Questions that Begin with Question Words

A reader has asked about the role of auxiliary verbs in questions that start with question words like "who" and "what."

Questions that cannot be answered with "yes" or "no" usually begin with an interrogative adjective, adverb, or pronoun: when, what, where, who, whom, whose, why, which, or how.

(I liked that one best.) Which one did you like best?
(She wants the blue one.) Which one does she want?
(I'll park the car here.) Where will you park the car?
(Fifteen were missing.) How many were missing?
(They've visited twice.) How often have they visited?
(You should go in an hour.) When should I go?

As shown in these sentences, an auxiliary verb (that is a form of be, have, or do, or one of the modal verbs) normally precedes the subject in such questions. But if an interrogative pronoun or adjective (usually who, what, which, or whose) refers to the subject of the sentence, no auxiliary verb is needed.

(She wants the last beer.) Who wants the last beer?
(D was the right answer.) Which was the right answer?
(The black cat is mine.) Which cat is yours?
(The trail on the left leads down the mountain.) What trail leads down the mountain?
(Our team finally won.) Whose team finally won?