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Exercise. Turn the following sentences into questions.

Example:

The soup was hot. ==> Was the soup hot?

1. Mom can knit mittens for the bazaar.
Can Mom knit mittens for the bazaar?

2. I am going to the concert.
Am I going to the concert?

3. You must be careful.
Must you be careful?

4. We were late for the bus.
Were we late for the bus?

5. You should let your sister clean your room.
Should you let your sister clean your room?

6. The baby was afraid of the elephant.
Was the baby afraid of the elephant?

7. I will wash the car.
Will I wash the car?

8. Dick and Jane have been to Canada.
Have Dick and Jane been to Canada?

9. Sheri is sweeping the sidewalk.
Is Sheri sweeping the sidewalk?

10. Mr. Smith has written a book.
Has Mr. Smith written a book?

11. Tom, Dick, and Harry are staying after school.
Are Tom, Dick, and Harry staying after school?

12. Jack could see the scar on the man’s forehead.
Could Jack see the scar on the man’s forehead?

13. I would like to take Mr. Jones’ class.
Would I like to take Mr. Jones’ class?

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.
Does Mark have a black cat?

2. The car got a flat tire.
Did the car get a flat tire?

3. Sally and Mary grow watermelons in their backyard.
Do Sally and Mary grow watermelons in their backyard?

4. The dogs barked all night.
Did the dogs bark all night?

5. The refrigerator works now.
Does the refrigerator work now?

6. Hank fixes our car.
Does Hank fix our car?

7. I went to the bank.
Did I go to the bank?

8. The choir sings the national anthem.
Does the choir sing the national anthem?

9. The barber cut my hair.
Did the barber cut my hair?

10. Father made breakfast in bed for Mother.
Did Father make breakfast in bed for Mother?

questions

Grammar Basics: Unit 45 – Is it….?, Have you….?, Don’t you….?, etc.

Posted on 2012/05/22

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.
______________________________________

2. I am going to the concert.
______________________________________

3. You must be careful.
______________________________________

4. We were late for the bus.
______________________________________

5. You should let your sister clean your room.
______________________________________

6. The baby was afraid of the elephant.
______________________________________

7. I will wash the car.
______________________________________

8. Dick and Jane have been to Canada.
______________________________________

9. Sheri is sweeping the sidewalk.
______________________________________

10. Mr. Smith has written a book.
______________________________________

11. Tom, Dick, and Harry are staying after school.
______________________________________

12. Jack could see the scar on the man’s forehead.
______________________________________

13. I would like to take Mr. Jones’ class.
______________________________________

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.
______________________________________

2. The car got a flat tire.
______________________________________

3. Sally and Mary grow watermelons in their backyard.
______________________________________

4. The dogs barked all night.
______________________________________

5. The refrigerator works now.
______________________________________

6. Hank fixes our car.
______________________________________

7. I went to the bank.
______________________________________

8. The choir sings the national anthem.
______________________________________

9. The barber cut my hair.
______________________________________

10. Father made breakfast in bed for Mother.
______________________________________

questions

Grammar Basics: Unit 12 – The Simple Past Tense Negation, Question Form (Solutions)

Posted on 2012/01/27

Exercises: First, convert all sentences to negative form. Then, convert them to question form. Finally, convert them to negative question form.

Example:
It snowed all day. ==>

It didn’t snow all day.
Did it snow all day?
Didn’t it snow all day?

1. We watched TV for an hour.
We didn’t watch TV for an hour.
Did we watch TV for an hour?
Didn’t we watch TV for an hour?

2. The cat sat on my lap.
The cat didn’t sit on my lap.
Did the cat sit on my lap?
Didn’t the cat sit on my lap?

3. She baked a cake for Mary’s birthday.
She didn’t bake a cake for Mary’s birthday.
Did she bake a cake for Mary’s birthday?
Didn’t she bake a cake for Mary’s birthday?

4. I bought a pair of shoes and three pairs of socks.
I didn’t buy a pair of shoes and three pairs of socks.
Did I buy a pair of shoes and three pairs of socks?
Didn’t I buy a pair of shoes and three pairs of socks?

