WH Questions (In the Past)

In this lesson, you will learn how to ask information questions about the past using Wh-words.

1. What Are Wh-Questions?

Wh-questions ask for specific information, not just yes or no.

Common Wh-words:

• what
• where
• when
• why
• who
• how

2. Basic Structure of Wh-Questions in the Past

Most Wh-questions in the past use did.

Structure

Wh-word + did + subject + base verb?

Model: Where + did + she + go?

Examples

• What did you eat yesterday?
• Where did she go last night?
• When did they arrive?
• Why did he leave early?

3. Important Rule About the Verb

After did, the verb is always in the base form. We use base form because did already shows past tense.

✗ What did you ate?
✓ What did you eat?

✗ Where did she went?
✓ Where did she go?

4. Wh-Questions with BE in the Past

This is a special case. If the main verb is be in the past (was/were), the question pattern is different.

When the verb is was / were, do not use did.

Structure

Wh-word + was / were + subject?

Examples

• Where were you yesterday?
• Why was she angry?
• Who was at the party?

5. Wh-Questions Where the Wh-Word Is the Subject

When the Wh-word is the subject, it does the action, so we do not use did.

Examples

• Who called you last night?
• What happened after the meeting?
• Who broke the window?

(The Wh-word replaces the subject.)

Comparing Two Similar Questions

These two questions look similar, but they ask about different people:

• “Who did you call?” → You are asking about the object (the person you called).
• “Who called you?” → You are asking about the subject (the person who did the action).

(The structure changes because the subject changes.)

7. Easy Way to Remember

• Most past questions: Wh-word + did + base verb
• With was/were: Wh-word + was/were + subject
• Do not use did when the Wh-word is the subject