Forming Questions in the Past Tense by Edward Swick
It is easy to ask questions in the past tense. There is no special formula for forming past tense questions. What you already know about questions in the present tense in Chapter 10 also applies to the past tense.
In most German questions the verb comes before the subject: Hast du einen Hund? (Do you have a dog?) This is true even when an interrogative word begins the sentence: Was hast du? (What do you have?) For past tense questions, merely use the proper form of the verb conjugated in the past tense.
Table 13-4. Contrasting Present Tense and Past Tense Questions
Present Tense
Past Tense
Spielst du Tennis?
Spieltest du Tennis?
(Do you play tennis?)
(Did you play tennis?)
Brauchen Sie Geld?
Brauchten Sie Geld?
(Do you need money?)
(Did you need money?)
Hören Sie Radio?
Hörten Sie Radio?
(Do you listen to the radio?)
(Did you listen to the radio?)
Lernst du Deutsch?
Lerntest du Deutsch?
(Are you learning German?)
(Did you learn German?)
Wo wohnt er?
Wo wohnte er?
(Where does he live?)
(Where did he live?)
Wer arbeitet hier?
Wer arbeitete hier?
(Who works here?)
(Who worked here?)
Wen besucht er?
Wen besuchte er?
(Whom is he visiting?)
(Whom did he visit?)
Was kauft ihr?
Was kauftet ihr?
(What are you all buying?)
(What did you all buy?)
