Wh-Questions - Past Form

Wh- questions always begin with one of the wh- question words (interrogative pronouns), which show what kind of information is wanted. {see Wh- Questions, A1 Level}

We can also use them to ask questions about the past.

To ask questions about the past, it is sufficient just to conjugate the verb in the past form.

With an auxiliary verb:
Wh-question word + auxiliary verb (past form) + subject + verb +…?

Without an auxiliary verb:
What/who + verb (past form) + …?
Which/whose + noun + verb (past form) + …?

With a modal verb:
Wh-question word + modal verb (past form) + subject + verb + …?
Wh-question word + auxiliary verb (past form) + subject + modal verb + verb + …?

With an auxiliary verb:

• Where did you travel last year?
• Why did you buy a new car?
• What did you do yesterday?

Without an auxiliary verb:

• What broke down the PC?
• Who called the police?
• Whose phone rang?

With a modal verb:

• How should he tell her he is a prince?
• What could I do at that moment?
• Why did you need to judge everyone?

We can use wh-words to form questions in the past:

• With an auxiliary verb;
• Without an auxiliary verb;
• With a modal verb.

Wh- questions always begin with one of the wh- question words (when, where, why, which, what, whose, who, whom and how), which show what kind of information is wanted. We can also use wh-words to form questions in the past.

For example:
— With an auxiliary verb: “Where did you sleep last night?” = It asks for the place where the action happens.
— Without an auxiliary verb: “Who programmed this software?” = It asks about the subject of this action.
— With a modal verb: “When will you arrive?” = It asks for the time when the action happens.

Let’s revise this content within the [Form] section. Take a look at the [Example] section that shows its use within a context.