Subject and object questions
Definition
A subject question asks who or what performs the action. An object question asks who or what receives the action. Subject questions normally keep statement word order, while object questions usually require an auxiliary before the subject.
Examples
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Who called Maya?
Who is the subject of called, so no form of do is added.
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Who did Maya call?
Who is the object, so the question uses did + subject + base verb.
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What caused the delay?
What is the subject that caused the delay.
Subject question vs. object question
Who invited Leo?
The unknown person performed the action.
Who did Leo invite?
Leo performed the action, and the unknown person received it.
When the question word is the subject, the verb follows directly. When it is the object, the usual question structure includes an auxiliary.
The same distinction applies beyond who
Question phrases such as which person, which bus, and how many people can also function as subjects or objects.
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Which bus goes to the airport?
The question phrase is the subject of goes.
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Which bus did you take?
The question phrase is the object of take.
Common mistakes
Who did call Maya?
Who called Maya?
A neutral subject question does not normally use do-support.
Who Maya called?
Who did Maya call?
An object question in the simple past requires did + subject + base verb.
Quick check
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence is a subject question?
Who performs the action broke, so it is the subject.Which object question is correct?
A past object question uses did + subject + base verb.Which question asks about the subject?
Which train performs the action arrives.Nice work — you've completed the quick check.
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