Unit

49 Questions 1
A In questions the subject is usually after the first verb:
subject + verb verb + subject
Tom will → will Tom? Will Tom be here tomorrow?
you have → have you? Have you been working hard?
the house was → was the house? When was the house built?
The subject is after the first verb:
Is Katherine working today? (not Is working Katherine)

B In present simple questions, we use do/does:

you live → do you live? Do you live near here?
the film starts → does the film start? What time does the film start?

In past simple questions, we use did:

you sold → did you sell? Did you sell your car?
the train stopped → did the train stop? 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
Who did Emma phone? Who phoned Emma?

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

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

C In questions beginning who/what/which/where, prepositions (in, for etc.) usually go at the end:
Where are you from? What was the weather like?
Who do you want to speak to? Which job has Tina applied for?
You can use preposition + whom in formal style:
To whom do you wish to speak?

D isn’t it … ? / didn’t you … ? etc. (negative questions)

We use negative questions especially to show surprise:
Didn’t you hear the doorbell? I rang it three times.
or when we expect the listener to agree with us:
‘Haven’t we met before?’ ‘Yes, I think we have.’
Note the meaning of yes and no in answers to negative questions:
⎧‘Yes.’ (= Yes, I want to go)
‘Don’t you want to go?’ ⎨
⎩‘No.’ (= No, I don’t want to go)
We often use negative questions with Why … ? :
Why don’t we eat out tonight? (not Why we don’t eat)
Why wasn’t Emma at work yesterday? (not Why Emma wasn’t)

98 Questions 2 ➜ Unit 50 Question tags (do you? isn’t it? etc.) ➜ Unit 52
 Unit
Exercises 49
49.1 Ask Joe questions.
JOE

1 (where / live) Where do you live? In Manchester.

2 (born there?) No, I was born in London.
3 (married?) Yes.
4 (how long?) 17 years.
5 (what / do?) I’m a journalist.
6 (what wife / do?) She’s a doctor.
7 (children?) Yes, two boys.
8 (how old?) 12 and 15.

49.2 Make questions with who or what.

1 Somebody hit me. Who hit you?

2 I hit somebody. Who did you hit?
3 Somebody paid the bill. Who
4 I’m worried about something. What
5 Something happened.
6 Diane said something.
7 This book belongs to somebody.
8 Somebody lives in that house.
9 I fell over something.
10 Something fell off the shelf.
11 This word means something.
12 Sarah was with somebody.
13 I’m looking for something.
14 Emma reminds me of somebody.

49.3 Put the words in brackets in the correct order.

1 (when / was / built / this house?) When was this house built?
2 (how / cheese / is / made?)
3 (why / Sue / working / isn’t / today?)
4 (what time / arriving / your friends / are?)
5 (why / was / cancelled / the meeting?)
6 (when / invented / paper / was?)
7 (where / your parents / were / born?)
8 (why / you / to the party / didn’t / come?)
9 (how / the accident / did / happen?)
10 (why / happy / you / aren’t?)
11 (how many / speak / can / languages / you?)
49.4 Write negative questions from the words in brackets. In each situation you are surprised.
1 A: We won’t see Lisa this evening.
B: Why not? (she / not / come / out with us?) Isn’t she coming out with us?
2 A: I hope we don’t meet Luke 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?)
99
Unit Questions 2 (do you know where … ? /
50 he asked me where …)
A Do you know where … ? / I don’t know why … / Could you tell me what … ? etc.
We say: Where has Tom gone?

but Do you know where Tom has gone? (not has Tom gone)
When the question (Where has Tom gone?) is part of a longer sentence (Do you know … ? /
I don’t know … / Can you tell me … ? etc.), the word order changes. We say:
What time is it? but Do you know what time it is?
Who are those people? I don’t know who those people are.
Where can I find Louise? Can you tell me where I can find Louise?
How much will it cost? Do you have any idea how much it will cost?

Be careful with do/does/did questions. We say:

What time does the film start? but Do you know what time the film starts?
(not does the film start)
What do you mean? Please explain what you mean.
Why did she leave early? I wonder why she left early.

Use if or whether where there is no other question word (what, why etc.):

Did anybody see you? but I don’t know if anybody saw me.
or … whether anybody saw me.

B He asked me where …
The same changes in word order happen in questions in reported speech. Compare:
direct The police officer said to us ‘Where are you going ?’
reported The police officer asked us where we were going .
direct Clare asked ‘What time do the shops close ?’
reported Clare wanted to know what time the shops closed .
In reported speech the verb usually changes to the past (were, closed etc.). See Unit 47.
Study these examples. You had a job interview and the interviewer asked you these questions:
Are you willing to travel? Why did you apply for the job?

What do you do in your spare time? Can you speak any other languages?

How long have you been

working in your present job? Do you have a driving licence?

Later you tell a friend what the interviewer asked you. You use reported speech:
She asked if (or whether) I was willing to travel.
She wanted to know what I did in my spare time.
She asked how long I had been working in my present job.
She asked why I had applied for the job. or … why I applied …
She wanted to know if (or whether) I could speak any other languages.
She asked if (or whether) I had a driving licence.

100 Reported speech ➜ Units 47–48

 Unit
Exercises 50
50.1 Which is right? Tick (✓) the correct alternative.
1 a Do you know what time the film starts? 5 a Why you didn’t phone me yesterday?
b Do you know what time does the film start? b Why didn’t you phone me yesterday?
c Do you know what time starts the film? c Why you not phoned me yesterday?
2 a Why Amy does get up so early every day? 6 a Do you know where does Helen work?
b Why Amy gets up so early every day? b Do you know where Helen does work?
c Why does Amy get up so early every day? c Do you know where Helen works?
3 a I want to know what this word means. 7 a How much it costs to park here?
b I want to know what does this word mean. b How much does it cost to park here?
c I want to know what means this word. c How much it does cost to park here?
4 a I can’t remember where did I park the car. 8 a Tell me what you want.
b I can’t remember where I parked the car. b Tell me what you do want.
c I can’t remember where I did park the car. c Tell me what do you want.
50.2 Put the words in the correct order.
1 (it / you / what time / know / is) Do you know what time it is ?
2 (is / to the airport / far / it) How ?
3 (wonder / is / how / old / Tom) I .
4 (they / married / been / have) How long ?
5 (they / married / how long / been / have / know)
Do you ?
6 (tell / the station / you / me / is / where)
Could ?
7 (in the accident / injured / anyone / don’t / whether / know / was)
I .
8 (what / tomorrow / know / time / will / arrive / you / you)
Do ?
50.3 You were visiting London. You met a lot of people who asked you a lot of questions:

1 Where are you from? 5 Where are you staying?

How long have you How long are you

2 been in London? 6 going to stay?

Have you been to Do you think London

3 London before? 7 is expensive?

Why did you

4 Do you like London? 8 come to London?

Now you tell a friend what people asked you. Use reported speech.
1 He asked me where I was from.
2 She asked me
3 They
4
5
6
7
8

➜ Additional exercise 25 (page 316) 101

 Additional exercises

Reported speech Units 47–48, 50

25 Complete the sentences using reported speech.

1
Can I speak to Paul, please? Paul has gone out. I don’t know
when he’ll be back.
Do you want to leave a message?
I’ll try again later.
YOU

A woman phoned at lunchtime yesterday and asked if she could speak to Paul . I told
and
. I asked
, but she said later.
But she never did.

2
We have no record of a Do you have any
reservation in your name. rooms free anyway?

We’re sorry, but

the hotel is full.

I went to London recently, but my visit didn’t begin well. I had reserved a hotel room, but
when I got to the hotel they told
. When I asked ,
they said , but .
There was nothing I could do. I just had to look for somewhere else to stay.

3
Why are you visiting the country?
We’re on holiday.
How long do you intend to stay?

Where will you be

staying during your visit?

After getting off the plane, we had to queue for an hour to get through immigration. Finally,
it was our turn. The immigration officer asked us
, and we told .
Then he wanted to know and
.
He seemed satisfied with our answers, checked our passports and wished us a pleasant stay.

4
I’ll phone you from the
airport when I arrive. Don’t come to the
airport. I’ll take the bus.
SUE

A: What time is Sue arriving this afternoon?

B: About three. She said
.
A: Aren’t you going to meet her?
B: No, she said not . She said
that  .

316
 Additional exercises

5
What’s your job?
Mind your own business!

How much do you earn?

YOU

A few days ago a man phoned from a marketing company and started asking me questions. He
wanted to know and asked
. I don’t like people phoning and asking questions like that,
so I told and ended the call.

6 NOW I’ll be at the EARLIER

restaurant at 7.30. I know where the restaurant is.

Phone me if
there’s a problem.

LOUISE SARAH PAUL SARAH

Sarah and Louise are in a restaurant waiting for Paul.

SARAH: I wonder where Paul is. He said .
LOUISE: Maybe he got lost.
SARAH: I don’t think so. He said .
And I told .

7
I’m not hungry.

I don’t like bananas, so don’t buy any.

JOE JANE
Five minutes later
JOE: Is there anything to eat?
JANE: You just said .
JOE: Well, I am now. I’d love a banana.
JANE: A banana? But you said .
You told .

-ing and to … Units 53–66

26 Put the verbs into the correct form.

1 How old were you when you learnt to drive ? (drive)
2 I don’t mind walking home, but I’d rather get a taxi. (walk, get)
3 I can’t make a decision. I keep my mind. (change)
4 He had made his decision and refused his mind. (change)
5 Why did you change your decision? What made you your mind?
(change)
6 It was a really good holiday. I really enjoyed by the sea again. (be)
317