How to form questions in English (easily!) with QUASM

Summary

In this educational video, the host introduces a methodical approach to forming questions in English using the 'QUASM' acronym, which stands for Question word, Auxiliary verb, Subject, Main verb. The lesson covers various verb tenses, including simple present, simple past, present continuous, past continuous, present perfect, and future tenses. The host explains the use of auxiliary verbs like 'do', 'did', 'are', 'were', 'have', 'has', 'will', and modal verbs in question formation. Additionally, the video addresses exceptions to the 'QUASM' rule, such as yes/no questions and questions with the main verb 'be'. To reinforce learning, a free PDF guide and quiz are offered for download, and viewers are invited to join the host's Advanced English Grammar course for further study.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video teaches a method for forming questions in English with correct grammar.
• 🔑 The acronym 'QUASM' is introduced to remember the question formation formula: Question word, Auxiliary verb, Subject, Main verb.
• ⏰ The formula is applied to various verb tenses, starting with the simple present tense.
• 🗣️ In the simple present, 'do' or 'does' is used as the auxiliary verb, and the main verb is in its base form.
• 🕒 The simple past tense uses 'did' as the auxiliary verb, and the main verb is also in its base form.
• 🔄 The present continuous and past continuous tenses use 'are/is/am' and 'were/was' as auxiliary verbs, with the main verb in 'ing' form.
• 💰 The present perfect uses 'have/has' as the auxiliary verb, with the main verb in the past participle form.
• 🔮 Future tenses use 'will' or 'going to' as auxiliary verbs, with the main verb in the base form or 'going to' followed by the base form.
• 🚫 There are exceptions to the QUASM pattern, such as yes/no questions and questions where the main verb is 'be'.
• 📝 The video offers a free PDF guide and quiz for practice, as well as links to lessons on special cases not following the QUASM pattern.

Q & A

What is the acronym used to form questions in English, according to the video?

The acronym is 'QUASM,' which stands for Question word, Auxiliary verb, Subject, and Main verb.

How do you form a question in the simple present tense using QUASM?

In the simple present tense, you use 'do' or 'does' as the auxiliary verb, depending on the subject. For example, 'What does Martha think about the project?' follows the QUASM pattern.

What is the auxiliary verb used in the simple past tense when forming a question?

The auxiliary verb used in the simple past tense is always 'did,' regardless of the subject.

How do you form a question in the present continuous tense using QUASM?

In the present continuous tense, the auxiliary verbs are 'am,' 'is,' or 'are,' depending on the subject, and the main verb is in the -ing form. For example, 'What are you doing?'

What is the difference in forming questions in the present perfect simple and present perfect continuous tenses?

In the present perfect simple, the auxiliary verb is 'have' or 'has,' and the main verb is in the past participle form. In the present perfect continuous, the auxiliary verb is 'have been' or 'has been,' and the main verb is in the -ing form.

Can you explain how to form questions in the future tense using QUASM?

To form questions in the future tense, you can use 'will' as the auxiliary verb (e.g., 'Who will you invite?'), or use 'going to' with 'am,' 'is,' or 'are' as the auxiliary verb (e.g., 'When are you going to clean your room?').

How do modal verbs like 'should,' 'could,' or 'would' fit into the QUASM pattern?

Modal verbs such as 'should,' 'could,' or 'would' act as the auxiliary verb in the QUASM pattern. For example, 'What would you do if you had a million dollars?'

What type of questions do not use a question word but still follow the QUASM pattern?

Yes/no questions do not use a question word but still follow the auxiliary verb, subject, main verb pattern. For example, 'Do you like bananas?' or 'Will you call me when you get home?'

Are there any exceptions to the QUASM pattern in question formation?

Yes, questions using the verb 'to be' (e.g., 'Are you thirsty?') and indirect questions or reported questions do not follow the QUASM pattern.

What resources are available at the end of the video for additional practice?

The video offers a free downloadable PDF guide with a quiz to practice forming questions, as well as links to other lessons and courses on complex grammar topics.