In Who moved the boxes?, the missing information is the subject: someone moved them. In Who did you meet?, you is already the subject; the missing person is the object.
The idea
For an ordinary affirmative subject question, put who, what or which + noun in the subject position. Keep the verb tense: Who moved? Retain an existing auxiliary: Who is carrying it?
Examples
- Who moved the paint boxes yesterday?
- Who did you meet outside the bakery?
- What makes that noise every night?
- Which bus stops near the museum?
- Who is carrying the spare ladder?
- Which volunteers helped yesterday?
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Watch out
Do not remove is from a continuous question. Do not use did helped: after did, use the base form. Emphatic and negative questions can use do even when asking about the subject.
Try it yourself
Choose the correct option. Who ___ the paint boxes yesterday? (moved / moving)
Show answer or example answer
moved
Moved supplies the past-simple verb after subject who. Moving alone cannot form this complete question.
Choose the correct option. Who did you ___ outside the bakery? (meet / met)
Show answer or example answer
meet
After auxiliary did, use base meet. Here you is the subject and who asks about the object.
Choose the correct option. Which volunteers ___ yesterday? (helped / did helped)
Show answer or example answer
helped
Which volunteers is the subject, followed by past helped. Did helped incorrectly combines did with a past form.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
Choose the correct option. Who ___ the paint boxes yesterday? (moved / moving)
Choose the correct option. Who did you ___ outside the bakery? (meet / met)
Choose the correct option. Which volunteers ___ yesterday? (helped / did helped)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
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Write a sentence about a friend helping a neighbour. Ask one question about who helped and another about whom the friend helped; check which person is already named as the subject.