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Unit 45 · Questions

Who saw you? Who did you see?

Study

A
subject Silvia saw Paul
Somebody saw Paul.
Who saw Paul?
Silvia. (Silvia saw him.)
who is the **subject**
Paul is the **object**
object Silvia saw somebody
Who did Silvia see?
Paul. (She saw Paul.)
who is the **object**
Silvia is the **subject**
B

In these questions, who/what is the subject:

›

Who lives in this house? (= somebody lives in it – who?)

(not Who does live?)

›

What happened? (= something happened – what?)

(not What did happen?)

›

What's happening? (What's = What is)

›

Who's got my key? (Who's = Who has)

In these questions, who/what is the object:

›

Who did you meet yesterday? (= you met somebody – who?)

›

What did Paul say? (= Paul said something – what?)

›

Who are you phoning?

›

What was Silvia wearing?

Compare:

›

George likes oranges. → Who likes oranges? – George.

›

What does George like? – Oranges.

›

Jane won a new car. → Who won a new car? – Jane.

›

What did Jane win? – A new car.

C

Use who for people (somebody). Use what for things, ideas etc. (something):

›

Who is your favourite singer?

›

What is your favourite song?

Exercises (3)

0/3 exercises checked
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45.1

Make questions with who or what. In these questions, who/what is the subject.

  1. 1
    Somebody broke the window.
    Who broke the window? example
  2. 2
    Something fell off the shelf.
  3. 3
    Somebody wants to see you.
    me?
  4. 4
    Somebody took my umbrella.
  5. 5
    Something made me ill.
  6. 6
    Somebody is coming.
45.2

Make questions with who or what (subject or object).

  1. 1
    I bought something.
    What did you buy? example
  2. 2
    Somebody lives in this house.
    Who lives in this house? example
  3. 3
    I phoned somebody.
  4. 4
    Something happened last night.
  5. 5
    Somebody knows the answer.
  6. 6
    Somebody did the washing-up.
  7. 7
    Jane did something.
  8. 8
    Something woke me up.
  9. 9
    Somebody saw the accident.
  10. 10
    I saw somebody.
  11. 11
    Somebody has got my pen.
  12. 12
    This word means something.
45.3

You want the missing information (XXXXX). Write questions with who or what.

  1. 1
    I lost XXXXX yesterday, but fortunately XXXXX found it and gave it back to me.
    What did you lose? Who found it? example
  2. 2
    XXXXX phoned me last night. She wanted XXXXX.
    Who ? What ?
  3. 3
    I needed some advice, so I asked XXXXX. He said XXXXX.
    Who ? What ?
  4. 4
    I hear that XXXXX got married last week. XXXXX told me.
    Who ? Who ?
  5. 5
    I met XXXXX on my way home this evening. She told me XXXXX.
    Who ? What ?
  6. 6
    Steve and I played tennis yesterday. XXXXX won. After the game we XXXXX.
    Who ? What ?
  7. 7
    It was my birthday last week and I had some presents. XXXXX gave me a book and Catherine gave me XXXXX.
    Who ? What ?