Formation of Questions using Primary Auxiliaries, Modals, and Wh-Words
1. What Question Formation Means
Interrogative formation = transforming statements into questions using auxiliaries and Wh-words with subject-verb inversion.
2. Three Tools
| Tool | Words | Use in Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Primary auxiliaries | be (is, are, was), have (have, has), do (do, does, did) | Form yes/no questions with inversion: "You are ready." → "Are you ready?" ; "He has finished." → "Has he finished?" ; For main verb without auxiliary, use do: "He plays." → "Does he play?" (add do, main verb base form) |
| Modals | can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must, ought to | Already auxiliaries, invert: "You can help." → "Can you help?" |
| Wh-words | what, where, when, why, who, whom, whose, which, how | Wh- question: "What is the sensor?" ; "Where is it?" ; If Wh is subject, no inversion: "Who is responsible?" (Who = subject, verb follows); If Wh is object, invert: "What does it measure?" |
3. Patterns (exam must-practice)
- Yes/No with primary: "Do you understand?" (do + base), "Does she work?" , "Did they finish?" (did + base, past marker moves to auxiliary).
- With modals: "Can you explain?" , "Should we proceed?"
- With Wh: "Where does it operate?" (Wh + do + subject + base), "Why is it important?" (Wh + be + subject)
- Tag questions: "You are ready, aren't you?"
4. Worked Transformations
Statement: "The sensor measures temperature."
→ Yes/No: "Does the sensor measure temperature?"
→ Wh (what): "What does the sensor measure?"
→ Wh (subject): "What measures temperature?" (What = subject, no do)
Statement: "They have completed the report."
→ "Have they completed the report?"
Statement: "She can calibrate the device."
→ "Can she calibrate the device?" and "What can she calibrate?"
5. Exam Points
- Transform statement to question using do/does/did — 5 marks, very frequent (almost certain to ask to form questions).
- Form Wh-questions with what, where, why, how — 5 marks, frequent.
- Distinguish auxiliary vs modal inversion — 3-5 marks, frequent.
- Show subject Wh (no inversion) vs object Wh (needs do) — 3-5 marks, frequent.