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Nathan mckane Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Who said / who did say

Hi dear teachers!
There are some questions troubling my mind. I have learned that the wh words must be followed by the auxilary word did when talking about past but I regularly come across such questions:

Who said I'm stupid?
Who invented ice pops?
what happened to the teacher?

Shoudn't they be as follows?

Who did say I'm stupid?
Who did invent ice pops?
what did happen to the teacher?

Thanks vey much indeed.
  

Top answer

nathan mckane I have learned that the wh words must be followed by the auxilary word did when talking about past Hi, I don't recall a rule like that. In fact, I think that in your sentences do should be left out altogether. Shouldn't you apply the grammar rule of 'no 'do' in questions beginning with the subject' here?

— Dokterjokkebrok

  • nathan mckane I have learned that the wh words must be followed by the auxilary word did when talking about past Hi, I don't recall a rule like that.
  • In fact, I think that in your sentences do should be left out altogether.
  • Shouldn't you apply the grammar rule of 'no 'do' in questions beginning with the subject' here?
  • Maybe there's another way of looking at your question that I overlooked.
  • - DJB -
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3 Answers
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nathan mckaneI have learned that the wh words must be followed by the auxilary word did when talking about past
Hi,

I don't recall a rule like that. In fact, I think that in your sentences do should be left out altogether. Shouldn't you apply the grammar rule of 'no 'do' in questions beginning with the subject' here?

May
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Hi,

I don't know if this helps, but the rule I know about questions beginning with "wh-" words and auxiliary verbs is that you don't put the helping verb if the "wh-" word is the subject, while you need to use it if it's the object.

Compare:

Who saw you yesterday?
Who/Whom did you see yesterday?

ETA: Ops, DokterJB had already mentioned that w
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TanitHi, I don't know if this helps, but the rule iI know about questions beginning with "wh-" words and auxiliary verbs is that you don't put the helping verb if the "wh-" word is the subject, while you need to use it if it's the object.Compare:Who saw you yesterday?Who/Whom did you see yesterday?ETA: DokterJB mentioned that when he wrote "the grammar rule of 'no 'do' in
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