Subject/object questions

A Who and what

Who is interviewing Kitty?

Who and what can be the subject of a question. The word order is the same as in a statement.

SUBJECT

Who rang you? (Someone rang you.) Who is helping you? (Someone is helping you.) What will happen next? (Something will happen next.)

Who is Kitty interviewing?

Who and what can also be the object. An auxiliary (e.g. did, will) comes before the subject.

OBJECT

Who did you ring?

(You rang someone.) Who are you helping? (You are helping someone.) What will they do next? (They will do something next.)

Who and what can also be the object of a preposition, e.g. to, with. (For prepositions in questions, see Unit 38.) Compare these sentences.

SUBJECT

Who was talking to you? (Someone was talking to you.) What wine goes with fish? (Some wine goes with fish.)

B Which, whose, how many and how much

These words can also be either the subject or the object.

SUBJECT

Which program will work best? (One of the programs will work best.) Whose dog is barking over there? (Someone's dog is barking over there.) How many people came past? (Some people came past.) How much oil got into the river? (Some oil got into the river.)

OBJECT

Who were you talking to?

(You were talking to someone.) What does this colour go with? (This colour goes with something.)

OBJECT

Which program will you use?

(You will use one of the programs.) Whose dog is Melanie walking? (Melanie is walking someone's dog.) How many people did you see? (You saw some people.) How much oil did you buy? (You bought some oil.)

37 Exercises

1 Who and what as subject and object (A)

Read about the situations and answer each question in a single phrase.

► The morning after his party, Tom was cleaning up. David came along and took away some empty bottles for him. Nick had just woken up after spending the night on Tom's sofa. He watched them for a while. a) Who helped Tom? David b) Who did Nick help? no one

1 Nick wants to marry Rita. She's been out with him a few times, but really she's in love with Tom.
Unfortunately he isn't in love with her.

a) Who is Nick in love with?...................................... b) Who is in love with Tom?

2 Mark met Sarah at the airport. The plane was two hours late. On the way out they passed Mike
standing at a bus stop, but they didn't notice him.

a) Who met Sarah?....................................... b) What was Mike waiting for?

3 There was an accident at the crossroads. A lorry crashed into a van that was waiting at the lights. The
van slid forward and crashed into a car. The van driver had to go to hospital.

a) What hit the van? ..................... b) What did the van hit?

2 Who and what as subject and object (A)

People aren't giving you enough information. Ask questions with who or what.

? Something has happened. ~ Oh? What has happened?

? I've invited someone to tea. ~ Well? Who have you invited?

1 Somebody is having a party. ~ Oh, really? .................................................... …………………………………….

2 I was reading something. ~ Oh? ..............................................................................................................................

3 I've learnt something. ~ Go on, tell me. ........................................................................................... ……………..

4 We should do something. ~ Yes, I know, but ..........................................................................................................

5 Someone is looking for you. ~Oh? ....................................... ……………………………………………………

6 I'm looking for someone. ~ Maybe I can help................................................................ ………………………….

7 Rachel is planning something. ~ Is she? ...................................................... …………………………………….

8 Somebody has moved in next door. ~ Oh, really? .......................................................... ………………………..

9 Something is worrying me. ~ Well, tell me. ........................ …………………………………………………….

10 I want to meet someone. ~ What do you mean? ..................................................................... ……………………

3 Which, whose, how many and how much (B)

Harriet is visiting her grandmother, Mrs Evans. It's Mrs Evans's birthday.

She can't hear very well, and she sometimes gets confused. Complete her questions.

Harriet: Mrs Evans:

? So ten people have sent cards. Pardon? How many people have sent cards ?

? 1 met David's friend yesterday. What? Whose friend did you meet ?

1 You can keep those photos. Photos? Which ................ ……………………..

2 Those flowers look lovely. Do they? Which………………………………

3 Fifty pounds went missing. Missing? How much .................... ……………

4 I passed Mark's house earlier. Pardon? Whose ....................................... ……..

5 The doctor has four children. Really? How many …………………………..

6 Doctors earn lots of money. I don't know. How much…………………..

7 Mike's uncle has died. What's that? Whose…………………………

8 Trevor's wife is coming later. Oh? Whose …………………………………...

Date: 2014-12-22; view: 1532