Formation of Interrogative Sentences

Part I
http://www.englishpractice.com/grammar/formation-interrogative-
sentences-part/

Simple present

The simple present tense has the following structure:

Subject + present tense forms of the verb (bare infinitive)

The sun rises in the east.

The cow eats grass.

In order to change an assertive sentence in the simple present tense into an interrogative
sentence, we use do or does as the first word followed by the subject, verb and the object.

Note that we use do with I, you and plural subjects. Does is used with singular subjects.

Form: Do/does + subject + present tense form of the verb.

Examples are given below:

The cow eats grass. (Assertive)

Does the cow eat grass? (Interrogative)
Alice sings a song. (Assertive)
Does Alice sing a song? (Interrogative)
She gets up early in the morning. (Assertive)
Does she get up early in the morning? (Interrogative)
I work hard. (Assertive)
Do I work hard? (Interrogative)
She speaks English well. (Assertive)
Does she speak English well? (Interrogative)

Note that if the interrogative sentence is in the negative, we begin it with do not or does not.

Dont you want to come with us?

Doesnt she understand what he means?
The question words who, whom, whose, when, why, where, which, how etc., sometimes
precede do and does.

Whom do you want to meet?

Why do you want to go there?
Where does he live?
How do you know him?
Who does not love his country?

When the affirmative sentence contains the primary auxiliaries is, am, are, has or have, the
interrogative sentence will begin with these words.

She is a doctor. (Affirmative)

Is she a doctor? (Interrogative)
They have a car. (Affirmative)
Have they a car? OR Do they have a car? (Interrogative)
She is very clever. (Affirmative)
Is she very clear? (Interrogative)
She has many friends. (Affirmative)
Has she many friends. OR Does she have many friends? (Interrogative)

When the affirmative sentence contains the auxiliaries can, may, will, shall etc, the
interrogative sentence will begin with these words.

She can go.

Can she go?
They will come.
Will they come?
You may take this book.
May I take this book?
I can lift this load?
Can you lift this load?
We must go there.
Must we go there?

Formation of Interrogative Sentence Part

II
The present continuous tense indicates the continuity of an action which is going on at the
present moment.

Form: Subject + is/are/am + -ing form of the verb.

I am doing sums.
We are looking at the black-board.
They were playing with the toys.
She is writing a letter to her friend.
They are waiting for us?
They are going to the market.

An interrogative sentence in the present continuous tense has the following structure.

Is/am/are + subject + -ing form of the verb.

Am I doing sums?
Are we looking at the black-board?
Were they playing with the toys?
Are you coming with us?
Is she writing a letter to her friend?
Are they waiting for us?
Are they going to the market?

Present perfect tense

The present perfect tense indicates the completion of an action. It has the following form:

Subject + has/have + past participle form of the verb.

They have arrived.

We have finished the job.
The workers have painted the house.
He has stolen my purse.
We have paid our dues.
We have learnt our lesson.
The sun has risen.

An interrogative sentence in the present perfect tense has the following structure.

Has/have + subject + past participle form of the verb

Have they arrived?

Have we finished the job?
Have the workers painted the house?
Has he stolen my purse?
Have we paid our dues?
Have we learnt our lesson?
Has the sun risen?

Present perfect continuous tense

The present perfect continuous tense has the following structure:

Subject + has/have + been + -ing form of the verb

She has been sleeping since morning.

He has been waiting for them for several hours.
We have been working hard for the examination for several months.
He has been doing this work for hours.
It has been raining heavily since the last night.

An interrogative sentence in the present perfect continuous tense has the following structure:

Has/have + subject + been + -ing form of the verb

Has she been sleeping since morning?

Has he been waiting for them for several hours?
Have we been working hard for the examination for several months?
Has he been doing this work for hours?
Has it been raining heavily since the last night?

Formation of Interrogative Sentences

Part III
Simple past

The simple past tense has the following structure:

Subject + past tense form of the verb.

The glass broke.

Water boiled.
The bird flew up in the sky.
He did his work well.
The child cried.
The old man walked away.

Interrogative sentences in the simple past tense begin with did. Sometimes question words
such as who, why, how, where etc., may precede did.

Why did you break the window?

Did the child cry?
Did you go there?
How did you see him?
Did you find anyone there?
Whom did you invite?

Past continuous tense

Sentences in the past continuous tense have the following structure:

Subject + was/were + ing form of the verb.

They were sleeping.

We were working in the garden.
It was raining.
I was doing the sums.
The dog was crying with pain.

Interrogative sentences in the past continuous tense have the following structure:

Was/were + subject + -ing form of the verb.

Were they sleeping?

Was she working in the garden?
Was the dog crying with pain?
Was he doing the sums?

Question words (why, where, how, when etc.) may sometimes precede was/were.

Why were you shouting so loudly?

Past perfect tense

Sentences in the past perfect tense have the following structure:

Subject + had + past participle form of the verb

I had never seen him before.

We had anticipated this happening.
The sun had risen.
The train had steamed out before I reached the station.
He had left before I came.

Interrogative sentences in the past perfect tense have the following structure:

Had + subject + past participle form of the verb

Had I seen him before?

Had we anticipated this happening?
Had the train steamed out before they reached the station?
Had he left before I came?

The question words who, why, where etc., may sometimes precede had.

Where had you hidden your treasure?

Past perfect continuous tense

Sentences in the past perfect continuous tense have the following structure:

Subject + had + been + -ing form of the verb

We had been waiting for you since long.

The birds had been chirping since morning.
She had been dancing for long.
He had been writing.

Interrogative sentences in the past perfect continuous tense have the following structure:

Had + subject + been + -ing form of the verb

Had you been waiting for me since long?

Had the birds been chirping since morning?
Had she been dancing for long?
Had he been writing?

Interrogative Sentences Part IV

Simple Future Tense

Sentences in the simple future tense have the following structure:

Subject + will/shall + present tense form of the verb

She will write a letter.

I shall help you in this matter.
He will continue his studies.
We shall go out for a walk in the morning.
She will sing a song.
They will wait for us.

Interrogative sentences in the simple future tense have the following structure:

Will/shall + subject + present tense form of the verb

Will she write a letter?

Shall I help you in this matter?
Will he continue his studies?
Shall we go out for a walk in the morning?
Will she sing a song?
Will they wait for us?

Future continuous tense

Sentences in the future continuous tense have the following structure:

Subject + will/shall + be + -ing form of the verb

She will be sleeping.

I will be lying on the beach.
He will be working in the garden.
She will be cleaning the rooms.
The students will be studying hard.
Interrogative sentences in the future continuous tense have the following structure:

Will/shall + subject + be + -ing form of the verb

Will she be sleeping?

Will I be lying on the beach?
Will he be working in the garden?
Will she be cleaning the rooms?
Will the students be studying hard?

Future perfect tense

Sentences in the future perfect tense have the following structure:

Subject + will/shall + have + past participle form of the verb

She will have completed her work.

He will have written a letter.
They will have arrived.
The students will have studied hard.
He will have stopped working.

Interrogative sentences in the future perfect tense have the following structure:

Will/shall + subject + have + past participle form of the verb

Will she have completed her work?

Will he have written a letter?
Will they have arrived?
Will the students have studied hard?
Will he have stopped working?

Future perfect continuous tense

Note that sentences in the future perfect continuous tenses are no longer used.