Formation of Questions with Auxiliary Verbs and Modal Verbs

Question Formation

• We make questions with tenses using auxiliary verbs (be, have, etc.) and modal verbs (should, must, etc.) by inverting the subject and the auxiliary/modal verb.
• With the present and past simple, we add the auxiliary verb do/does or did before the subject.

Types of Questions

• Negative questions are used to show surprise when we expect somebody to agree with us, or to check whether something is true.
• Indirect questions are used to ask a question in a more polite way, beginning with a phrase such as Can/Could you tell me...?, Do you know...?, etc.

Word Order

• In indirect questions, the order is subject + verb.
• We don't use do/did in the second part of the question.
• If a verb is normally followed by a preposition, the preposition comes at the end of the question, not at the beginning.
• When who/what/which, etc., is the subject of questions in the present or past simple, we don't use do/did.

Grammar Bank

• Indirect questions start with a phrase such as Can/Could you tell me...?, Do you know...?, etc.
• Compare: direct question (What time does the post office open?) and indirect question (Could you tell me what time the post office opens?).
• We can use if or whether in questions without a question word and after: Can you tell me, Do you know, etc.

Examples

• Can you tell me what time the shop next door opens?
• Do you know if (whether) Mark's coming to the meeting?
• I wonder why they didn't come.
• I'm not sure what time it starts.
• I can't remember where I left my phone.
• I'd like to know what time you're coming home.

Exercise

• Order the words to make questions:
  • Why can't you come tomorrow?
  • How long have you known your best friend?
  • Could you tell me when the next train leaves?
  • What are you thinking about?
  • What do you like doing at the weekend?
  • What kind of music does Jane like listening to?
• Complete the questions with the words in brackets:
  • Where did you go on holiday last year? (you / go)
  • How often do you exercise? (you usually do)
  • Who wrote Oliver Twist? (write)
  • Could you tell me how much this costs? (this / my car / this)