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Possible Duplicate:
Why do we use 'did' with questions using the simple past tense?

Do the following sentences have the same meaning?

  • Did she say something?
  • Was she said something?

What is the difference when you use Did and Was to make questions about past?

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  • 'She did say ...' and 'She said ...' are similar in meaning, but the interrogative form must be 'Did she say ...?'
    – user19148
    Commented Apr 6, 2012 at 9:16
  • This question isn't an exact duplicate. It is asking something different, using examples which aren't very successful, I have to admit. It could be general reference, but not a duplicate.
    – Irene
    Commented Apr 6, 2012 at 10:37
  • @Irene: obviously that was my way of cutting the OP some slack.
    – RegDwigнt
    Commented Apr 6, 2012 at 14:24

2 Answers 2

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If you use active voice, then the correct question to use is "Did she say something?"

You can use the verb was to ask a question in the Simple Past only when you use the Passive Voice, i.e. if you want to ask whether anyone told her anything: "Was she told anything?"

The use of the verb said here isn't correct because you can't put a person as a direct object after say, so the passive form isn't possible.

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  • This is absolutely true. I think it's worth mentioning the past continuous too. "Was she saying anything?" - You can use this to ask about an action that occupied a definite quantity of time in the past.
    – user16269
    Commented Apr 6, 2012 at 10:30
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To make a question in English you usually need one of the auxiliary verbs to do, to be, or to have. Each of these auxiliaries requires a different form of the main verb.

  • to do: infinitive or base form: Do you like me? What did you say?

  • to be: present participle: Are you going to the party? What were you thinking?

  • to have: past participle: Have you seen Joe? What have you done?

So on this basis your first sentence is correct, but your second sentence is not. This is because it puts the auxiliary to be with the past tense of say, which is not possible

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