, subject --l
Who did Emma telephone? Who telephoned Emma?

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


o Who wants something to eat? (not Who does want)
o What happened to you last night? (not What did happen)
o How many people came to the meeting? (not did come)
O Which bus goes to the centre? (not does go}

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


o Who do you want to speak to? o What was the weather like yesterday?
o Which job has Ann applied for? o Where are you from?
You can use preposition + whom in formal style:
o To whom do you wish to speak?
Isn't it ... ? I Didn't you ... ? etc. (negative questions)
We use negative questions especially to show surprise:
o Didn't you hear the doorbell? I rang it three times.
or when we expect the listener to agree with us.
o 'Haven't we met somewhere before?' 'Yes, I think we have.'
Note the meaning of yes and no in answers to negative questions:
, { Yes. (= Yes, I want to go)
o Don t you want to go to the party., N o. ( = No, I d on ,r want to go )
Note the word order in negative questions beginning Why ... ?:
o Why don't we go out for a meal tonight? (not Why we don't go)
o Why wasn't Mary at work yesterday? (not Why Mary wasn't)

98 Questions 2 -+ Unit 50 Question tags (do you? isn't it? etc.) -+ Unit 52
Exercises Unit 49
49.1 Ask Joe questions. (Look at his answers before you write the questions.]

1 (where I live?) �-�� 49. .!:io.<A.- !-0.'.�.L . In Manchester.


l (born there?) . No, I was born in London.
[rnarriedr) ····························-····················································· Yes.
(how long I married?) ············-·····················-· . 17 years.

5 (children') . Yes, two boys.


Joe

6 (how old I theyi) . 12 and 15.


(what I do?) . I'm a journalist.
8 (what I wife I do?) . She's a doctor.

49.2 Make questions with who or what.

Somebody hit me. ......v,./110 ni.t !:,OlA.? .


l I hit somebody. . v,./110_ .. d..uL . .!:iO<A ni.t ? .
3 Somebody paid the bill. Who .
4 Something happened. What ..
5 Diane said something.
6 This book belongs to somebody.
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 rm worried about something.

49.3 Put the words in brackets in the correct order. All the sentences are questions.
I (when I was I built I this house) �.�----�-� !h.�� b.Q�.��--)�.4-.tL .
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 coming I your friends I are) ..
6 (why I was I cancelled I the concert) , .
- (where I your mother I was I born) .
8 (why I you I to rhe parry I didn't I come) .
9 (how I rhe accident I did I happen) : .
10 (why I rhis machine I doesn't I work) .

49.4 Write negative questions from the words in brackets. In each situation you are surprised.
I A: We won't see Liz this evening.
B: Why nor? (she I nor I come I to the party?) L�n'..t.�b.�---��Y'.19 � �.� P.f¥.k!.L .
l :\: I hope we don't meet David tonight.
8: Why? (you I nor I like I him?) .
3 A: Don't go and see that film.
8: Why not? (ir I nor I good?) .
4 A: I'll have ro borrow some money.
8: Why? (you I nor I have I any?) ..

99

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