Questions with do/does/did

A1 — Sentence structure

The full question machine: yes/no and wh-questions across present and past, word order QASV

I can build yes/no and wh-questions in present and past with the QASV pattern.

The full question machine: yes/no and wh-questions across present and past, word order QASV

Examples

What did you think of the match? — Honestly? We deserved to lose. — What did you think of the match? — Honestly? We deserved to lose.
Who left the window open? — Nobody. The wind did it. — Who left the window open? — Nobody. The wind did it.

Sentence structureA1

Questions with do/does/did

The full question machine: yes/no and wh-questions across present and past, word order QASV

Learning Goal

I can build yes/no and wh-questions in present and past with the QASV pattern.

Exam Skills:A2 Key Speaking

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

What did you think of the match? — Honestly? We deserved to lose.

What did you think of the match? — Honestly? We deserved to lose.

Who left the window open? — Nobody. The wind did it.

Who left the window open? — Nobody. The wind did it.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

One pattern rules all questions: (Question word) + Auxiliary + Subject + Verb:

Q	A	S	V
—	Do	you	like jazz?
Where	does	she	work?
When	did	they	arrive?

Exception: questions about the subject take no auxiliary: Who called you? (not *Who did call). With be, invert instead: Where is she?

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Intonation-only questions: *You like jazz? (casual only) → Do you like jazz?
*Where works she? → Where does she work?
*Who did call you? → Who called you? (subject question)

Common Error Patterns

Auxiliary missing in questions

QASV: Do you...? Where does she...?

Auxiliary in subject questions

Who called? What happened? — no did

What did you think of the match? — Honestly? We deserved to lose.

Wh-question with did + base form think.

Who left the window open? — Nobody. The wind did it.

Subject question without auxiliary.

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course

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Put it into practice

Try a free exercise from the course

Frequently asked questions

When is Questions with do/does/did used?: One pattern rules all questions: (Question word) + Auxiliary + Subject + Verb :
How is Questions with do/does/did formed?: Exception: questions about the subject take no auxiliary: Who called you? (not *Who did call). With be, invert instead: Where is she?
What are common mistakes with Questions with do/does/did?: Intonation-only questions: *You like jazz? (casual only) → Do you like jazz? *Where works she? → Where does she work? *Who did call you? → Who called you? (subject question)

—

you

like jazz?

Where

does

she

work?

When

did

they

arrive?

Frequently asked questions

When is Questions with do/does/did used?

One pattern rules all questions: (Question word) + Auxiliary + Subject + Verb :

How is Questions with do/does/did formed?

Exception: questions about the subject take no auxiliary: Who called you? (not *Who did call). With be, invert instead: Where is she?

What are common mistakes with Questions with do/does/did?

Intonation-only questions: *You like jazz? (casual only) → Do you like jazz? *Where works she? → Where does she work? *Who did call you? → Who called you? (subject question)