Question Order (Hard) — Present Perfect & Passive Questions
B1-B2 Level
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Subject questions are a major challenge at this level. When 'who' or 'what' is the subject, you do not add a helper verb: 'Who wrote this letter?' not 'Who did write this letter?' But when 'who' or 'what' is the object, the normal question pattern returns: 'Who did you invite?' Mixed-tense questions (past perfect, future continuous, conditional) add further complexity because each tense has its own helper verb pattern. Being able to form questions accurately across all tenses is essential for Cambridge B2 First and IELTS examinations.
Quick Rule
Have/Has/Had + subject + (been +) past participle / -ing? | Was/Were + subject + past participle (passive)? | Who/What + verb (subject question, no helper)?
- 1.Have you ever visited a country in South America? (present perfect question)
- 2.Was the window broken during the storm? (passive voice question)
- 3.Who invented the telephone? (subject question — no helper verb needed)
- 4.How long had she been waiting before you arrived? (past perfect continuous question)
- 5.What hasn't been decided yet? (negative passive subject question)
All 20 questions
Form a correct question from the words given. Add any necessary auxiliary verbs or words. Pay attention to tense and sentence type.
Form a question from these words:
you / ever / be / Japan ?
Form a question from these words:
What / you / do / when / phone / ring ?
Form a question from these words:
When / the bridge / build ?
Form a question from these words:
What / you / do / if / lose / job ?
Form a question from these words:
How long / she / work / that company ?
Form a question from these words:
Where / the meeting / hold / yesterday ?
Form a question from these words:
How often / he / go / gym ?
Form a question from these words:
they / finish / project / yet ?
Form a question from these words:
Why / she / study / library / when / I / call ?
Form a question from these words:
the report / send / all staff / this morning ?
Form a question from these words:
How / you / feel / if / win / competition ?
Form a question from these words:
you / see / news / about / accident ?
Form a question from these words:
What / they / discuss / when / you / arrive ?
Form a question from these words:
How many people / invite / party ?
Form a question from these words:
Where / you / live / before / move / here ?
Form a question from these words:
What / happen / if / press / this button ?
Form a question from these words:
the email / already / send / client ?
Form a question from these words:
Who / cook / dinner / when / I / come / home ?
Form a question from these words:
How long / take / build / hospital ?
Form a question from these words:
What / you / achieve / if / have / more time ?
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