Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 49 · B1

Questions 1

In questions the subject follows the first verb; the present and past simple need do, does or did, except when who or what is itself the subject. Prepositions go at the end, and negative questions show surprise or expect agreement.

Start the lesson

16Steps · about 30 minutes

In this lesson

Subject after the first verbA3 screens of questions
do, does, did, and when not to use themB2 screens of questions
Prepositions at the endC1 screen of questions
Negative questionsD1 screen of questions
Put it together+3 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 4

Subject after the first verb

In a question, the subject usually comes after the first verb.

Statement Question
Callum will be here. Will Callum be here tomorrow?
You have been working. Have you been working hard?
The church was built in ... When was the church built?
  • Will Callum be here tomorrow?
  • Have you been working hard?
  • When was the church built?
  • Is Fatima working today? (not Is working Fatima)

Point A · Exercise 49.3 · part 1 of 3

Put the words in the right order to make a question.

  1. Example

    (when / was / built / this bridge?)

    When was this bridge built?

    AnswerWhen was this bridge built?

  2. (how / chocolate / is / made?)

  3. (why / Martin / working / isn't / today?)

  4. (what time / arriving / your cousins / are?)

  5. (why / was / cancelled / the match?)

Point A · Exercise 49.3 · part 2 of 3

Put the words in the right order to make a question.

  1. (when / invented / the telephone / was?)

  2. (where / your grandparents / were / born?)

  3. (why / you / to the meeting / didn't / come?)

  4. (how / the fire / did / start?)

Point A · Exercise 49.3 · part 3 of 3

Put the words in the right order to make a question.

  1. (why / hungry / you / aren't?)

  2. (how many / play / can / instruments / you?)

Point B of 4

do, does, did, and when not to use them

Present simple questions take do or does; past simple questions take did.

But do not use do, does or did when who, what and so on is the subject of the sentence.

Kerry rang somebody. Who is the object: Who did Kerry ring?

Somebody rang Kerry. Who is the subject: Who rang Kerry?

  • Do you live round here?
  • What time does the match kick off?
  • Did you sell your bike in the end?
  • Why did the bus stop?
  • Who did Kerry ring?
  • Who rang Kerry?
  • Who wants a bacon sandwich? (not Who does want)
  • What went wrong at the meeting? (not What did go wrong)
  • How many people turned up? (not did turn up)
  • Which bus goes to the hospital? (not does go)

Point B · Exercise 49.1 · part 1 of 2

Ask Sandra questions, using the words in brackets. Her answers follow.

  1. Example

    (where / live?) Sandra: In Swansea.

    Where do you live?

    AnswerWhere do you live? In Swansea.

  2. (grow up there?) Sandra: No, I grew up in Plymouth.

  3. (married?) Sandra: Yes.

  4. (how long?) Sandra: Twenty-two years.

  5. (what / do?) Sandra: I'm a paramedic.

Point B · Exercise 49.1 · part 2 of 2

Ask Sandra questions, using the words in brackets. Her answers follow.

  1. (what / husband / do?) Sandra: He's a postman.

  2. (children?) Sandra: Yes, two girls.

  3. (how old?) Sandra: Nine and thirteen.

Point C of 4

Prepositions at the end

In questions beginning who, what, which, where, the preposition usually goes at the end.

In very formal style you can use preposition + whom. Outside a solicitor's letter, you will rarely need it.

  • Where are you from?
  • What was the hotel like?
  • Who are you waiting for?
  • Which course has Ellie applied for?
  • To whom should I address the complaint?

Point C · Extra practice

Make questions with the preposition at the end.

  1. You are waiting for somebody. Who ?

  2. You're from somewhere. Where ?

  3. The hotel was nice or not. What ?

Point D of 4

Negative questions

Negative questions show surprise, or say we expect the listener to agree.

Note what yes and no mean in the answers: "Don't you want to come?" "Yes." (I do want to come.) "No." (I don't.)

Negative questions are common with Why ... ?

  • Didn't you hear the door? I knocked three times.
  • "Haven't we met somewhere before?" "Yes, I think we have."
  • Why don't we get a takeaway tonight? (not Why we don't get)
  • Why wasn't Josh at school yesterday? (not Why Josh wasn't)

Point D · Exercise 49.4

Write negative questions from the words in brackets. You are surprised each time.

  1. Example

    A: Kayleigh won't be at the pub tonight. B: Really? (she / not / come?)

    Isn't she coming?

    AnswerReally? Isn't she coming?

  2. A: I hope we don't bump into Aiden tonight. B: Why? (you / not / like / him?)

  3. A: Don't bother with that restaurant. B: Why not? (it / not / good?)

  4. A: I'll have to borrow a tenner. B: Why? (you / not / have / any money?)

Put it together · Exercise 49.2 · part 1 of 3

Make questions with who or what.

  1. Example

    Somebody pushed me.

    Who pushed you?

    AnswerWho pushed you?

  2. Example

    I pushed somebody.

    Who did you push?

    AnswerWho did you push?

  3. Somebody paid for the drinks.

  4. I'm worried about something.

  5. Something happened.

  6. Gemma said something.

Put it together · Exercise 49.2 · part 2 of 3

Make questions with who or what.

  1. This umbrella belongs to somebody.

  2. Somebody lives in the flat upstairs.

  3. I tripped over something.

  4. Something fell off the roof.

Put it together · Exercise 49.2 · part 3 of 3

Make questions with who or what.

  1. This sign means something.

  2. Ben was with somebody.

  3. I'm looking for something.

  4. Ella reminds me of somebody.

Lesson 49 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: Questions 2 (do you know where ... ? / he asked me where ...)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. Subject after the first verb–Not checkedB. do, does, did, and when not to use them–Not checkedC. Prepositions at the end–Not checkedD. Negative questions–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked