A positive sentence can be changed into a question by switching the subject and the verb. Put the subject after the first verb:
For “be” verbs, we have:
I am hungry. ==> Am I hungry?
John is tall. ==> Is John tall?
We are coming. ==> Are we coming?
The children were playing. ==> Were the children playing?
For modal verbs that are not forms of the verb “be,” we have:
I have read that book. ==> Have I read that book?
Mary has eaten breakfast. ==> Has Mary eaten breakfast?
I will go to the library. ==> Will I go to the library?
Max can speak French. ==> Can Max speak French?
We could go to Tom’s wedding. ==> Could we go to Tom’s wedding?
Bob should go to bed early. ==> Should Bob go to bed early?
I would like to visit Switzerland. ==> Would I like to visit Switzerland?
I must wake up Father. ==> Must I wake up Father?
For “do” verbs:
Simple present:
Do I / we / you / they + V (inf.)…?
Does he / she / it + V (inf.)…?
Simple past:
Did I / we / you / he / she / it / they + V (inf.)…?
I work on Tuesdays. ==> Do I work on Tuesdays?
That restaurant has the best coffee. ==> Does that restaurant have the best coffee?
Tom wants to go to Disneyworld. ==> Does Tom want to go to Disneyworld?
Jane likes pumpkin pie. ==> Does Jane like pumpkin pie?
I ate an apple. ==> Did I eat an apple?
Mother baked a cake. ==> Did Mother bake a cake?
We had a good time. ==> Did we have a good time?
If “do” is the main verb of the sentence, we still use the Do/Does/Did…? pattern:
I do my homework every day. ==> Do I do my homework every day?
Jack does the laundry on the weekend. ==> Does Jack do the laundry on the weekend?
Peter did as he was told. ==> Did Peter do as he was told?
Oftentimes, we make a negative question using “Why” + a negative:
Why isn’t…?
Why don’t…?
Why can’t…? etc.
Why isn’t the elevator working?
Why don’t you take a rest?
Why can’t Jack come to the party?
Why didn’t you call me last night?
Exercise. Turn the following sentences into questions.
Example:
The soup was hot. ==> Was the soup hot?
1. Mom can knit mittens for the bazaar.
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2. I am going to the concert.
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3. You must be careful.
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4. We were late for the bus.
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5. You should let your sister clean your room.
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6. The baby was afraid of the elephant.
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7. I will wash the car.
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8. Dick and Jane have been to Canada.
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9. Sheri is sweeping the sidewalk.
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10. Mr. Smith has written a book.
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11. Tom, Dick, and Harry are staying after school.
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12. Jack could see the scar on the man’s forehead.
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13. I would like to take Mr. Jones’ class.
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Exercise. Turn the following sentences into questions. Use Do / Does / Did…?
Example:
Max plays the saxophone. ==> Does Max play the saxophone?
1. Mark has a black cat.
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2. The car got a flat tire.
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3. Sally and Mary grow watermelons in their backyard.
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4. The dogs barked all night.
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5. The refrigerator works now.
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6. Hank fixes our car.
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7. I went to the bank.
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8. The choir sings the national anthem.
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9. The barber cut my hair.
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10. Father made breakfast in bed for Mother.
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