Subject vs Object Questions
When the question word is the subject (who or what does the action), no auxiliary is needed and word order stays like a statement. When it is the object, the usual question form with an auxiliary applies.
Level B1
Questions
Summary
- When the question word is the subject (who or what does the action), no auxiliary is needed and word order stays like a statement. When it is the object, the usual question form with an auxiliary applies.
Structure
subject question: who/what + verb? | object question: who/what + auxiliary + subject + verb?
Examples
- Who called you? (subject)
- Who did you call? (object)
- What happened? (subject)
- What did she say? (object)
Common mistakes
- • Adding 'did' to subject questions, e.g. 'Who did call you?' instead of 'Who called you?'.
- • Dropping the auxiliary in object questions, e.g. 'Who you called?' instead of 'Who did you call?'.
More questions
Question Words
A1
Question words (who, what, where, when, why, how, which, whose) start information questions. They come before the auxiliary verb and subject.
Yes/No Questions
A1
Yes/no questions ask whether something is true and expect a yes or no answer. Form them by putting the auxiliary or 'be' before the subject.
Question Tags
B1
Question tags are short questions added to the end of statements to check information or invite agreement. A positive statement takes a negative tag, and a negative statement takes a positive tag.