Question formation
Yes/No questions
WH-questions:
Who-person
What-object, idea, action
When- time
Where-place
Why-reason
How-manner
Yes/No questions + to be
Put the verb before the subject
 Statement
 I am responsible.
 That is a big
mistake.
 They are gone.
 _____________
 Question
 Am I responsible?
 Is that a big
mistake?
 ______________?
 Are they at work?
Wh-question+to be: put verb
before subject and add Wh-word
 Statement
 That is a new book.
 Question
 What is that?
Other words can be used about
specific information









Which (one)- choice of alternative
Whose-possession
Whom-person (object formal)
How much-price, amount (noncount)
How many-price, amount (count)
How long-duration
How often frequency
How far-distance
What kind (of)-description
Subject pattern: topic asked about
is the subject of a sentence
 Replace the person or thing asked
about with the correct wh-word
 (someone has my baseball)

Who has my baseball?
 (something is bothering you)

What is bothering you?
practice
Predicate pattern: with auxiliary
verb in original sentence
 Sentences with auxiliary verbs:
 1. form yes/no question: invert word
order
 2. add wh-word
(
you will leave some time)
 1.
will you leave
 2. When will you leave?
More examples

He is doing something

is he doing
 What is he doing?

They have been somewhere

have they been
 Where have they been?
Predicate pattern with no auxiliary
and the verb “to be”
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1. invert subject and verb
2. add wh-word
He is someone
is he
Who is he?
The meeting was some time
was the meeting
When was the meeting?