Subject and Object Questions: Who Called? Who Did You Call? (A2 Grammar)
Is the person at the start of the answer (My brother called me)? Then put the past form right after Who, with no did.
Who called? (no did)
My brother called me. → Who called you?
Not "Who did call you?" — say "Who called you?". My brother is at the start of the answer, so there is no did.
Try it: Ira: ___ about the new rule? Amina: A teacher told me. We can't eat in class now. Choose Ira's question. (Who did tell you / Who told you / Who did you tell) Answer: Who told you — A teacher is at the start of the answer, so the question has no did: Who told you?
Who did you call? (did)
Is the person after the verb (I called my brother)? Then use did + the base verb: Who did you call?
I called my brother. → Who did you call?
Not "Who you called?" — say "Who did you call?". The answer comes after the verb (I called my brother), so you need did.
Try it: Ira: ___ at the concert? Amina: I saw a friend from my art class. Choose Ira's question. (Who saw you / Who did you help / Who helped you / Who did you see) Answer: Who did you see — Amina saw the friend, so the friend comes after the verb, and the question takes did: Who did you see?
What happened?
What happened? asks about an event. The past form comes right after What, with no did.
What happened on the bus?
Not "What did happen?" — say "What happened?". No did in What happened?
Try it: Ira: ___? There's paper everywhere in the hall. Amina: A box fell off the table. Choose Ira's question. (What happened / What did happen / Who called / Who did call) Answer: What happened — What happened? has no did: the past form comes right after What.
Where is the answer?
Look at the answer. Is the person at the start, before the verb? Ask with no did. Is the person after the verb? Ask with did.
The teacher helped me. → Who helped you?
I helped the teacher. → Who did you help?
Try it: Amina: Somebody visited me last night. Ira: Really? ___? Choose Ira's question. (Who did you call / Who called you / Who visited you / Who did you visit) Answer: Who visited you — Somebody visited Amina, and Ira asks about that person, at the start: Who visited you? No did.
What are the common mistakes?
Incorrect
Correct
Why
Who did call you?
Who called you?
My brother is at the start of the answer, so there is no did.
Who you called?
Who did you call?
The answer comes after the verb (I called my brother), so you need did.