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Forming Questions: Indirect, Tag, and Subject Forms: correct answers

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Forming Questions: Indirect, Tag, and Subject Forms

Forming questions in English can be tricky, especially when moving beyond basic yes/no structures. For example, subject questions don't use auxiliary "do" verbs ("Who ate the cake?" instead of "Who did eat the cake?"), while indirect questions revert to standard affirmative word order ("Do you know where the bank is?" instead of "Do you know where is the bank?").

This challenge will test your ability to navigate these complex interrogative structures. Inside, you will practice identifying correct subject and object questions, structuring polite indirect questions, and forming accurate tag questions (including the tricky exception "aren't I?"). You'll also tackle negative questions used to express surprise and correctly place prepositions at the ends of informal questions.

You'll work through 15 questions in single-choice, multi-choice, drop-down, and drag-and-drop formats.

Try the quiz to check your knowledge!

MediumB1 | IntermediateB1B2 | Upper IntermediateB2Auxiliary verbClauseComplex sentenceIndirect speechIrregular verbNegationObjectPast tensePhrasal verbPrepositionPresent tensePronounQuestionsSubjectVerbVerb tensePerfect tenseProgressive tenseSimple tenseWord orderCollocations

Correct answers

Question 1

Complete the roommates' argument in the dark by selecting the right tag questions.
"You paid the power bill, _________________________? I gave you the cash for it yesterday! I am the one who usually pays it, _________________________, so it was your turn!"

The correct answers are didn't you and aren't I.

Tag questions use the auxiliary verb that matches the tense of the main sentence, but with the opposite polarity (positive sentence → negative tag).

For the past simple verb "paid," the negative tag is didn't you?

For the phrase "I am," the grammatically correct negative tag is the irregular form aren't I? (since "amn't I" is not standard English).

Question 2

Your nosy roommate is desperate to get the gossip about your mysterious Friday night date. Select ALL the grammatically correct questions they could ask you.

The correct answers are Who are you going out with?, With whom are you going out?, and What restaurant are you going to?.

In English questions, prepositions usually go at the very end of the sentence in informal and standard speech (e.g., Who are you going out with?).

In highly formal speech, the preposition can move to the front of the question word (e.g., With whom are you going out?).

You cannot double up the object ("with him") when the question word ("Who") already serves that purpose, and you cannot simply drop the required preposition ("going to").

Question 3

Help the detective interrogate the suspects by choosing the correct question.

The detective narrowed his eyes. "I know someone ate the last jelly donut, but I need to know: ___"

The correct answer is who ate it?.

When a question word (like "who" or "what") is the subject of the sentence, we do not use an auxiliary verb like "do" or "did." We simply use the standard subject-verb order.

Question 4

A hungry tourist is trying to find a legendary hidden bakery. Help them sound polite by selecting ALL the correctly formed indirect questions.

The correct answers are Could you tell me where the bakery is?, Do you know what time they open?, and I was wondering if they sell chocolate croissants.

In indirect questions, we use standard sentence word order (Subject + Verb) instead of question word order. We do not use auxiliary verbs like do/does/did, and we do not invert the subject and the verb.

Therefore, "where the bakery is" is correct, while "where is the bakery" is incorrect in this context.

Question 5

Help the frantic party host piece together the evening's disasters by choosing the correct verb for each question.

I need to know immediately: who brought that terrifying neon green gelatin salad to my house? Also, why did the dog bite the mailman, and how long had he been hiding under the sofa?

I need to know immediately: who brought that terrifying neon green gelatin salad to my house?

When "who" is the subject of the question, we do not use the auxiliary verb "did." We just use the past tense verb directly (who brought).

Also, why did the dog bite the mailman...

In a standard object question in the simple past tense, we use the auxiliary "did" followed by the subject ("the dog") and the base verb ("bite").

...and how long had he been hiding under the sofa?

"Had been hiding" is the past perfect continuous tense. The entire story is set in the past ("brought," "did bite"), so the hiding — which was already ongoing at that past moment — uses "had," not "has."

Question 6

Complete the tourist's polite inquiry by selecting the grammatically correct option.

"Excuse me," the confused tourist asked. "Could you tell me ___?"

The correct answer is where the Museum of Bad Art is.

This is an indirect question. In indirect questions (phrases starting with "Could you tell me...", "Do you know...", etc.), we use normal sentence word order (Subject + Verb) instead of the inverted question word order.

