Unit 49. Questions 1.
Unit 49; Part A
In questions we usually put the subject after the first verb:| subject + verb | verb + subject | ||
| • Will Tom be here tomorrow? • Have you been working hard? • When was the house built? | ||
Remember that the subject comes after the first verb:
• Is Catherine working today? (not Is working Catherine)
Unit 49; Part B
In present simple questions, we use do/does:
| • Do you live near here? • What time does the film begin? | |
| In past simple questions, we use did: | ||
| • Did you sell your car? • Why did the train stop? | |
But do not use do/does/did if who/what etc. is the subject of the sentence. Compare:  | ||
In these examples, who / what etc. is the subject: • Who wants something to eat? (not Who does want) • What happened to you last night? (not What did happen) • How many people came to the meeting? (not did come) • Which bus goes to the centre? (not does go) | ||
Unit 49; Part C
Note the position of prepositions in questions beginning Who/What/Which/Where ... ?:• Who do you want to speak to?
• Which job has Ann applied for?
• Where are you from?
• What was the weather like yesterday?
You can use preposition + whom in formal style:
• To whom do you wish to speak?
Unit 49; Part D
Isn't it ... ? / Didn't you ... ? etc. (negative questions)We use negative questions especially to show surprise:
• Didn't you hear the doorbell? I rang it three times.
or when we expect the listener to agree with us:
• 'Haven't we met somewhere before?' 'Yes, I think we have.'
Note the meaning of yes and no in answers to negative questions:
| • Don't you want to go to the party? | Yes. (= Yes, I want to go) No. (= No, I don't want to go) |
Note the word order in negative questions beginning Why ... ?:
• Why don't we go out for a meal tonight? (not Why we don't go)
• Why wasn't Mary at work yesterday? (not Why Mary wasn't)
Exercises
 Ask Joe questions. (Look at his answers before you write the questions.)Key.2 Were you born there? 3 Are you married? 4 How long have you been married? 5 Have you got (any) children? or Do you have (any) children? 6 How old are they? 7 What do you do? 8 What does your wife do?  |
Put the words in brackets in the correct order. All the sentences are questions.Key.2 How is cheese made?
3 When was the computer invented?
4 Why isn't Sue working today?
5 What time are your friends coming?
6 Why was the concert cancelled?
7 Where was your mother born?
8 Why didn't you come to the party?
9 How did the accident happen?
10 Why doesn't this machine work ?
| 1 (when / was / built / this house) 2 (how / cheese / is / made) 3 (when / invented / the computer / was) 4 (why / Sue / working / isn't / today) 5 (what time / coming / your friends / are) 6 (why / was / cancelled / the concert) 7 (where / your mother / was / born) 8 (why / you / to the party / didn't / come) 9 (how / the accident / did / happen) 10(why / this machine / doesn't / work) | When was this house built? ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ |
Write negative questions from the words in brackets. In each situation you are surprised.Key.2 Don't you like him?
3 Isn't it good?
4 Haven't you got any? or Don't you have any?
1 A: We won't see Liz this evening.
B: Why not? (she / not / come / to the party?) Isn't she coming to the party?
2 A: I hope we don't meet David tonight.
B: Why? (you / not / like / him?) ________________________________
3 A: Don't go and see that film.
B: Why not? (it / not / good?) ________________________________
4 A: I'll have to borrow some money.
B: Why? (you / not / have / any?) ________________________________
 | Unit 48 Unit 49 Unit 50 |  |