What Are Subject and Object Questions?
Many wh- questions use do, does or did: Where do you work? What did you eat? One kind does not.
The subject does the action and comes before the verb. The object receives it and comes after the verb.
SUBJECT QUESTIONAnswer: Minh told me.
Who takes the place of Minh, before the verb.
Who told you that?
OBJECT QUESTIONAnswer: I told my mum.
Who takes the place of my mum, after the verb.
Who did you tell?
When who or what is the subject, there is no do, does or did.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"Who blank the light on in the kitchen?"
- Question 2
"Who blank to your party?" "I invited Lan and Hoa."
The forms
SUBJECT QUESTION
Who / Whatverb…?
What happened to your phone?
The verb looks the same as in the answer: past form, or -s in the present.
OBJECT QUESTION
Who / Whatdo / does / didSbase verb?
What did the doctor say?
Normal question order, like every other wh- question.
WHICH / WHOSE / HOW MANY + NOUN
Which + nounverb…?
Whose dog barked all night?
The whole phrase is the subject. Still no did.
With be and can, nothing changes: Who's coming tonight? Who can help me?
Who wrote this? Hoa wrote it. · What did Hoa write? She wrote a poem.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"Who blank next to you at work?"
When to use them
Finding out who did it
Who ate my yoghurt?
Someone has emptied the fridge. Asking who did something is the classic subject question.
Asking a group
I'm ordering. Who wants a bubble tea?
Buying drinks for the office. Present simple, so wants has -s.
Common verbs: wants · needs · knows · has
Common mistakes
Incorrect:What did happen at the party?
Correct:What happened at the party?
What is the subject of happened. No did.
Incorrect:Who did break the window?
Correct:Who broke the window?
The answer is 'Nam broke it'. Drop did and use the past form.
Incorrect:Who live in that house?
Correct:Who lives in that house?
In the present simple, a verb after who ends in -s.
Incorrect:Who you called yesterday?
Correct:Who did you call yesterday?
You made the call, so who is the object. Keep did.
Incorrect:Who does Lan likes?
Correct:Who does Lan like?
Does already has the -s. Use the base verb.
Quick check · 5 questions
Choose the correct form:
Who taught you to swim?
- A. taught — Correct
- B. did teach
- C. did taught
Answer: A. taught
The answer is "My dad taught me." No did. Use the past form: taught.
Choose the correct question:
What did you have for breakfast?
- A. did you have — Correct
- B. you had
- C. had you
Answer: A. did you have
An object question uses did and normal question order: did + you + base verb.
Choose the correct verb:
Who does the cooking in your house?
- A. does — Correct
- B. do
- C. is do
Answer: A. does
Here does is the main verb (do the cooking). Present simple, so it ends in -s.
Choose the correct question:
Who does Hà need to see at the hospital?
- A. does Hà need — Correct
- B. Hà needs
- C. does Hà needs
Answer: A. does Hà need
Use does + subject + base verb. The -s is on does, so need has none.
Choose the correct form:
How many people watched the concert on Saturday?
- A. watched — Correct
- B. did watch
- C. did they watch
Answer: A. watched
The whole phrase comes before the verb, as in "Two thousand people watched it." No did.
See whether it really stuck.
Start the quiz · 14 questions