[Grammar] Who said that? / Who did say that?

[Nathan Mckane]

Hi dear teachers!
There are some questions troubling my mind. I have learned that the wh words must be followed by the auxilary word did when talking about past but I regularly come across such questions:

Who said I'm stupid?
Who invented ice pops?
what happened to the teacher?

Shoudn't they be as follows?

Who did say I'm stupid?
Who did invent ice pops?
what did happen to the teacher?

Thanks vey much indeed.

 

[Barb_D]

You don't need the "did" when it's the subject of the sentence.

Jeanne picked up a pen from the table and used it to sign the letter.
Who picked up the pen? -- No did. Subject.
What did she pick up? -- Did, direct object.
Where did she get the pen? -- etc.
What did she use to sign the letter?
What did she sign?

You CAN use the "did" to be emphatic.

Mark said it.
No, it wasn't mark.
The Peter said it?
No, it wasn't Peter either.
Then it must have been Mary.
No, Mary would never say such a thing.
Then who DID say it?

 

[BobK]

You don't need the "did" when it's the subject of the sentence.

Jeanne picked up a pen from the table and used it to sign the letter.
Who picked up the pen? -- No did. Subject.
What did she pick up? -- Did, direct object.
Where did she get the pen? -- etc.
What did she use to sign the letter?
What did she sign?

You CAN use the "did" to be emphatic.

Mark said it.
No, it wasn't mark.
The Peter said it?
No, it wasn't Peter either.
Then it must have been Mary.
No, Mary would never say such a thing.
Then who DID say it?

;-)

There is a rather long-winded way of avoiding 'did': 'Who was it who said that?'

b