5. Lisa wrote a nice thank-you note to her aunt.
Lisa didn’t write a nice thank-you note to her aunt.
Did Lisa write a nice thank-you note to her aunt?
Didn’t Lisa write a nice thank-you note to her aunt?

6. We flew from Chicago to Seoul.
We didn’t fly from Chicago to Seoul.
Did we fly from Chicago to Seoul?
Didn’t we fly from Chicago to Seoul?

7. He took several pictures of the Grand Canyon.
He didn’t take several pictures of the Grand Canyon.
Did he take several pictures of the Grand Canyon?
Didn’t he take several pictures of the Grand Canyon?

8. She changed the baby’s diaper often to avoid diaper rash.
She didn’t change the baby’s diaper often to avoid diaper rash.
Did she change the baby’s diaper often to avoid diaper rash?
Didn’t she change the baby’s diaper often to avoid diaper rash?

9. The mechanic repaired the car last week.
The mechanic didn’t repair the car last week.
Did the mechanic repair the car last week?
Didn’t the mechanic repair the car last week?

10. At the campout, we cooked hot dogs for supper.
At the campout, we didn’t cook hot dogs for dinner.
Did we cook hot dogs for dinner at the campout?
Didn’t we cook hot dogs for dinner at the campout?

11. It rained yesterday and ruined our picnic.
It didn’t rain yesterday, and ruin our picnic.
Did it rain yesterday, and ruin our picnic?
Didn’t it rain yesterday, and ruin our picnic?

12. The teacher graded our tests and handed them back to us.
The teacher didn’t grade our tests and hand them back to us.
Did the teacher grade our tests and hand them back to us?
Didn’t the teacher grade our tests and hand them back to us?

13. Tom impatiently tapped his foot.
Tom didn’t tap his foot impatiently.
Did Tom tap his foot impatiently?
Didn’t Tom tap his foot impatiently?

14. Sam watered the plants every morning.
Sam didn’t water the plants every morning.
Did Sam water the plants every morning?
Didn’t Sam water the plants every morning?

15. We relaxed and listened to music after dinner.
We didn’t relax and listen to music after dinner.
Did we relax and listen to music after dinner?
Didn’t we relax and listen to music after dinner?

16. Kathleen lied to her mother, and got into trouble.
Kathleen didn’t lie to her mother and get into trouble.
Did Kathleen lie to her mother and get into trouble?
Didn’t Kathleen lie to her mother and get into trouble?

17. They went to a movie last weekend.
They didn’t go to a movie last weekend.
Did they go to a movie last weekend?
Didn’t they go to a movie last weekend?

18. I finished reading a good book yesterday.
I didn’t fishing reading a good book yesterday.
Did I finish reading a good book yesterday?
Didn’t I finish reading a good book yesterday?

19. My pencil lead broke, so I sharpened it again.
My pencil lead didn’t break, so I didn’t sharpen it again.
Did my pencil lead break? Did I sharpen it again?
Didn’t my pencil lead break? Didn’t I sharpen it again?

20. He came late for breakfast.
He didn’t come late for breakfast.
Did he come late for breakfast?
Didn’t he come late for breakfast?

Grammar Basics: Unit 12 – The Simple Past Tense Negation, Question Form

Posted on 2012/01/26

To form the negation of simple past, use

did not + V (infinitive form)

“did not” is often contracted to “didn’t”.

Examples:

John washed the car. ==> John did not (didn’t) wash the car.
We walked to school every day. ==> We did not (didn’t) walk to school every day.
Everyone laughed at the clown. ==> Everyone did not (didn’t) laugh at the clown.
The beautician combed her client’s long hair. ==> The beautician did not (didn’t) comb her client’s long hair.
He printed a receipt for me. ==> He did not (didn’t) print a receipt for me.

To form questions with simple past, use

Did S + V (infinitive form)…?

Examples:

John washed the car. ==> Did John wash the car?
We walked to school every day. ==> Did we walk to school every day?
Everyone laughed at the clown. ==> Did everyone laugh at the clown?
The beautician combed her client’s long hair. ==> Did the beautician comb her client’s long hair?
He printed a receipt for me. ==> Did he print a receipt for me?

