Syntax
Questions
Questions using
the verb to be are formed by inverting the subject
and the verb.
| Affirmative |
She is Cuban. |
| Question |
Is she Cuban? |
Questions using other verbs are formed with an auxiliary verb (do
or did) before the subject.
| Affirmative |
You like pizza. |
| Question |
Do you like pizza? |
| Affirmative |
She likes pizza. |
| Question |
Does she like pizza?
NOT: Does she likes pizza?
|
| Affirmative |
You started work yesterday. |
| Question |
Did you start
work yesterday?
NOT: Did you started work
yesterday? |
Questions using other auxiliary verbs are formed by inverting the subject
and auxiliary verb.
| Affirmative |
She is swimming. |
| Question |
Is she swimming? |
| Affirmative |
He has been to Japan. |
| Question |
Has he been to Japan? |
| Affirmative |
She can swim. |
| Question |
Can she swim? |
| Affirmative |
It will be hot. |
| Question |
Will it be hot? |
If the answer to a question is yes
or no, the question starts with an auxiliary
verb or the verb be.
- Did you like the
movie?
- Are you Chilean?
If you want more information, the question starts with a question word like
who, where, what,
when, which, why
or how.
- What are you doing?
- Who did you see?
- Where do you work?