Subject-Verb Inversion: Questions and special constructions

Select the sentence that correctly forms a simple yes/no question.

• They are going to the movies?

• Are they going to the movies?

• Going are they to the movies?

• They going to the movies are?

Answer explanation

To form a yes/no question with the verb 'be', the verb is inverted (moved) to before the subject. The other options show incorrect word order.

Complete the sentence: _____ your friend at the skatepark yesterday?

• Is

• Did

• Was

• Does

Answer explanation

The verb 'be' is used here as the main verb in the past tense ('yesterday'). 'Was' correctly agrees with the singular subject 'your friend'.

True or False: To ask a question with a modal verb like 'should,' you place it before the subject, as in 'Should we leave now?'

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is the correct way to form a question with a modal auxiliary verb. The modal inverts with the subject, and no 'do' support is needed.

Identify the sentence that correctly asks a question where the 'wh-' word is the subject.

• Who did write this song?

• Who wrote this song?

• Did who write this song?

• Who this song was written by?

Answer explanation

When the 'wh-' word (like 'who' or 'what') is the subject of the question, the sentence keeps the standard subject-verb order and does not use inversion.

Complete the question: _____ there any good seats left for the concert?

• Is

• Are

• Do

• Does

Answer explanation

When asking a question with 'there', the verb 'be' is inverted. 'Are' is used because the subject, 'seats', is plural.

Which question is formed correctly from the statement 'She has been practicing the guitar'?

• Has been she practicing the guitar?

• Does she has been practicing the guitar?

• Has she been practicing the guitar?

• Been she has practicing the guitar?

Answer explanation

In a verb phrase with multiple auxiliary verbs, only the first auxiliary verb ('has') moves before the subject to form a question.

True or False: The sentence 'My mom asked what time is the party' uses the correct grammar for an indirect (or embedded) question.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Indirect questions, which are part of a larger statement, do not use subject-verb inversion. The correct form is 'My mom asked what time the party is.'

Choose the sentence that forms a negative question correctly and naturally.

• Why not you are listening?

• Why are not you listening?

• Why aren't you listening?

• Why you aren't listening?

Answer explanation

In negative questions, the contraction (like 'aren't') is placed before the subject. If not contracted, the order would be 'Why are you not listening?'.

Complete the sentence: How many siblings _____ your cousin have?

• do

• has

• is

• does

Answer explanation

When 'have' is the main verb (showing possession), questions are formed with 'do-support'. 'Does' is used for the third-person singular subject 'your cousin'.

True or False: To make the sentence 'He is a good player' a question, it is grammatically correct to write 'Does he be a good player?'

• True

• False

Answer explanation

'Do-support' is not used with the verb 'be'. The correct inversion is simply 'Is he a good player?'.