Understanding the Structure of Questions in English (with Focus
on Preposition Ending)
● Teach how to form different types of questions in English.
● Explain why some questions in English end with a preposition.
● Provide exercises and a homework assignment to reinforce
understanding.
1. What is a Question in English?
A question is a sentence that asks for information. It typically starts with a
question word or an auxiliary verb.
Types of Questions:
● Yes/No Questions: Start with an auxiliary verb (e.g., Do, Does, Is,
Are, Have, Will, etc.). The answer is yes/no.
○ Example: "Do you like pizza?" Yes, I do. No, I don’t.
● Wh- Questions: Start with question words (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How, How
many, How much).
○ Example: "What are you doing?"
● Una oración → Pregunta
2. Basic Question Structure
Yes/No Questions:
● Structure: Auxiliary verb + Subject + Main verb + (Complement)?
● Example: "Are you coming to the party?"
Wh- Questions:
● Structure: Wh- word + Auxiliary verb + Subject + Main verb + (Complement)?
● Example: "Where is she going?"
3. Ending Questions with Prepositions
In English, questions sometimes end with prepositions, especially when dealing with phrasal
verbs or prepositional verbs (verbs that require /require/ a preposition to make sense).
Go to church Where are you going to?
● Example: "Who are you coming with?" Con quien vienes?
● Here, "with" is part of the phrasal verb "come with." Instead of putting "with" at the
beginning ("With whom are you coming?"), it's more natural in spoken English to place
the preposition at the end.
Why?
● This is due to the fact that modern English is more conversational and less formal than it
used to be. Ending sentences with prepositions makes them sound more fluid and
natural.
Formal vs. Informal:
● Formal: "With whom are you speaking?"
Subject Verb Object Complement
Who Whom
Lucia is talking to Claudia this afternoon
Quien Con quien
Con quien estas hablando?
Quien habla? = Who is talking?
● Informal: "Who are you speaking with?"
Activity: Match the Phrasal Verbs with Their Meanings
Match the phrasal verbs in Column A with their correct Spanish translations in Column B.
Column A (Phrasal Verbs) Column B (Spanish Meanings)
1. Speak to / with A. Hablar con
2. Talk to B. Hablar con
3. Talk about C. Hablar de/hablar sobre
4. Look for D. Buscar
5. Wait for E. Esperar por
6. Depend on F. Depende de
7. Work on G. Trabajar en
8. Pay for H. Pagar por
9. Apologize for I. Disculparse por
10.Listen to J. Escuchar a
11.Ask for K. Preguntar por/ Pedir
12.Rely on L. Confiar en al punto de apoyarse en
13.Think about M. Pensar en
14.Dream of N. Soñar con
15.Apply for O. Aplicar para (contexto laboral)
16.Belong to P. Pertenecer a
17.Laugh at Q. Reírse de
18.Care for R. Cuidar de
19.Care about S. Preocuparse por // Que importa
20.Look after T. Cuidar de
21.Complain about U. Quejarse de
4. Common Verbs that Use Prepositions in Questions
Here are some common verbs that tend to use prepositions at the end of questions:
● Speak to / with: "Who are you speaking with?"
● Talk about: "What are you talking about?"
● Look for: "What are you looking for?"
● Wait for: "Who are you waiting for?"
● Depend on: "Who does this depend on?"
● Work on: "What are you working on?"
● Pay for: "What are you paying for?"
● Apologize for: "What are you apologizing for?"
● Listen to: "Who are you listening to?" “What are you listening to?”
● Ask for: "What are you asking for?"
● Rely on: "Who can we rely on?"
● Think about: "What are you thinking about?"
● Dream of: "What do you dream of?"
● Apply for: "What are you applying for?"
● Belong to: "Who does this book belong to?"
● Laugh at: "What are you laughing at?"
● Care for: "Who do you care for?"
● Look after: "Who are you looking after?"
● Talk to: "Who were you talking to?"
● Complain about: "What are you complaining about?"
Go
Go to I go to the movies Where do I go to?
Go with I went with Lucia Who did you go with?
Go at I went at 5pm What time did you go at?
Go for I go for you Who do you go for?
5. Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following questions with the correct prepositions.
1. Who are you going to the party WITH?
2. What are you looking FOR?
3. Who are you waiting FOR?
4. Who does this decision depend ON?
5. Who are you speaking TO?
Exercise 2: Rearrange the Words
Rearrange the words to form correct questions:
1. with / are / you / who / coming? Who are you coming with?
2. for / you / what / looking / are? What are you looking for?
3. about / she / talking / is / what? What is she talking about?
4. speaking / you / who / are / to? Who are you speaking to?
5. with / whom / are / going / you? Whom are you going with?
Exercise 3: Create Questions
Look at the statements and create corresponding questions that end with prepositions.
1. I’m talking to Jane.
○ Question: Who are you talking to?
2. They’re waiting for the bus.
○ Question: What are they waiting for?
3. She’s looking at the painting.
○ Question: What is she looking at?
Who are you speaking _to/with_____?
What are you talking _about_____?
What are you looking __for____?
Who are you waiting __for____?
Who does this depend __on____?
What are you working __on____?
What are you paying __for____?
What are you apologizing ___for___?
Who are you listening __to____?
What are you asking __for____?
Who can we rely __on____?
What are you thinking __about____?
What do you dream __for____?
What are you applying __to____?
Who does this book belong __to____?
What are you laughing __at____?
Who do you care __for/about____?
Who are you looking _for_____?
Who were you talking __to/about____?
What are you complaining __about____?
Who are you complaining to?
