Question Formation Guide: Practice With Underlined Words

Hey guys! Today, we're diving into the art of forming questions from underlined words. It's a crucial skill for understanding grammar and constructing clear, effective inquiries. We'll be taking a look at some sentences and transforming them into questions based on the underlined portions. So, let's get started and unravel the mysteries of question formation!

1. He lived in a small flat in London.

Okay, so our first sentence is: "He lived in a small flat in London." The underlined part gives us a specific location, so we need a question that asks about place. The key here is to use a question word that targets location. Hmmm, which one could it be? You guessed it! "Where" is our magic word. We need to ask, “Where did he live?”. This question directly addresses the location mentioned in the original sentence. Remember, the goal is to extract information related to the underlined part, and "where" does just that for places.

When forming questions, it's essential to pay attention to the tense of the original sentence. In this case, "lived" is in the past simple tense. Therefore, our question must also reflect this tense. That's why we use "did" as an auxiliary verb to form the past simple question. The structure we're following here is question word (where) + auxiliary verb (did) + subject (he) + base form of the verb (live). Mastering this structure is a fundamental step in building strong question-forming skills. Think about other sentences describing locations – can you transform them into questions using "where"? For instance, if the sentence was "She works at the library," the question would naturally be "Where does she work?" By practicing with different examples, you'll strengthen your grasp of question formation and be able to confidently tackle any sentence that comes your way. So, let's move on to the next example and see what other question-forming challenges await us!

2. We will learn about the Ancient Greeks.

Next up, we have: "We will learn about the Ancient Greeks." The underlined portion refers to a specific subject or topic of study. So, what question word should we use to inquire about the topic? Think about it… Yep, “What” is the word we need! We're not asking about where, when, or how, but rather the subject itself. Thus, the question becomes, “What will we learn about?”. This question precisely targets the information about the topic of study.

When forming this question, we've kept the future tense intact since the original sentence uses "will learn." The structure here is question word (what) + auxiliary verb (will) + subject (we) + base form of the verb (learn) + preposition (about). Paying attention to verb tenses ensures that your questions are grammatically correct and accurately reflect the timing of the action. Furthermore, notice how the preposition "about" is placed at the end of the question. This is a common practice in English when the preposition is related to the question word. It might seem a little unconventional at first, but with practice, it becomes second nature. Consider other sentences discussing topics, such as "They are discussing climate change." How would you transform that into a question? You'd likely ask, "What are they discussing?" By identifying the specific information requested by the underlined word and using the correct question word, you can formulate clear and focused inquiries. Keep practicing, and you'll become a question-forming pro in no time!

3. Miss Jones is my favourite teacher.

Alright, let's tackle this one: "Miss Jones is my favourite teacher." Here, the underlined part refers to a specific person. So, we need a question that asks about someone's identity. The go-to question word for this situation is “Who”. It's the perfect tool for figuring out the individual in question. Therefore, the question we form is, “Who is your favorite teacher?”. Notice how we've shifted the perspective from "my" in the original sentence to "your" in the question. This adjustment makes the question directly relevant to the person being asked.

When we form this question, we're essentially seeking to identify a person based on a specific role or characteristic, in this case, being someone's favorite teacher. The structure we've used here is question word (who) + verb (is) + subject (your favorite teacher). The verb "is" directly links the question word to the subject, making the question straightforward and easy to understand. Think about other sentences that identify people, such as "The president will be visiting tomorrow." How would you transform that into a question using "who"? You might ask, "Who will be visiting tomorrow?" By practicing these transformations, you'll become adept at using "who" to gather information about individuals. Remember, the key is to identify the part of the sentence that refers to a person and then craft your question accordingly. So, let's move on to the next example and continue honing our question-forming skills!

4. She's 45 years old.

Now, let's look at this sentence: "She's 45 years old." The underlined part gives us a specific age. So, what question word do we use to inquire about age? Think about how you ask someone how old they are. The phrase we need here is “How old”. It’s a special case where two words work together to form a question word. So, the question becomes, “How old is she?”. This question directly addresses the age mentioned in the original statement.

When formulating this question, we’re aiming to extract a numerical piece of information, specifically the age. The structure we're following is a bit different here, with the phrase "how old" acting as a unit. The structure is phrase (how old) + verb (is) + subject (she). It's crucial to remember that "how old" is treated as a single unit when forming questions. It’s not just “how” or “old” alone, but the combination that conveys the meaning of age. Think about other sentences that include age information, like "My brother is 20 years old." How would you turn that into a question? You'd ask, "How old is your brother?" By focusing on the information about age and using the phrase "how old" correctly, you can create accurate and effective questions. Remember, practice makes perfect! So, let’s continue with the next example and keep building our question-forming expertise.

5. We are traveling to Spain by airplane.

Okay, let's break down this sentence: "We are traveling to Spain by airplane." The underlined part tells us the method of transportation. What question word do we use to ask about the method or manner in which something is done? That's right, it's “How”. It's our trusty tool for inquiring about the means of transportation or the way something is accomplished. Therefore, the question we form is, “How are we traveling to Spain?”. This question directly targets the method of travel.

When we craft this question, we're not interested in the destination (where), the time (when), or the reason (why), but rather the mode of transportation. The structure here is question word (how) + auxiliary verb (are) + subject (we) + verb (traveling) + prepositional phrase (to Spain). It’s important to maintain the present continuous tense in the question to match the original sentence's tense. This consistency ensures that your question accurately reflects the ongoing nature of the action. Think about other sentences that describe methods or manners, such as "She fixed the car with a wrench." How would you transform that into a question? You’d likely ask, “How did she fix the car?” By identifying the method described in the sentence and using “how” correctly, you can formulate questions that extract specific details about the process or means involved. So, let's move forward with the next example and further sharpen our question-forming skills!

6. Julia and her sister went to the park.

Alright, let's tackle this sentence: "Julia and her sister went to the park." The underlined portion refers to a person, specifically a family member. So, we need a question that asks about who accompanied Julia to the park. In this case, the best question word to use is “Who”. We want to know the identity of the person who joined Julia. Thus, the question becomes, “Who went to the park with Julia?”. This question directly addresses the person who accompanied Julia.

When forming this question, we're focusing on identifying the individual who participated in the action alongside Julia. The structure we've used here is question word (who) + verb (went) + prepositional phrase (to the park) + prepositional phrase (with Julia). Notice how we've maintained the past simple tense in the question to align with the original sentence's tense. This consistency is crucial for grammatical accuracy. Consider other sentences that involve multiple people, such as "Tom and his friends are playing basketball." How would you transform that into a question using "who"? You might ask, "Who is playing basketball with Tom?" By identifying the person or people you want to inquire about and using "who" effectively, you can craft questions that elicit specific information about individuals involved in an action. So, let's recap what we've learned and solidify our understanding of question formation.

Wrapping Up: Mastering the Art of Question Formation

Alright guys, we've covered a lot of ground today in mastering the art of forming questions from underlined words! We've explored different question words and how they correspond to various types of information, such as location, topic, identity, age, and method. Remember, the key to successful question formation is identifying what the underlined word represents and then choosing the appropriate question word to target that information.

We used “Where” for locations, “What” for topics, “Who” for people, “How old” for age, and “How” for methods. By carefully analyzing the sentence and selecting the correct question word, you can craft clear, concise, and effective questions. Keep practicing, and you'll become a question-forming superstar in no time! Remember, asking the right questions is not only crucial for grammar but also for communication and understanding the world around us. So, keep questioning, keep learning, and keep mastering the art of question formation! You've got this!