subject questions

A question word can ask about the subject (the person or thing that does the action) or about the object (the person or thing the action happens to). The two questions are built differently.

Subject questions: no do

When who, what or which is the subject, it takes the place of the subject. The word order is the same as in a normal sentence, and there is no do, does or did. The verb has its normal form: -s in the present, past form in the past.

Object questions: with do

When the question word is the object, use normal question order with do, does or did before the subject.

Compare

Who with a singular verb

In a subject question, who and what take a singular verb, even if the answer is more than one person.

Common mistakes

• × Who did call you? → Who called you?
• × What did happen? → What happened?
• × Who does live here? → Who lives here?
• × Who you saw? → Who did you see?