Questions: do-support and word order
English questions put an auxiliary (do, does, did, be, have, can, will…) before the subject. If there is no other auxiliary, add do, does or did. When who or what is the subject, there is no do.
How it works
- Question word + auxiliary + subject + main verb: Where do you live? What is she reading? When will they arrive?
- No other auxiliary? Use do/does/did, and the main verb goes back to the base form: Where does he work? (not works) What did you buy? (not bought)
- Be and modal verbs move in front of the subject on their own: Are you tired? Can she drive? Is it far?
- Negative questions: Why didn't she come? Why aren't you eating? (not Why she didn't come?)
- Subject questions: when who or what is the subject, keep normal order and use no do: Who called you? What happened? Compare: Who did you call? (you is the subject)
- A preposition usually goes at the end: Who are you waiting for? Where are you from?
Examples
Where do your parents live?
What time did the meeting finish?
Why didn't you call me last night?
Who told you about this café?
Who are you waiting for?
Can your brother come to the party?
Common mistakes
Wrong: Where you live?
Right: Where do you live?
Wrong: Why
she didn'tcome?Right: Why didn't she come?
Wrong: What did you
bought?Right: What did you buy?
Wrong: Who
did callyou?Right: Who called you?
Practice
1 of 16Fill the gap.
Level: EGP Questions: yes/no and wh-questions with do are A1–A2; control of word order in negative why-questions, questions ending in a preposition and subject questions (Who called?) is B1. Written for Gloss.