ALCPT Question Formation and Tag Questions

Question 1

Choose the correctly formed yes/no question: 'He works at the base every day.'

Accepted Answer

Does he work at the base every day?

Answer

Yes/no questions in simple present use 'do/does + subject + base verb.' Because the subject is 'he' (third person singular), 'does' is used, and the main verb returns to its base form 'work' (not 'works'). Choice A incorrectly keeps the -s ending. Choices C and D use incorrect word order.

Question 2

Add the correct tag question: 'She has already submitted her report, _____?'

Accepted Answer

hasn't she

Answer

Tag questions use the same auxiliary verb as the main clause but in the opposite polarity. The main clause is affirmative and uses 'has,' so the tag must be negative: 'hasn't she.' 'Has she' would be a positive tag on a positive clause, which is unusual. 'Doesn't she' and 'didn't she' use the wrong auxiliary.

Question 3

Which is the correct indirect/embedded question form?

Accepted Answer

Can you tell me where the training room is?

Answer

In indirect questions (embedded inside another sentence), word order follows normal statement order — subject before verb — not inverted question order. 'Where the training room is' (subject + verb) is correct. 'Where is the training room' uses inverted question word order, which is incorrect inside an embedded clause.

Question 4

Choose the correct tag question: 'They didn't complete the exercise on time, _____?'

Accepted Answer

did they

Answer

A negative main clause requires a positive tag. 'Didn't' is negative and past tense, so the tag must be positive past: 'did they.' 'Didn't they' would be a negative tag on a negative clause, which is unusual. 'Do they' and 'don't they' use the wrong tense (present instead of past).

Question 5

Select the correct wh-question: 'The commander arrived at the base _____ yesterday.'

Accepted Answer

When did the commander arrive at the base?

Answer

Wh-questions in the simple past use 'did + subject + base verb.' The main verb must be in its base form 'arrive' (not 'arrived') because 'did' already carries the past tense. Choice A incorrectly uses 'arrived' after 'did.' Choice B omits the auxiliary. Choice D uses incorrect word order.

ALCPT - American Language Course Placement Test Practice Test

ALCPT - American Language Course Placement Test Practice Test

ALCPT Question Formation and Tag Questions