Explanation
Exercises

❓ Subject Questions, Object Questions & Preposition Questions

When the question word is the subject (who/what/how many people…), there’s no auxiliary do/does/did in the present/past simple. When you ask about the object, use the normal question order with an auxiliary.
Subject Qs → no do/does/did (in PS/PrS) Object Qs → auxiliary + subject Other tenses keep their auxiliaries Preposition at the end (informal speech) Formal option: preposition + whom/which
🧑‍🏫Subject questions (present / past simple)
PATTERN question word (subject) + main verb (+ rest) — no do/does/did.
  • Who won the match? ✗ Who did win…
  • What happened last night?
  • How many people went to the party?
  • Who likes jazz? (3rd-person -s because who = he/she)
Other tenses keep auxiliaries
  • Who is cooking dinner tonight? (present continuous)
  • Who has eaten all the cookies? (present perfect)
  • Who will pay for the taxi? (future with will)
🎯Object questions (ask about the object)
PATTERN question word + auxiliary + subject + base verb
  • Jack called Teresa. → Who did Jack call? (object = Teresa)
  • Jack called Teresa. → Who called Teresa? (subject = Jack → subject question)
  • What does Anna do at weekends?
  • Where did they buy the tickets?
ℹ️
With the verb be, invert be directly: Who was at the meeting? / Where were they?
🧩Questions with prepositions (natural speech)
SPOKEN / INFORMAL Put the preposition at the end of the question.
  • I played tennis with John. → Who did you play tennis with?
  • I work for a multinational company. → What company do you work for?
  • We usually talk about sports. → What do you usually talk about?
  • She’s looking at the timetable. → What is she looking at?
🏛️Formal alternative (less common in conversation)
FORMAL
  • With whom did you play tennis?
  • For which company do you work?
  • About what do you usually talk?
Tip
  • Use whom (object) in very formal style; in everyday English we usually use who.
🔎Subject vs Object — quick contrast
  • Subject Q: Someone phoned you. → Who phoned you?
  • Object Q: You phoned someone. → Who did you phone?
  • ✗ Who did come first? → ✓ Who came first?
  • ✗ Who does likes pizza? → ✓ Who likes pizza?
🧪More natural examples
  • Which team won the league last year?
  • Which team did they beat in the final?
  • Who is waiting outside?
  • Whose bag is this? / Whose bag did you find?
  • They depend on their phones. → What do they depend on?
Recap: If the question word is the subject, don’t use do/does/did in present/past simple. If you ask about the object, use the auxiliary. In spoken English, keep the preposition at the end: Who did you talk to? ✅
Exercises:
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Subject questions, questions with preposition

Choose the correct options to complete the questions about the underlined words. Some of the questions are subject questions and questions with preposition.
1
She’s waiting for Tom. ⇒ Who ?
2
They talked about the plan. ⇒ What ?
3
Someone stole my wallet. ⇒ Who your wallet?
4
The new policy caused the delay. ⇒ What the delay?
5
I sent the file to Maria. ⇒ Who ?
6
He apologized for the mistake. ⇒ What ?
7
Something has gone wrong. ⇒ What ?
8
The cat was hiding under the table. ⇒ What ?
9
One of these phones costs $999. ⇒ Which $999?
10
We will depend on your feedback. ⇒ What ?

Subject questions, questions with preposition

Choose the correct forms to complete the questions about the underlined words. Some of the questions are subject questions and questions with preposition.
1
I was listening to that podcast. ⇒ What ____?
A.
B.
C.
2
Someone rang the doorbell at midnight. ⇒ Who ____ the doorbell at midnight?
A.
B.
C.
3
She argued with her brother. ⇒ Who ____ with?
A.
B.
C.
4
Something fell off the shelf. ⇒ What ____ off the shelf?
A.
B.
C.
5
We were waiting for the 8:30 train. ⇒ Which train ____ for?
A.
B.
C.
6
They’re looking at the new timetable. ⇒ What ____ at?
A.
B.
C.
7
Somebody has taken my seat. ⇒ Who ____ my seat?
A.
B.
C.
8
He sat next to the CEO. ⇒ Who ____ next to?
A.
B.
C.
9
The package came from Germany. ⇒ Where ____ from?
A.
B.
C.
10
Something is blocking the exit. ⇒ What ____ the exit?
A.
B.
C.

Subject questions, questions with preposition

Write questions for the underlined words. Some of the questions are subject questions and questions with preposition.
1
I came to see you. ⇒ Who ?
2
She is looking for a job. ⇒ What ?
3
Tom spoke to the manager. ⇒ Who ?
4
Someone broke the window last night. ⇒ Who ?
5
We were waiting for the bus. ⇒ What ?
6
The email was sent by David. ⇒ Who the email?
7
She borrowed a book from her neighbor. ⇒ Who ?
8
I’m talking to the HR team. ⇒ Who ?
9
She complained about the noise. ⇒ What ?
10
Something made the dog bark. ⇒ What ?