Supply the Question

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Instructions: Write the question that somebody asked. Put it above the answer like this:


When did Columbus discover America?

In 1492. (Columbus discovered America in 1492.)

  1. In 1492 (Columbus discovered America in 1492.)
  2. To church. (He's going to church.)
  3. Ten years. (He's lived here for ten years.)
  4. In 2005 (Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005.)
  5. Yes, I ate in Chinatown.
  6. Last week. (I fell down last week.)
  7. Yes, I do. (I love you.)
  8. This morning. (I mopped the floor this morning.)
  9. My boss. (I shot my boss.)
  10. Yes, I'll call you next week.)
  11. Next Saturday. (I'm going to paint the house next Saturday.)
  12. Fifteen minutes. (It takes me fifteen minutes to get to school.)
  13. Five days. (It took us five days to get to California.)
  14. In spring. (It usually rains in spring.)
  15. In Belgium. (Brussels is in Belgium.)
  16. 6' 2". (My brother is 6' 2".)
  17. At McDonald's. (My kids got the toy at McDonald's.)
  18. In North Carolina. (My parents live in North Carolina.)
  19. In 1968 (Sirhan Sirhan killed Bobby Kennedy in 1968.)
  20. In 1999 (The store closed in 1999.)
  21. In the hospital. (She's been in the hospital.)
  22. Two hours. (The show's two hours long.)
  23. Next year. (The mayor will visit Haiti next year.)
  24. On Sunday. (They took their kite to the park on Sunday.)
  25. At seven. (The store opens at seven.)
  26. At Macy's. (I found the tie at Macy's.)
  27. You are. (You're the boss.)
  28. Yes, there's a mouse under the chair.
  29. He's an accountant. (Note: Don't use "What is he?")
  30. Four days ago. (I emailed her four days ago.)
  31. At 8:00 AM. (She got home at 8:00 AM.)
  32. Yes, you're bothering me.
  33. Eight. (There are eight people in the room.)
  34. No, ducks aren't as big as geese.
  35. No, whales aren't fish.
  36. No, they aren't my children.
  37. Because she ate too much. (She got fat because she ate too much.)
  38. To the post office. (I'm going to the post office.)
  39. To the mall. (I went to the mall.)
  40. Yes, he'll be at the party.
  41. Because it's beautiful. (Mary likes Central Park because it's beautiful.)
  42. Yes, my street's noisy.
  43. Because they were busy. (They couldn't come because they're busy.)
  44. Yes, he'll eat before he leaves.
  45. Yes, I came in a cab.
  46. Yes, he can cook.
  47. Yes, you can hold the kitten.
  48. Yes, I can swim.
  49. No, I can't drive a stick shift.
  50. Ham and eggs. (There's ham and eggs for breakfast.)
  51. Around the corner. (The school's around the corner.)
  52. Yes, I cried a lot.
  53. Yes, I did my homework.
  54. Yes, he did the dishes.
  55. Mrs. Sarris did. (Mrs. Sarris mopped the floor.)
  56. The secretary did. (The secretary lost the report.)
  57. No, we didn't enjoy the movie.
  58. No, I didn't get a divorce.
  59. No, they didn't have fun at Disney World.
  60. "Inimical" means detrimental.
  61. Yes, she died of lung cancer.
  62. Mr. Jones does. (Mr. Jones teaches chemistry.)
  63. No, he doesn't have a car.
  64. No, he doesn't have to work on Sunday.
  65. Tuna fish. (My cat eats tuna fish.)
  66. A hot dog. (I had a hot dog at the game.)
  67. No, I don't know your cousin.
  68. Yes, it's easy to find a hotel.
  69. Flies. (Frogs eat flies.)
  70. Gin. (My father usually has gin.)
  71. Yes, he fell on the subway steps.
  72. Yes, I flew to New Orleans.
  73. On the floor. (Your wallet is on the floor.)
  74. $4.29 a gallon. (Milk costs $4.29 a gallon.)
  75. Tomorrow. (John's going to get his passport tomorrow.)
  76. Yes, he's going to play poker.
  77. Tomorrow. (It's going to snow tomorrow.)
  78. By gambling in Reno. (He won a thousand dollars by gambling in Reno.)
  79. "Zai Jian" means see you later.
  80. Yes, Ricardito got dressed all by himself.
  81. Yes, they got married in Miami.
  82. Yes, they had a good time.
  83. Yes, we had breakfast.
  84. Five. (I had five sandwiches.)
  85. The fourth graders. (The fourth graders are going on the field trip.)
  86. Yes, he had to leave town.
  87. Yes, it's hard to learn Russian.
  88. Yes, he has a horse.
  89. Yes, she has to leave now.
  90. Tomorrow. (He wants to leave tomorrow.)
  91. Because he loves you. (He stalks you because he loves you.)
  92. Yes, I have the time. It’s six o’clock.
  93. We all do. (We all want to go on a picnic.)
  94. Six. (I have six rabbits.)
  95. "Not likely." (I said, "Not likely.")
  96. "Ni hao" means hello.
  97. Yes, I'll watch your kids.
  98. Yes, they're on welfare.
  99. Yes, he took his dog with him.
  100. Yes, Sam's on my team.


The form for asking a direct question is (W) X S (V)...

W is a question word: Who, What, Where, When, Why, How

X is an auxiliary verb

have do am can must

has does is could might

had did are shall may

was should

were will

would

S is the subject of the question

V is a verb or verb form (in addition to the auxiliary verb)

(W) X S (V)

1. Where is your father working these days?

2. Are they at the party?

3. Why do you talk so much?

4. Does your brother eat meat?

5. How much did that book cost?

6. Have you seen my textbook?

7. Isn't your mother feeling well?

8. Do the students have their books?

9. Can't you swim a mile?

10. Will it rain today?

11. Am I your friend?

12. Why aren't they here yet?

An exception to the W X S V or X S V rule for making questions occurs when

you don't know the subject. In these cases, we use Who/What and the verb:

Who teaches this class? (NOT *Who does teach...?)

What makes you angry? (NOT *What does make...?)

Who brought that pear? (NOT *Who did bring....?)

The verb is generally in the singular form, with -s, whenever

we ask a present-tense question where Who or What are the subject:

Who wants pizza? (NOT *Who want...?)

Who is coming to your party? (NOT *Who are coming…?)