Grammar Guide

¿Qué es?

Las preguntas se utilizan para pedir información, confirmación, permiso o ayuda.

Las preguntas en inglés suelen usar un verbo auxiliar antes del sujeto.

Las palabras interrogativas comunes incluyen:

• who
• what
• where
• when
• why
• which
• how

Ejemplos:

• Do you work here?
• Is she at home?
• Where do they live?
• Why are you tired?

Cuándo usar

Usa preguntas de sí o no cuando la respuesta puede ser sí o no.

• Do you like coffee?
• Is he ready?
• Can they come?

Usa preguntas con palabra interrogativa cuando necesitas información específica.

• What do you want?
• Where does she work?
• When are they leaving?
• Why did he call?
• How can I help?

Usa preguntas para preguntar sobre:

• personas: Who is that?
• cosas: What is this?
• lugares: Where do you live?
• tiempo: When does the meeting start?
• razones: Why are you late?
• opciones: Which colour do you prefer?
• métodos o condiciones: How do you make this?

Estructura

Preguntas con to be

Usa:

am/is/are + sujeto + complemento?

Para preguntas en pasado, usa was o were.

• Was he at work?
• Were they busy?

Preguntas con otros verbos

Usa do o does en el Present Simple.

do/does + sujeto + verbo base?

Usa did en el Past Simple.

did + sujeto + verbo base?

• Did you call her?
• Did he finish the task?

Preguntas con verbos modales

Coloca el verbo modal antes del sujeto.

verbo modal + sujeto + verbo base?

• Can you swim?
• Could she help us?
• Should we leave?
• Will they come?

Preguntas con palabra interrogativa

Coloca la palabra interrogativa antes del verbo auxiliar.

palabra interrogativa + auxiliar + sujeto + verbo principal?

• Where do you work?
• What does she need?
• Why did they leave?
• When will he arrive?

Con to be, usa:

palabra interrogativa + am/is/are/was/were + sujeto?

• Where is she?
• Why are they angry?
• When was the meeting?

Preguntas de sujeto

Cuando who o what es el sujeto, no uses do, does ni did.

• Who called you?
• What happened?
• Who lives here?

Compara:

• Who called Anna? — pregunta por la persona que llamó
• Who did Anna call? — pregunta por la persona a la que llamó Anna

Ejemplos

1. Do you speak English?
2. Does your brother live nearby?
3. Did they arrive on time?
4. Is she at work today?
5. Were you tired yesterday?
6. Can you help me?
7. Where do your parents live?
8. Why did he leave early?
9. What are you doing?
10. Who opened the window?

Excepciones

No uses do, does ni did con to be.

• Correcto: Is she ready?
• Incorrecto: Does she be ready?

No uses do, does ni did con verbos modales.

• Correcto: Can he drive?
• Incorrecto: Does he can drive?

Cuando una palabra interrogativa es el sujeto, se usa el orden normal de sujeto y verbo.

• Who knows the answer?
• What caused the problem?

Algunas preguntas pueden tener una forma similar a una afirmación en el habla informal cuando el hablante está sorprendido o verificando información.

• You finished already?
• She lives here?

Estas formas son comunes en la conversación, pero son menos adecuadas en la escritura formal.

Errores comunes

1. Incorrecto: You like coffee? Correcto: Do you like coffee? Explicación: Usa do para formar una pregunta en Present Simple.

2. Incorrecto: Does she works here? Correcto: Does she work here? Explicación: Usa el verbo base después de does.

3. Incorrecto: Did he went home? Correcto: Did he go home? Explicación: Usa el verbo base después de did.

4. Incorrecto: Do they are ready? Correcto: Are they ready? Explicación: No uses do con el verbo to be.

5. Incorrecto: Where she lives? Correcto: Where does she live? Explicación: Coloca does antes del sujeto en una pregunta en Present Simple.

6. Incorrecto: Why you are late? Correcto: Why are you late? Explicación: Coloca are antes del sujeto.

7. Incorrecto: Does he can swim? Correcto: Can he swim? Explicación: Coloca el verbo modal antes del sujeto sin does.

8. Incorrecto: Who did call you? Correcto: Who called you? Explicación: No uses did cuando who es el sujeto.