Subject/object questions
A2 ElementarySubject and object questions differ in whether the question word refers to the person performing the action or the person receiving it. Subject questions do not use auxiliary verbs like 'do' or 'does'.
Overview
In English, the structure of a question depends on whether you are asking about the subject (the person or thing doing the action) or the object (the person or thing receiving the action). Subject questions follow the word order of a statement, while object questions require an auxiliary verb.
Subject vs. Object Questions
Use subject questions when the answer is the subject of the sentence. Use object questions when the answer is the object of the sentence.
| Question Type | Focus | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | The 'doer' | Wh- word + Verb | Who called you? |
| Object | The 'receiver' | Wh- word + do/does/did + Subject + Verb | Who did you call? |
Forming Subject Questions
Who/What + Verb (in the correct tense) + Object?
Subject questions use the same word order as a positive statement. You do not use do, does, or did. The question word (Who, What, Which) acts as the subject.
Examples
Common mistakes
Who did see you?
Who saw you?
Do not use 'did' in a subject question. The question word is the subject, so it follows statement word order.
Who you saw?
Who did you see?
Object questions must use an auxiliary verb like 'do', 'does', or 'did'.
Practice
Make a question for the underlined part: '___ (Someone) called me.'
Show answer
Who called you?
Answer:Who called you?
Why:This is a subject question because we are asking about the person who performed the action. No auxiliary 'did' is needed.
Make a question for the underlined part: 'I saw ___ (someone) at the park.'
Show answer
Who did you see at the park?
Answer:Who did you see at the park?
Why:This is an object question because 'someone' is the object of the verb 'saw'. We must use the auxiliary 'did'.
Correct the error: 'What did happen at the meeting?'
Show answer
What happened at the meeting?
Answer:What happened at the meeting?
Why:When 'What' is the subject of the sentence, we do not use the auxiliary 'did'.