Word Order In Questions
Look at the following example sentences. The auxiliary verb is printed in bold in each statement.
She can swim very well.
He should go to bed earlier.
I didn't go to the party last night.
We are working on a new project.
She was at home.
In a positive sentence, if we cannot see the auxiliary verb, it's usually because the auxiliary verb is either "do", "does", or "did". These auxiliaries are not usually written in positive statements.
I usually wake up at 7:30. (The auxiliary verb is "do", but it's hidden.)
It rained a lot yesterday. (The auxiliary is "did", but we don’t see it.)
To make yes/no questions, we usually place the auxiliary verb before the subject.
Can she swim well?
Should he go to bed earlier?
Didn't you go to the party last night? // Did you not go to the party last night?
Are you working on a new project?
Was she at home?
Do you usually wake up at 7:30?
Did it rain a lot yesterday?
To ask a W/H question, we follow a similar pattern. We start with a W/H question word (e.g. where, when, what ...), then we put the auxiliary verb before the subject.
How can she swim?
Where did you go last night?
What are you working on?
Where was she?
What time do you usually wake up?
Exercises
Put the words in the right order to make questions.
1.usually up get you time what do?
What time do you usually get up?
2.work does she where?
Where does she work?
3.last did arrive when he night?
When did he arrive last night?
4.is your where phone?
Where is your phone?
5.can the help me weekend you on?
Can you help me on the weekend?
6.go didn't why you party the to?
Why didn't you go to the party?
7.they live here do near?
Do they live near here?
8.now should him I email?
Should I email him now?