It is also possible to put the negative form into question form:

Did not (Didn’t) S + V (infinitive form)…?

Examples:

John washed the car. ==> Didn’t John wash the car?
We walked to school every day. ==> Didn’t we walk to school every day?
Everyone laughed at the clown. ==> Didn’t everyone laugh at the clown?
The beautician combed her client’s long hair. ==> Didn’t the beautician comb her client’s long hair?
He printed a receipt for me. ==> Didn’t he print a receipt for me?

Note:

Usually this form (negative simple past question) is used when the person asking the question expects that the action was done. Thus, this form is expecting confirmation: Yes, S did….

Exercises: First, convert all sentences to negative form. Then, convert them to question form. Finally, convert them to negative question form.

Example:

It snowed all day. ==>

It didn’t snow all day.

Did it snow all day?

Didn’t it snow all day?

1. We watched TV for an hour.

2. The cat sat on my lap.

3. She baked a cake for Mary’s birthday.

4. I bought a pair of shoes and three pairs of socks.

5. Lisa wrote a nice thank-you note to her aunt.

6. We flew from Chicago to Seoul.

7. He took several pictures of the Grand Canyon.

8. She changed the baby’s diaper often to avoid diaper rash.

9. The mechanic repaired the car last week.

10. At the campout, we cooked hot dogs for supper.

11. It rained yesterday and ruined our picnic.

12. The teacher graded our tests and handed them back to us.

13. Tom impatiently tapped his foot.

14. Sam watered the plants every morning.

15. We relaxed and listened to music after dinner.

16. Kathleen lied to her mother, and got into trouble.

17. They went to a movie last weekend.

18. I finished reading a good book yesterday.

19. My pencil lead broke, so I sharpened it again.

20. He came late for breakfast.

Grammar Basics: Unit 7 – Simple Present, Questions (Solutions)

Posted on 2012/01/11

Exercises: Write questions from the following words. Be sure to put the “do” verb in the right form (do/does).

Example: eat / he / seafood / ? ==> Does he eat seafood?

1. Do you like kimchee?

2. Does Donald have an MP3 player?

3. Do I eat pizza for breakfast?

4. Where do your brothers live?

5. Do they like it there?

6. What does he eat for lunch?

7. Why do we celebrate Christmas?

8. When does the mail usually come?

9. What time does the plane come in?

10. How much does this pencil case cost?

11. How does Daniel feel today?

12. Do you often visit your parents?

13. Do we have any ice cream?

14. Whom do you usually watch on TV?

15. Do I have to go to bed now?

16. Why do you have a green sticker on your book?

17. Does she usually look like that?

18. Does it often rain in the summer?

19. Does Mike study a lot for math?

20. What does your father do?

Grammar Basics: Unit 7 – Simple Present, Questions

Posted on 2012/01/10

The pattern for forming simple present questions is as follows:

Do/Does + subject + (adverb of frequency) + V (+….)?

where V is the dictionary form of the verb. “Does” is for third person singular, and all others use “Do.”

Examples:

I eat ==> Do I eat?

You drive ==> Do you drive?

We walk ==> Do we drive?

They talk ==> Do they talk?

He sings ==> Does he sing?

She runs ==> Does she run?

It rains ==> Does it rain?

Note that for third person singular, there is NO “s” after the end of the main verb. Instead, the “s” goes on DO: do ==> does.

Examples:

It always rains at night. ==> Does it always rain at night?

He works at a restaurant. ==> Does he work at a restaurant?

Tom studies after school. ==> Does Tom study after school?

We go on vacation every summer. ==> Do we go on vacation every summer?

She practices the piano three hours every day. ==> Does she practice the piano three hours every day?

They cut their grass on Saturdays. ==> Do they cut their grass on Saturdays?

Dad takes a shower every morning. ==> Does Dad take a shower every morning?

The schoolkids have their yearly picnic at the end of May. ==> Do the schoolkids have their yearly picnic at the end of May?

John likes skiing. ==> Does John like skiing?

He hates bowling. ==> Does he hate bowling?

For wh-questions, the wh- word comes first in the sentence, giving us the pattern:

Wh- do/does + subject + (adverb of frequency) + V (+….)?

