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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > A question    

A question



etibenben
Israel

A question
 

who did climb the tree?

or
 
who climbed the tree?
 
 
 
who did write the letter?
 
or
 
who wrote the letter?
 
 
Is it possible that both ways  are correct?

17 Mar 2012      





ascincoquinas
Portugal

Hi Etibenben!

Who climbed the tree?

who wrote the letter?

17 Mar 2012     



yanogator
United States

ascincoquinas is correct. Don �t use "did" in these questions. It is incorrect.
 
Bruce

17 Mar 2012     



cunliffe
United Kingdom

Both ways are correct, but it �s a question of emphasis. Ascinoquinas is correct, but if there was any doubt, you could use, �did � e.g.   �Right, so you didn �t climb the tree, Tiddles, but who did? Who did climb the tree? � 
There must be a better explanation - Bruce? Les?!!!

17 Mar 2012     



yanogator
United States

I didn �t think of Cunliffe �s example, which is definitely correct, but only as a response to a negative with "didn �t". In this case, we would use "did" to contradict the "didn �t".
 
I know you didn �t wreck my car, but who did wreck it? (with a definite stress on the word "did")
 
Bruce

17 Mar 2012     



gloriawpai
Brazil

There are object and subject questions. Check this link:

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/frage6.htm

17 Mar 2012     



epit
Turkey

Hi ,The second options are correct .At least I was taught  like that  andI didn �t  came accross with the structure  who did verb1? Hugs

17 Mar 2012     



etibenben
Israel

Hi

Thank you all, just like I thought...but wanted to make sure
 
I guess its all about the emphasis.
 
yours, Eti.

17 Mar 2012     



epit
Turkey

Could I ask ?do you agree as    correct the  emphasis in the exam papers of pupils ?

17 Mar 2012     



teacherica5
Croatia

When the answer to the question is SUBJECT, you don �t use an auxiliary verb.

e.g. Mary (S) wrote the letter to her boyfriend (O) last night.

Q: Who wrote the letter? A: Mary. - so this question is correct.

When the answer is OBJECT, you have to use an aux.verb.

Q: Who did Mary write the letter to?  A: to her boyfriend

Q: When did Mary write her letter?   A: Last night.

17 Mar 2012     



Apodo
Australia

@epit
For students doing a test, the correct form is:
 
Who climbed the tree?
 
Who wrote the letter?
 
 
(Unless they are advanced students, and the emphasised form was asked for, did climb and did write are wrong, and would sound wrong out of context)

18 Mar 2012