“I’m not thrilled about answering questions like ‘If you were being

mugged*, and you had a light sabre in one pocket and a whip in the
other, which one would you use’”
Harrison Ford, US actor

*To be mugged:
GRAMMAR BITE! Question Formation: Auxiliaries
Look at these questions:

1. How do you relax?

2. What is your earliest memory?

Is there an auxiliary verb in both questions? Why?

GRAMMAR BITE! Question Formation: Auxiliaries
Look at these questions:

1. How do you relax?

2. What is your earliest memory?

Is there an auxiliary verb in both questions? Why?

Only in question 1. because question 2. is what we call a subject
question (when Who/ What/ Which, etc., is the subject of the
question, we DON’T use an auxiliary)
GRAMMAR BITE! Question Formation: Prepositions
Look at these questions:

1. About what are you thinking?

2. What are you thinking about?

Only ONE of these questions is correct. Which one? Why?

GRAMMAR BITE! Question Formation: Prepositions
Look at these questions:

1. About what are you thinking?

2. What are you thinking about?

Only ONE of these questions is correct. Which one? Why?

Number 2. is correct. Remeber that prepositions always come
at the end of the question, not at the beginning.
GRAMMAR BITE! Question Formation: Indirect questions #1

Look at this direct question: where is the supermarket?

Now look at these 2 indirect questions:

1. Could you tell me where the supermarket is?

2. Could you tell me where is the supermarket?

Only ONE of these questions is correct. Which one? Why?

GRAMMAR BITE! Question Formation: Indirect questions #1
Look at this direct question: where is the supermarket?

Now look at these 2 indirect questions:

1. Could you tell me where the supermarket is?

2. Could you tell me where is the supermarket?

Only ONE of these questions is correct. Which one? Why?

Numer 1 is correct. Remember that in indirect questions the order is
always subject + verb.
GRAMMAR BITE! Question Formation: Indirect questions #2

Look at this direct question: where does he live?

Now look at these 2 indirect questions:

1. Do you know where he does live?

2. Do you know where he lives?

Only ONE of these questions is correct. Which one? Why?

GRAMMAR BITE! Question Formation: Indirect questions #2

Look at this direct question: where does he live?

Now look at these 2 indirect questions:

1. Do you know where he does live?

2. Do you know where he lives?

Only ONE of these questions is correct. Which one? Why?

Numer 2. is correct because in indirect questions we DON’T use
auxiliaries in the second part of the question.
GRAMMAR BITE! Question Formation: Indirect questions #3

Some common expressions to form indirect questions are:

- I wonder… (I wonder why they didn’t come)
- I’m not sure… (I’m not sure what time it starts)
- I can’t remember… (I can’t remember where I put my keys)
- I want to know… (I want to know what time you’re coming home)
- Do you have any idea… (Do you have any idea if James is at home?)
Right or wrong? Decide if the sentences in blue are right or wrong. If they are
wrong, correct them.
1. A. You have been to Greece?
B. Yes, a couple of times.
2. A. Why didn’t you tell me the truth?
B. Because I thought you would be angry.
3. A. What did happen at the meeting yesterday?
B. Nothing really, it was very boring.
4. A. Can you tell me where are the toilets?
B. They’re down the stairs on the right.
5. A. Do you know what time does the swimming pool open on Sundays?
B. It opens at 10.00 am.
6. A. Can you remember when is Sally’s birthday?
B. It’s next Monday!!