Examples:

Whom do you think will win the game?

What does Tim want for Christmas?

Where do we go from here?

When does Jane do her homework?

Why do you take off your shoes when you come in?

How does a magician do his tricks?

Exercises: Write questions from the following words. Be sure to put the “do” verb in the right form (do/does).

Example: eat / he / seafood / ? ==> Does he eat seafood?

1. kimchee / like / you / ?

2. an / Donald / have / MP3 / player / ?

3. breakfast / eat / pizza / for / I / ?

4. brothers / live / where / your / ?

5. it / like / there / they / ?

6. eat / for / he / lunch / what / ?

7. celebrate / Christmas / we / why / ?

8. come / mail / the / usually / when / ?

9. come / in / plane / the / time / what / ?

10. case / cost / how / much / pencil / this / ?

11. Daniel / feel / how / today / ?

12. often / parents / visit / you / your / ?

13. any / cream / have / ice / we / ?

14. whom / you / usually / watch / on / TV / ?

15. bed / go / have / I / now / to / to / ?

16. a / book / green / have / on / sticker / why / you / your / ?

17. like / look / she / that / usually / ?

18. in / it / often / rain / summer / the / ?

19. Mike / study / a / lot / for / math / ?

20. do / father / what / your / ?

Grammar Basics: Unit 4 – Present Continuous Questions (Solutions)

Posted on 2011/12/30

Exercises. Put together the following words in the proper order to form a present continuous question. Don’t forget to use the correct form of the verb “be.”

1. Are they having a snowball fight?

2. Is she buying any magazines for the train ride?

3. Are we baking cookies today?

4. Are you feeling sick?

5. Am I dreaming?

6. What is the teacher doing tomorrow?

7. Is it getting cold out?

8. How are you doing?

9. Why are they jumping up and down?

10. Is Mike playing in next week’s ball game?

11. Is my phone ringing?

12. When is Steve singing in the school choir concert?

13. Who is lying?

14. Who is telling the truth?

15. Is the soup boiling yet?

16. Where are you going on vacation?

17. Am I going crazy?

18. Is the baby still sleeping?

19. Who is snoring so loudly?

20. Are you still watching TV?

Grammar Basics: Unit 4 – Present Continuous Questions

Posted on 2011/12/29

To form questions in the present continuous, switch the order of the subject and the verb:

I am ~ing ==> Am I ~ing?
You are ~ing ==> Are you ~ing?
He / she / it is ~ing ==> Is he / she / it ~ing?
We are ~ing ==> Are we ~ing?
You are ~ing ==> Are you ~ing?
They are ~ing ==> Are they ~ing?

Examples:

Am I kidding?
– Yes (. I’m just pulling your leg [= teasing you]).

Are you sleeping, Brother John?
– No (, I’m not).
– No (, I’m lying awake, thinking).

Is it still snowing?
– No (, it isn’t // it’s not).
– No (, it’s raining).

Are we leaving yet?
– Yes (. Please get your coat on).

Are they eating dinner?
– No (, they aren’t // they’re not).
– No (, they’ve finished eating).

Wh-questions can also use ~ing form: Wh- + (be) + S + ~ing?

Who is having a party? (“Who” is the subject for who-questions, and so don’t need another subject.)
What is he doing?
Where is she going?
When is Sally coming to pick up the book?
Why are you yelling at me?
How are they going to move that piano?

Exercises.

Put together the following words in the proper order to form a present continuous question. Don’t forget to use the correct form of the verb “be.”

1. be fight have a snowball they ?

2. any be buy for magazines ride she the train ?

3. bake be cookies today we ?

4. be feel sick you ?

5. be dream I ?

6. be do teacher the tomorrow what ?

7. be cold get it out ?

8. be do how you ?

9. and be down jump they up why ?

10. ball be game Mike next play in week’s ?

11. be my phone ring ?

12. be choir concert in school sing Steve the when ?

13. be lie who ?

14. be tell the truth who ?

15. be boil soup the yet ?

16. be go on vacation where you ?

17. be crazy go I ?

18. baby be sleep still the ?

19. be loudly snore so who ?

20. be still TV watch you ?