Question 7

Help the shocked dinner host confront her supposedly vegan guest by selecting the correct negative question forms.
"Wait a minute, _________________________ supposed to be a strict vegan? ____________________________ me last week that cheese was your mortal enemy?"

The correct answers are aren't you and Didn't you tell.

We often use negative questions to express surprise or to check if something we believe to be true is actually true.

"Aren't you supposed to be..." checks a present expectation.

"Didn't you tell me last week..." uses the past simple because of the specific past time marker ("last week").

Question 8

Assist the confused time traveler in asking polite, indirect questions without sounding entirely crazy. Choose the correct phrase for each blank.

"Excuse me, could you tell me where the nearest horse parking is located? Also, do you happen to know what century we are in? Finally, I was wondering if anyone has seen my misplaced time machine."

"Excuse me, could you tell me where the nearest horse parking is located?

In indirect questions, we use affirmative statement word order (subject + verb) rather than question word order.

Also, do you happen to know what century we are in?

Again, the indirect question requires statement word order ("we are in") instead of the inverted question order ("are we in").

Finally, I was wondering if anyone has seen my misplaced time machine."

"Anyone" is a singular pronoun, so it takes the singular auxiliary "has." Indirect yes/no questions often start with "if" or "whether" followed by standard subject-verb word order.

Question 9

Help Detective Barnaby interrogate the bewildered pastry chef by choosing the correct question forms for his report.
"Alright, let's get the facts straight. First of all, who _________________________ the giant chocolate sculpture from the kitchen? And more importantly, who _________________________ running away with a pocket full of frosting?"

The correct answers are stole and did you see.

When the question word (like who) is the subject of the sentence, we do not use an auxiliary verb like do or did. We just use the main verb (Who stole the sculpture?).

When the question word is the object of the sentence, we must use an auxiliary verb (Who did you see?).

Question 10

Your roommate ate your leftover pizza. You want to know: "Someone gave him permission." Which question has the preposition in the correct position for everyday English?

The correct answer is "Who did you get permission from?"

In everyday spoken English, the preposition goes at the end of the question: Who did you get permission from?

"From who did you get permission?" is close to the formal pattern, but formal English requires "whom" (From whom did you get permission?). The other two options place the preposition in impossible positions — it cannot go between the auxiliary and the verb or between the question word and the auxiliary.

Question 11

Select the correct question to complete the friend's reaction.

"Stop staring at my neon green boots!" Julian said. "What ___?"

The correct answer is are you looking at.

In English, it is very common and grammatically correct to end a Wh- question with a preposition (like "at"). The present progressive tense ("are you looking") is used here because the action is happening right now.

Question 12

Complete the lost tourist's polite inquiries by selecting the correct word order for indirect questions.
"Excuse me, could you tell me where _______________________________? Also, do you happen to know what time _________________________ today?"

The correct answers are the UFO museum is and it opens.

In indirect questions (questions that start with phrases like "Could you tell me..." or "Do you know..."), the word order changes back to a normal affirmative sentence structure (Subject + Verb).

We do not use question word order (Verb + Subject) or auxiliary verbs like do/does/did in the second part of the sentence.

Question 13

Choose the correct phrase to complete the pet owner's question.

"You remembered to feed the grumpy cat this morning, ___?"

The correct answer is didn't you.

This is a tag question. Because the main statement is positive and in the simple past tense ("remembered"), the tag must be negative and use the corresponding past tense auxiliary verb ("didn't").

Question 14

A panicked party host just realized the dessert table is completely empty! Choose ALL the correctly structured negative questions the host might ask to express their surprise.

The correct answers are Didn't you bring the chocolate cake?, Did you not bring the chocolate cake?, and Haven't you ordered the dessert yet?.

Negative questions are often used to express surprise or confirm an expectation.

When using a contraction, the negative attaches to the auxiliary verb at the beginning of the sentence (Didn't you...?).

If you choose not to use a contraction, the word not must go directly after the subject (Did you not...?). "Did not you...?" is grammatically incorrect. Also, remember to keep the correct verb form for perfect tenses (Haven't you ordered...).

Question 15

Help Detective Paws interview the main suspect about the missing masterpiece. Select ALL the grammatically correct questions the detective can ask.

The correct answers are Who stole the famous painting?, Who did you see near the museum vault?, and Who reported the crime to the police?.

When the question word (like Who) is the subject of the sentence, we do not use auxiliary verbs like do/does/did. We just use the normal verb order (e.g., Who stole...?).

When the question word is the object, we must use an auxiliary verb and invert the subject and verb (e.g., Who did you see...?).

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