Questions with do/does/did
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.
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?
- 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.
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.
Who left the window open? — Nobody. The wind did it.
Subject question without auxiliary.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises