❓ 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 answered the first question? ✗ Who did answer…
- What happened to your homework file?
- How many students joined the speaking club?
- Who likes watching videos in English? (3rd-person -s because who = he/she)
Other tenses keep auxiliaries
- Who is reading the instructions right now? (present continuous)
- Who has learned these new words already? (present perfect)
- Who will explain the answer? (future with will)
🎯Object questions (ask about the object)
PATTERN
question word + auxiliary + subject + base verb
- Lisa called Tom. → Who did Lisa call? (object = Tom)
- Lisa called Tom. → Who called Tom? (subject = Lisa → subject question)
- What do you practice after class?
- Which video did they watch for homework?
ℹ️
With the verb be, invert be directly: Who was in your group? / Where were you?
🧩Questions with prepositions (natural speech)
SPOKEN / INFORMAL
Put the preposition at the end of the question.
- I studied with Emma. → Who did you study with?
- I’m looking for a good app. → What are you looking for?
- We talked about pronunciation. → What did you talk about?
- She’s listening to an audio lesson. → What is she listening to?
🏛️Formal alternative (less common in conversation)
FORMAL
- With whom did you study?
- For which app are you looking?
- About what did you talk?
Tip
- Use whom (object) in very formal style; in everyday English we usually use who.
🔎Subject vs Object — quick contrast
- Subject Q: Someone corrected your sentence. → Who corrected your sentence?
- Object Q: You corrected someone’s sentence. → Who did you correct?
- ✗ Who did helped you? → ✓ Who helped you?
- ✗ Who does likes this lesson? → ✓ Who likes this lesson?
🧪More natural examples
- Which student answered the last question?
- Which question did you answer first?
- Who is practicing speaking right now?
- Whose notebook is this? / Whose notebook did you borrow?
- They rely on online dictionaries. → What do they rely 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:
Subject vs Object Questions + Questions with Prepositions
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 vs Object Questions + Questions with Prepositions
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 vs Object Questions + Questions with Prepositions
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 ?