Peter Mangiaracina.

This presentation explains the predictable order of most English questions. It separates the pattern into a question word or phrase, an auxiliary, the subject, the main verb, and any additional information needed to complete the question.

It also covers questions in which who or what is the subject, questions without a question word, and the verb forms used after different auxiliaries.

Important points

• The usual pattern is question word + auxiliary + subject + verb + the rest.
• A complete question phrase, such as what kind of music, works as one unit.
• When who or what is the subject, do not add do, does, or did.
• The auxiliary normally comes before the subject.
• Yes/no questions omit the question word but keep the order auxiliary + subject + verb + the rest.

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