Asking About the Past
Key Question Forms
1. Who invented [something]?
2. What did [someone] invent?
3. When did [someone] invent the [something]?
4. Do you know who invented...?
Examples
Let's look at Thomas Edison and the motion picture.
Asking for the Person (Who):
"Who invented the talking motion picture?"
- Thomas Edison.
Asking for the Object (What):
"What did Thomas Edison invent?"
- The first talking motion picture.
Asking for the Time (When):
"When did he invent it?"
- In 1910.
Complete the Cue Card
Fill in the missing inventors and inventions using the lists below.
Inventors
- George Claude
- Paul Cornu
- Charles Seeberger
- Sir Frederick Banting
- Thomas Edison
Inventions
- The lie detector
- The safety razor
- Tea bags
| Year | Inventor | Invention |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | The modern escalator | |
| - | King Camp Gillette | |
| - | Hubert Booth | The modern vacuum cleaner |
| 1902 | Neon light | |
| - | Willis Carrier | The air conditioner |
| 1903 | Mary Anderson | Windshield wipers |
| - | Thomas Suillivan | |
| 1906 | William Kellogg | Cornflakes |
| - | The first piloted helicopter | |
| - | G. Washington | Instant coffee |
| 1910 | The first talking motion picture | |
| 1913 | Gideon Sundback | The modern zipper |
| - | John Larson | |
| 1922 | Insulin |
Role Play Practice
Select the correct question for each conversation.
Student A: __________________________ ?
Student B: Mary Anderson.
Student B: Mary Anderson.
Student A: __________________________ ?
Student B: In 1913.
Student B: In 1913.
Student A: __________________________ ?
Student B: The air conditioner.
Student B: The air conditioner.