Question formation 1

Which question is an example of a question which ends with a preposition?

• What brings you to London?

• How long are you going to be in London for?

• Don't you like London?

• Can you tell us if there's any truth in that?

Answer explanation

If a verb is normally followed by a preposition, e.g. talk about sth, the preposition comes at the end of the question, not at the beginning.

Which question is an example of a subject question, where there's no auxiliary verb?

• What brings you to London?

• How long are you going to be in London for?

• Don't you like London?

• Can you tell us if there's any truth in that?

Answer explanation

When who / what / which is the subject of questions in the present or past simple, we don't use do / did.

• -Who wrote this?

• -What makes you always smile?

Which question is an example of a question which uses a negative auxiliary verb?

• What brings you to London?

• How long are you going to be in London for?

• Don't you like London?

• Can you tell us if there's any truth in that?

Answer explanation

We often use negative questions to show surprise when we expect somebody to agree with us, or to check whether something is true.

• -After a year abroad, don't you miss your family?

Which question is an example of an indirect question?

• What brings you to London?

• How long are you going to be in London for?

• Don't you like London?

• Can you tell us if there's any truth in that?

Answer explanation

We use indirect questions to be more polite. In those questions subject and verb are not inverted, that's why we don't use do/does/did/didn't... in the second part.

-Where is the ATM? (direct)

-Could you tell me where the next ATM is? (indirect)

-Have you heard what she answered?

If there's no question word in the direct question, the indirect question starts with IF or WHETHER.

• -I wonder if they'll come.

• -I wonder whether they'll come or not.

Where ___ on holiday last year? (you/go)

How often ___ exercise? (you/usually/do)

Who ___ Oliver Twist? (write)

Could you tell me how much ___? (cost/this book)

I can't remember where ___ my car this morning. (I/park)

(you/enjoy) your trip to Paris last weekend?