Questions: Word order

We can also use a negative question to show surprise or

annoyance.
To make a question, we need to invert the subject and the
auxiliary (be, have, etc.) or the modal verb (can, could, should,  Didn’t you like the film? I think it was amazing.
etc.). If there isn’t a modal or auxiliary verb in the sentence, we
 Haven’t you finished your composition? I gave you two
use do/does with the present or did with the past.
weeks to do it.
Questions followed by a preposition
When we use a negative question without the contracted form of
In informal or spoken English, when a question word needs a the verb, we should put not after the subject.
preposition, we put the preposition at the end of the question
 Did you not enjoy the trip?
(after the verb or after verb + object if there is an object). We
don’t use the preposition at the beginning.  Has he not returned your calls yet?
 What are you talking about? Subject questions
 Who do you live with?
In more formal English, prepositions can be used before question
words. Compare:
 Who did she talk to? (Informal)
 To whom did she talk? (More formal)
❗ Note that we use whom instead of who after a preposition.
Negative questions
We use a negative verb in questions to ask the listener for
confirmation about something that we think is true.
 Don’t you have work to do?
 Haven’t you already been there?
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Questions: Word order
 Which company won the contract?
 What scares you most in life?
 How many people went to class yesterday?
This rule applies specifically to the present and past
simple tenses. For other tenses (present continuous, present
perfect, etc), where the auxiliary verb is part of the verb form, we
include the auxiliary verbs in subject questions.
 Who is cooking dinner tonight?
 Who has eaten all the cookies?
Indirect or embedded questions.

In the present and past simple tenses, when we ask about the
subject of a sentence with question words such
as who, what, which, or how much/many, we don’t
use do/does or did after the question word (we don’t invert
subject and auxiliary verb).
 Who called you last night?

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Questions: Word order
 Could you tell me what time it is? (indirect question)
In indirect questions, the order is subject + verb.
 Do you know where can I find a bank?
 Do you know where I can find a bank?
 Can you tell me what time do the shops close?
 Can you tell me what time the shops close?
There are other expressions that follow the same rule:
 I don’t know what he is doing here.
 I wonder when he will find the truth.
 I’m not sure when I can come.
 I’d like to know where you left the documents.
For yes-no questions (when there is NO question word), we can
use both if or whether.
 Do you know if/whether he’ll be here soon?

We normally use indirect questions when we want to be more

polite. We begin the question with expressions such as Can you
tell me …? Could you tell me …? Do you know …? Would
you mind telling me … ?
 What time is it? (direct question)
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Questions: Word order
EXERCISE 5When we arrived, somebody had stolen the bag. Who
______?
Exercise 2
[Link] he stolen the bag
Choose the correct forms to complete the questions below.
[Link] the bag
1I don’t know why ______.
[Link] stolen the bag
[Link] accident happened
6Who ______?
[Link] the accident happen
[Link] tell you that
[Link] the accident
[Link] you that
2Who ______?
[Link] told that
[Link] has been writing to
7What ______?
[Link] he been writing to
[Link] you waiting
[Link] been writing to
[Link]'re waiting for
3Why ______? Choose TWO correct options
[Link] you waiting for
[Link] he not got any money
8Do you know ______ ?
[Link] not he got any money
[Link] he will come or not
[Link]'t he got any money
[Link] will he come or not
4I’m wondering what country ______.
[Link] will he come or not
[Link] has been to
9You shouldn't be watching TV. ______?
[Link] he been to
[Link]'t you have work to do
[Link] he been

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Questions: Word order
[Link] do not have work to do 6It took them 2 hours to get to Rome. to get
[Link] you haven't work to do to Rome?

10Who _____ in the last election? 7I’m looking for a new dress. What ?
[Link] you vote
8He never does his homework. What ?
[Link] you vote for
9I'm thinking about the new neighbour. I'd like to know
[Link] you what .
Exercise 3
10That thing is my new bag. Can you tell me
Ask questions about the underlined words in these ?
sentences.
EXAMPLE: He went to Italy with his family. ⇒ Who did
……………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………
he go to Italy with? ……………………………………………………………..

1He’s travelled to 50 countries. How ? ……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………
22,000 people protested against the reforms. ……………………………………………………………..
How against the reforms?
……………………………………………………………
3They couldn’t finish the final report. What ……………………………………………………………
? ……………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………
4He’s been posting on his blog every day. on
……………………………………………………………
his blog?
……………………………………………………………..
5They’ve been listening to their
……………………………………………………………
teacher. Who ? …………………………………………………………..
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