Forming questions
Structures of questions
If there is an auxiliary (helping)
verb (be, have, can, will, etc), we Is anybody in the office?
put it before the subject (he, she, Have you ever visited London?
I, etc). What time will they be here?
If there is no auxiliary (helping)
verb, we put do, does or did before Do you know my older
the subject. brother? Did he come in time?
How long have you been waiting
We put wh- words (when, where, for me?
why, who, how, etc.) at the Where is their office?
beginning of the question. Which colour do you like best?
What happened to you?
We don't use do, does or did when What did happen?
we
use what, which, who or whose as Who told you about it?
the subject. Who did tell you?
Questions – common mistakes
Common mistakes Correct version Why?
If there is no auxiliary
(helping) verb, we
What meant you by What did you put do,
that? mean by that? does or did before th
You like this film? Do you like this film? e subject.
Where you are going Where are you going We put an auxiliary
this afternoon? this afternoon? verb (is, are, did,
You did read the Did you read the does, etc) before the
letter? letter? subject.
We don't use do,
does or did when we
use what, which,
Who did give you the Who gave you the who or whose as the
information? information? subject.
Does he knows your When there is an
sister? Does he know your auxiliary verb, the
Where will she sister? main verb is in the
studies? Where will she study? infinitive form.
