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Make a questions without auxiliary verb

English Language & Usage Asked on June 4, 2021

As a non-native speaker, I found some context in movies or general speaking, they make a questions without an auxiliary verb for example

  • Who knows the answer?
  • Who wants to go to Thailand ?

Why those questions above do not need an auxiliary verb? (Or actually they do ?)

Then, how do we identify when we must use an auxiliary verb to make a question ?

2 Answers

All main clause interrogatives but those questioning the subject have subject-auxiliary inversion and those lacking an auxiliary verb require the addition of dummy-do.

How do you answer this question?

Who do you know best?

Do I know you?

He went home.

He did go home.

Did he go home?

We question the subject using interrogative words who, which or what only. We may use an auxiliary verb, but there is no inversion.

Who came back early?

Who can come back early?

What dropped from the tree?

What did drop from the tree?

Which (shop) has the best apples?

Which (shop) will have the best apples?

Answered by DW256 on June 4, 2021

Is it correct to say

  1. What makes her flatmate happy? or
  2. What did make her flatmate happy?

Answered by user420958 on June 4, 2021

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