Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 45 · A2

Who saw you? Who did you see? (questions 2)

When who or what is the object, use do, does or did: Who did you see? When who or what is the subject, there is no do: Who saw you? What happened?

Start the lesson

12Steps · about 18 minutes

In this lesson

Who did you see? (who = object)A2 screens of questions
Who saw you? (who = subject)B2 screens of questions
CompareC3 screens of questions

Point A of 3

Who did you see? (who = object)

Sylvia saw Paul. Ask about Paul, the object: Who did Sylvia see? The question uses did, like any past simple question.

  • Who did Sylvia see? Paul.
  • Who did you ring last night?
  • What did you buy?
  • What does this word mean?

Point A · Exercise 45.3 · part 1 of 2

You want the missing information (XXXX). Write questions with who or what.

  1. Example

    I lost XXXX yesterday, but luckily somebody found it and gave it back.

    What did you lose?

    AnswerWhat did you lose?

  2. I left my phone on the bus, but luckily XXXX handed it in.

  3. XXXX rang me last night. She wanted to borrow my drill.

  4. My sister rang me last night. She wanted XXXX.

  5. I needed some advice, so I asked XXXX.

Point A · Exercise 45.3 · part 2 of 2

You want the missing information (XXXX). Write questions with who or what.

  1. I asked my uncle for advice. He said XXXX.

  2. I hear XXXX got married last week.

Point B of 3

Who saw you? (who = subject)

Sylvia saw Paul. Ask about Sylvia, the subject: Who saw Paul? No do, does or did: who simply replaces the subject.

Who is the object Who is the subject
Who did Sylvia see? Who saw Paul?
What did you break? What broke?
  • Who saw Paul? Sylvia.
  • Who lives in this house? (not Who does live)
  • What happened? (not What did happen)
  • Who wants a cup of tea?
  • Who broke the window?
  • What fell off the shelf?

Point B · Exercise 45.1 · part 1 of 2

Make questions with who or what. In these questions, who or what is the subject.

  1. Example

    Somebody broke the window.

    Who broke the window?

    AnswerWho broke the window?

  2. Something fell off the shelf.

  3. Somebody wants to see you.

  4. Somebody took my umbrella.

  5. Something made me ill.

Point B · Exercise 45.1 · part 2 of 2

Make questions with who or what. In these questions, who or what is the subject.

  1. Somebody is coming.

Point C of 3

Compare

The same verb can make both kinds of question.

  • Who did you phone? (you phoned somebody)
  • Who phoned you? (somebody phoned you)
  • What did Jill do? (Jill did something)
  • What woke you up? (something woke you up)

Point C · Exercise 45.2 · part 1 of 3

Make questions with who or what. Who or what may be the subject or the object.

  1. Example

    I bought something.

    What did you buy?

    AnswerWhat did you buy?

  2. Example

    Somebody lives in this house.

    Who lives in this house?

    AnswerWho lives in this house?

  3. I rang somebody.

  4. Something happened last night.

  5. Somebody knows the answer.

  6. Somebody did the washing-up.

Point C · Exercise 45.2 · part 2 of 3

Make questions with who or what. Who or what may be the subject or the object.

  1. Jill did something.

  2. Something woke me up.

  3. Somebody saw the accident.

  4. I saw somebody.

Point C · Exercise 45.2 · part 3 of 3

Make questions with who or what. Who or what may be the subject or the object.

  1. Somebody has got my pen.

  2. This word means something.

Lesson 45 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: Who is she talking to? What is it like? (questions 3)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. Who did you see? (who = object)–Not checkedB. Who saw you? (who = subject)–Not checkedC. Compare–Not checked