Unit 1  Grammar reference and practice
Subject / object questions
Wh- questions start with a question word (e.g., What, Where,
Who, When, How). The question word sometimes asks about the
subject and sometimes it asks about the object.
In object questions, the question word asks about the object of the
verb. Use the auxiliary verb do/does in simple present and simple
past questions (am/were, etc. in continuous tenses; have/has, etc. in
perfect tenses). The auxiliary verb goes before the subject.
Which movie do you want to see? I want to see Jason Bourne.
(Which movie asks about the object.)
Who have you spoken to? I’ve spoken to Diane.
(Who asks about the object.)
Don’t use a question word in Yes/No questions.
Did you call Diane? Yes, I did.
Some verbs have two objects (e.g., tell, give, invite). Questions
can be asked about both objects.
Gurpreet gave Anita a present.
Who did Gurpreet give a present to? (Anita)
What did Gurpreet give Anita? (a present)
In subject questions, the question word asks about the subject.
Don’t use the auxiliary verb (do/does) in simple present and
simple past questions.
Who likes this game? I like it. (Who asks about the subject.)
Which video made you laugh the most? The one with the cats
made me laugh the most. (Which video asks about the subject.)
Not Who does like the game?  Which video did make…?
In questions in other tenses, always use the auxiliary verb (e.g.,
has, will, am).
Who is making all that noise?
Which movies have made the most money?
Activities 1 and 2
Talking about the present
To talk about the present, you can use the simple present, the
present continuous, and the present perfect. (Some people
think of the present perfect as a past tense, but it always has a
connection to the present, so it is really a present tense.)
128  Unit 1  Grammar Reference
The simple present is used:
• to talk about things that are always or generally true (e.g.,
scientific facts).
Some planets have many moons. Jupiter has at least 67!
• to describe habits and routines (often with words like
sometimes and never).
I don’t normally go out during the week, but sometimes I go to the
movies on Saturdays.
• with stative verbs (verbs of feeling, thinking, owning, and
sensing) (e.g., enjoy, think, belong, seem).
I don’t believe that you stayed home all weekend.
The present continuous is used:
• to talk about temporary actions happening at or around the
present time, or at the time of speaking/writing.
What’s that man doing? He’s looking for something.
I’m reading a really interesting book about technology right now.
• to talk about changing situations.
The world is getting warmer at a very fast rate.
• with always to describe actions that happen often (and
perhaps annoy the speaker).
He’s always telling lies about me. Don’t listen to him!
The present perfect is used:
• to describe actions that started in the past and continue in
the present.
Natsuki and I have been friends since we were young.
To make negatives and questions in the simple present, use the
auxiliary verb do/does + infinitive.
She doesn’t often cry in public.
Why do you enjoy making cakes and cookies?
To make affirmatives, negatives, and questions in the present
continuous, use the auxiliary verb is/am/are + -ing.
He’s talking to his friends online, so he isn’t listening to me.
I’m not studying very hard right now.
Why are you always stealing my pens?
To make affirmatives, negatives, and questions in the present
perfect, use the auxiliary verb have/has + past participle.
They’ve only known each other for two weeks.
She hasn’t been very happy recently.
How long have you lived in Istanbul?
Activities 3–7