Archive for March, 2015

How to make questions when there is no auxiliary verb

March 22nd, 2015 in English Learning

Forming questions can be tricky when the statement does not contain auxiliary verbs.

Study the examples given below:

Mike likes chocolates. (Statement)

This sentence is in the simple present tense. It does not have an auxiliary verb. To change this statement into a question we use the auxiliary verb do or does.

Note that do is used with plural nouns and pronouns. The singular pronoun ‘I’ also take the auxiliary ‘do’.

Does is used with singular nouns and pronouns.

Does Mike like chocolates? (NOT Does Mike likes chocolates?)

They live in the same town. (Statement)
Do they live in the same town? (Question)

Here we use do because the subject is a plural pronoun.

I like western music. (Statement)
Do you like western music? (Question)

He complimented her on her looks. (Statement)

This statement is in the simple past tense. When we change it into a question, we use did as the first word. Note that did is used with both singular and plural nouns and pronouns.

Did he compliment her on her looks? (Question) (NOT Did he complimented her on her looks?) Did + compliment = complimented

I saw him yesterday. (Statement)
Did you see him yesterday? (Question)

She went to the theater last night. (Statement)
Did she go to the theater last night? (NOT Did she went to the theater last night?)

Susie called James in the morning. (Statement)
Did Susie call James in the morning? (Question) (NOT Did Susie called James in the morning?)