Page 98 - Just Enough English Grammar Illustrated Book

The previous chart shows an affirmative statement formed
in two ways. The most common way uses only a main verb.
Occasionally, both to do and a main verb are used. When
using do or does, you add emphasis to your statement. The
first four examples in each section—all statements—illustrate
the subject in the first position.

Questions that require only a “yes” or “no” answer
are called direct questions. These are common
in everyday language.

When forming direct questions, the subject Ben or we is placed
after the helping verb do or does. Use the present tense form
of to do (do or does) for present tense questions. Use the past
tense form did for anything that happened yesterday. The last
two examples in each section—all direct questions—illustrate
the subject in the second position.
Look at the following examples showing how other main and
helping verbs use the same pattern as the helping verb to do.
Examples: What kind of verb starts the question?

Is Jake in the pool? Is: main verb in present tense

Were you the winner? Were: main verb in past tense
Has: helping verb + written:
Has he written a book?
main verb past participle
Can: helping verb + eat:
Can we eat now?
main verb base form
Questions Beginning with a Question Marker
Like direct questions, most questions that begin with a question
marker, such as what, why, when, and how, follow inverted
word order. The question becomes an information question that
needs a more detailed answer than “yes” or “no.” The subject
in an information question appears after the helping verb.

Question Helping
Marker Verb Subject Main Verb
What did the manager fix ?
Why does Maria study ?
When do we eat ?

Inverted Order
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