How do you use "Subject vs Object Questions" in a sentence?

Who called you?' (subject = no auxiliary) Who did you call?' (object = use auxiliary) What happened?' (subject = no auxiliary) What did you do?' (object = use auxiliary)

Subject vs Object Questions

Q: What does "Subject vs Object Questions" mean?

Different structures when asking about subjects or objects When the question word is the subject, use statement word order (no do/does/did). When asking about the object, use normal question word order with auxiliaries.

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

Meaning: Different structures when asking about subjects or objects

询问主语或宾语时不同的结构

Estructuras diferentes al preguntar sobre sujetos u objetos

主語や目的語について尋ねるときの異なる構造

주어 또는 목적어에 대해 물을 때의 서로 다른 구조

When the question word is the subject, use statement word order (no do/does/did). When asking about the object, use normal question word order with auxiliaries.

当疑问词是主语时，用陈述句语序（不用do/does/did）。询问宾语时，用带助动词的正常疑问句语序。

Cuando la palabra interrogativa es el sujeto, usa orden de afirmación (sin do/does/did). Al preguntar sobre el objeto, usa orden normal de pregunta con auxiliares.

疑問詞が主語の場合、陳述文の語順を使います（do/does/didなし）。目的語について尋ねる場合、助動詞を使った通常の疑問文の語順を使います。

의문사가 주어일 때는 평서문 어순을 사용합니다(do/does/did 없음). 목적어에 대해 물을 때는 조동사를 사용하는 일반적인 의문문 어순을 사용합니다.

Examples

Who called you?' (subject = no auxiliary)
谁给你打电话了？'（主语 = 无助动词）
¿Quién te llamó?' (sujeto = sin auxiliar)
誰があなたに電話しましたか？'（主語 = 助動詞なし）
누가 당신에게 전화했나요? (주어 = 조동사 없음)
Who did you call?' (object = use auxiliary)
你给谁打电话了？'（宾语 = 用助动词）
¿A quién llamaste?' (objeto = usar auxiliar)
誰に電話しましたか？'（目的語 = 助動詞を使用）
누구에게 전화했나요? (목적어 = 조동사 사용)
What happened?' (subject = no auxiliary)
发生了什么事？'（主语 = 无助动词）
¿Qué pasó?' (sujeto = sin auxiliar)
何が起こりましたか？'（主語 = 助動詞なし）
무슨 일이 있었나요? (주어 = 조동사 없음)
What did you do?' (object = use auxiliary)
你做了什么？'（宾语 = 用助动词）
¿Qué hiciste?' (objeto = usar auxiliar)
何をしましたか？'（目的語 = 助動詞を使用）
무엇을 했나요? (목적어 = 조동사 사용)

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: inquiring

✓ Do Say

Who wrote this book? (subject)
谁写了这本书？（主语）
¿Quién escribió este libro? (sujeto)
この本は誰が書きましたか？（主語）
Who wrote this book? (주어) — 누가 이 책을 썼나요?
What made that noise? (subject)
什么发出了那个声音？（主语）
¿Qué hizo ese ruido? (sujeto)
何があの音を出しましたか？（主語）
What made that noise? (주어) — 무엇이 그 소리를 냈나요?
Who did you meet? (object)
你见了谁？（宾语）
¿A quién conociste? (objeto)
誰に会いましたか？（目的語）
Who did you meet? (목적어) — 누구를 만났나요?
What did she say? (object)
她说了什么？（宾语）
¿Qué dijo ella? (objeto)
彼女は何と言いましたか？（目的語）
What did she say? (목적어) — 그녀가 뭐라고 했나요?

✗ Don't Say

Who did call you? (subject question - no auxiliary)
Who did call you?（主语问句——不用助动词）
Who did call you? (pregunta de sujeto - sin auxiliar)
Who did call you?（主語の質問——助動詞不要）
Who did call you? (주어 의문문 — 조동사 불필요)
Who you called? (object question - need auxiliary)
Who you called?（宾语问句——需要助动词）
Who you called? (pregunta de objeto - necesita auxiliar)
Who you called?（目的語の質問——助動詞が必要）
Who you called? (목적어 의문문 — 조동사 필요)

Origin & History

Question word position determines structure

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal