6 The Simple Past: Yes/No

and Wh- Questions

An Accident

Focus on Grammar 2
Part VI, Unit 22
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
 What happened?
So, how did No, they
Another skier
you hurt didn’t.
called the
yourself? I wasn’t
They had a
Did the paramedics.
careful.
flat tire.I
careful
paramedics didn’t see
arrive the tree.
quickly?

Ouch! Who
called for
help?
 Yes/No Questions
Use did + subject + base form for yes/no questions in
the simple past, except for the verb be.

Did you see the sign?

Was he careful?
 Use the words above the
Practice 1 pictures to make yes/no
questions in the past.

Example: he/practice 1. you/afraid

Did he practice? Were you afraid?

2. it/heavy 3. they/have fun

Was it heavy? Did they have fun?
 Wh- Question Word Order

Wh- Word Did Subject Base Form of Verb

When did the ambulance arrive?

Where did the accident happen?

Who did you call?

 Wh- Questions 1
Most wh-questions in the past use a
base form verb with did.

fall ?
Where did she falls

How did they meet

met ?
 Make wh- questions for the
Practice 2 colored parts of the answers.

Example: The accident happened on the first floor.

floor
Where did the accident happen?
happen

1. Ali called the paramedics.

paramedics
Who did Ali call?
2. Hector had an accident yesterday.
yesterday
When did Hector have an accident?
3. Lee and Ben fell because they weren’t careful.
careful
Why did Ben and Lee fall?
 Wh- Questions 2
Donotnot
Do use use
diddid in wh-
in wh- questions
questions in the
in the past past
when the
when the
question question
is about is about the subject.
the subject.

Subject Subject

A vase fell on
What fell on
my head.
your head?
 Be Careful!
Donot
Do notuse
usedid
didin in wh-
wh- questions
questions with with
be. be.

Be Verb

Be Verb
I was in the
mountains.
Where were
you?
 Short and Long Answers 1
We use short and long answers to yes/no
questions.

Yes, it did.
Did it hurt?
It was very
painful.
 Short and Long Answers 2
We also use short and long answers to wh-
questions.

What did Cried.

you do? I cried like a
baby.
 Ask and answer the questions
Practice 3 below with a partner. Use
short and long answers.

1. How was your weekend?

2. What did you do?
3. Did you have fun?
4. Where did you go?
5. Did you do any homework?
6. Who were you with?
 References

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and

its licensors. All rights reserved.