0071594973.pdf

The previous chart shows an affirmative statement formed
in two ways. The most common way uses only a main verb.
Occasionally, both to do and a main verb are used. When
using do or does, you add emphasis to your statement. The
first four examples in each section — all statements — illustrate
the subject in the first position.

Questions that require only a “yes” or “no” answer

are called direct questions. These are common

in everyday language.

When forming direct questions, the subject Ben or we is placed
after the helping verb do or does. Use the present tense form
of to do (do or does) for present tense questions. Use the past
tense form did for anything that happened yesterday. The last
two examples in each section — all direct questions — illustrate
the subject in the second position.

Look at the following examples showing how other main and
helping verbs use the same pattern as the helping verb to do.

Questions Beginning with a Question Marker

Like direct questions, most questions that begin with a question
marker, such as what,why,when, and how, follow inverted
word order. The question becomes an information question that
needs a more detailed answer than “yes” or “no.” The subject
in an information question appears after the helping verb.

Is: main verb in present tense

Were: main verb in past tense

Has: helping verb +written:

main verb past participle

Can: helping verb +eat:

main verb base form

Is Jake in the pool?

Were you the winner?

Hashewritten a book?

Can weeat now?

Examples: What kind of verb starts the question?

the manager

Maria

we

did

does

do

What

Why

When

fix

study

eat

?

?

?

Helping

Verb

Question

Marker Subject Main Verb

Inverted Order