English Oral Practice: More WH Questions with "DID" (Simple Past Tense)

Summary

In this video, JC helps viewers practice English WH-questions in the simple past tense, focusing on using the auxiliary verb 'did.' The video covers a range of examples, including questions using who, what, when, where, and why. JC also introduces the faster speech variations of these questions and offers tips on how to make them sound more natural in conversation. By the end of the session, viewers should be able to confidently form WH-questions in the simple past tense, both in their basic and fast speech forms.

Takeaways

• 😀 WH questions in English begin with words like who, what, when, where, and why.
• 😀 WH questions in the simple past tense use the auxiliary verb 'did' before the subject.
• 😀 In fast speech, contractions are commonly used, e.g., 'Where'd' instead of 'Where did'.
• 😀 The structure for forming WH questions in the past tense: [Question Word] + did + Subject + base verb.
• 😀 For 'who' questions about the subject, no 'did' is used, e.g., 'Who sang at the wedding reception?'
• 😀 The verb 'to be' in the past tense (e.g., 'was', 'were') does not require 'did', e.g., 'Why was your flight delayed?'
• 😀 Practice sentences focus on different WH question words, like 'where', 'why', 'what', and 'when'.
• 😀 Fast speech often drops the auxiliary 'did', especially in informal speech, e.g., 'Where'd Joanne study music?'
• 😀 The script offers 15 practical examples of how to form WH questions in past tense using real-life scenarios.
• 😀 Repetition of questions with fast speech versions encourages learners to get used to conversational English and informal contractions.

Q & A

What is the focus of the lesson in the transcript?

The lesson focuses on practicing WH questions in the simple past tense using the auxiliary verb 'did'.

How is the structure of WH questions in the past tense generally formed?

WH questions in the past tense are formed using the following structure: Question Word + Did + Subject + Base Verb.

What is a key difference in fast speech when asking WH questions in the past tense?

In fast speech, people often contract phrases, such as 'Where did' becoming 'Where'd', or 'What did' becoming 'What'd'.

In the sentence 'Joanne studied music at Dalhousie University,' how would you ask a question using 'where'?

You would ask, 'Where did Joanne study music?' or in faster speech, 'Where'd Joanne study music?'

Why does the sentence 'Shirley sang at the wedding reception' not require 'did' when asking a question with 'who'?

When 'who' is the subject of the sentence, 'did' is not needed because 'who' is already acting as the subject.

What is the correct structure to ask a question about 'when' he finished work in the past?

The correct structure is 'When did he finish work?' or in fast speech, 'When'd he finish work?'

How would you ask a question about 'why' they went to the store using the simple past tense?

The correct question is 'Why did they go to the store?' or in faster speech, 'Why'd they go to the store?'

What happens when the verb 'to be' (was/were) is used in the sentence?

When 'to be' is used in the past tense (e.g., 'was' or 'were'), 'did' is not needed in the question. For example, 'Why was your flight delayed?'

How can you ask about an action someone did after work in the past tense?

You can ask, 'What did he do after work?' or in faster speech, 'What'd he do after work?'

How can you ask about the subject of a sentence using 'who' in the past tense?

To ask about the subject, you would simply use 'who' followed by the base verb, without 'did'. For example, 'Who repaired your car quickly?'