Question

Question

 

Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb (+ object + adverbial modifier)

 

      Does he speak English?

 

      Is he writing a report now?

 

      Have you seen this film?

 

Question word + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb (+ object + adverbial modifier):

 

      Where does he live?

 

      What are you writing now?

 

      When did they visit Mexico?

 

Alternative questions have the same word order as general questions:

 

      Does he live in Paris or Rome?

 

      Are you writing a report or a letter?

 

Tag questions consist of two parts. The first part has the same word order as statements, and the second part is a short general question (the tag).

      He lives here, doesn't he?

 

      They haven't seen this film, have they?

General questions

In general questions, the auxiliary verb (do, be, have, will) is placed before the subject, and the main verb follows the subject, the word order is: auxiliary verb + subject + main verb (+ object + adverbial modifier).

 

When replying to a quesion, we can use the auxilary instead of repeating the full verb.

 

      Do you live here?

 

– Yes, I do. – No, I don't.

 

      Are there many students in Room 12?

 

–Yes there are. (Not be used: Yes, they are.)

 

Responses to general questions can be in the form of short "Yes" or "No" answers or in the form of full statements. (General questions are also called “yes /no questions” or “yes-no questions”.) General questions are pronounced with rising intonation.

      Did you like the film?

 

– Yes, I did. – No, I didn't like the film.

 

      Are you reading now?

 

– Yes. Yes, I am. Yes, I'm reading now. – No. No, I am not. No, I'm not reading.

 

      Will you see him tomorrow?

 

– Yes, I will. Yes, I will see him. – No, I won't. No, I will not.

 

 

General questions with modal verbs have the same structure and word order.

 

      Can you help me? – Yes, I can. Yes, I can help you. – No, I can't. No, I can't help you.

 

      May I come in? – Yes, you may. – No, you may not.

 

      Is he a hard worker?

 

      Is she Japanese?

 

      Do you like German food?

 

      Can you play chess?

 

      Is she coming to your party?

 

      Will you be able to help me?

 

In general questions with the verb “be” as a main verb or a linking verb, the verb “be” is placed before the subject.

      Is he in Rome now? – Yes. Yes, he is in Rome now. – No. No, he isn't.

 

      Is Anna a teacher?

 

– Yes, she is. Yes, Anna is a teacher. – No, she isn't. No, Anna is not a teacher.

 

      Were they happy? – Yes, they were. – No, they weren't.

 

Negative questions

 

      Didn't she like the film?

 

– Yes, she did.  Yes, she liked the film. – No, she did not. No, she didn't like it.

 

      Isn't he a student?

 

      Hasn't he left already?

 

      Won't you see him tomorrow?

 

      Can't you speak more slowly?

 

Note: Negative questions usually contain some emotion, for example, expecting "yes" for an answer, surprise, annoyance, mockery.

 

To ask a question in English you must usually use one of the auxiliary verbs (be, do, have) or a modal verb such as can, will, may. For sentences without auxiliaries, modal verbs, or copular be, apply “do insertion” to form a “yes/no” question.

      Does he run every day?

 

      Did you remember your passport?

 

Positive yes/no questions do not imply any expectation regarding whether the answer will be “yes or no.”

      Do you like winter sports?

 

      Will you be joining us?

 

Negative yes/no questions are generally asked to confirm an assumption or expectation.

 

      Didn’t he tell you about it? (Implication: I thought he had OR I’m sure he did.)

 

It can also express annoyance or disappointment because a previous expectation has not been met.

      Haven’t you called him yet? (Implication: You were supposed to call him.)

 

Reduced yes/no questions are shortened question forms sometimes used in informal conversation. There are two types:

 

Elliptical yes/no questions omit auxiliary verbs and copular be.

 

      He been talking to you?

 

      They here yet?

 

Declarative questions have the form of a statement. They are used to:

 

      The food there is great. You’ve eaten there before?

 

Repeat something someone has said in order to question or confirm it:

 

I lost my job yesterday. You lost your job? Express surprise or amazement

 

      I can’t believe we lost after being up by 10 points. You lost the game?

 

Question words as a Question

Question words: Where, when, why, how, what, which, who, whom, whose

 

Questions to the subject

 

When the interrogative word "who" or "what" is the subject in the question (the question is put to the subject), the question is asked without an auxiliary verb, and the word order is that of a statement: interrogative word (the subject) + predicate (+ object + adverbial modifier). The same word order is used when the subject of the question is in the form of “which, whose, how many + noun”.

      Who told you about it? – Tom told me. Tom did.

 

      Who called her yesterday? – I called her. I did.

 

      Who hasn't read this book yet? – I haven't.

 

      Who will be the next FIFA president?

 

      What happened? – I lost my bag.

 

      What made you do it? – I don't know.

 

      Which coat is yours? – This coat is mine. This one.

 

      Whose book is this? – It's mine.

 

      How many people came to work? – Ten people came to work.

 

What: asking for information about something.

 

      What is your name?

 

      What do they like doing in their free time?

 

      What can I do for you?

 

      What time do you leave work? (What time: saat kaçta, ne zaman)

 

      What did you do then? I simply set off through the snow.

 

What + noun: hangi …

 

      What movie did you see last night?

 

      What precautions did you take?  I made sure I was wearing lots of warm clothes.

 

 

“What” to ask questions about things:

 

      What is that?

 

      What do you want?

 

      What else?

 

“Which” to ask someone to choose something:

 

      Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

 

      I’ve got two books. Which do you want?

 

Which: asking about choice.

 

      Which colour do you want?

 

      Which one is your coat?

 

      Which train did Susan catch? She caught the 7.15 from Reading.

 

“What” and “which” with nouns:

 

      What subjects did you study at school?

 

      What newspaper do you read?

 

      Which newspaper do you read – the Times or the Guardian?

 

      Which book do you want?

 

      Which one is yours?

 

What: asking for repetition or confirmation. What? I can't hear you.  You did what?

 

What...for: asking for a reason, asking why. What did you do that for?

 

Which or what?

 

If there are only two or three possibilities to choose from, “which” is normally preferred.

 

If there are an unlimited number of choices, “what” is used.

 

      Which biscuits do you want me to buy – milk chocolate or plain chocolate? I’d like the milk chocolate ones, please.

 

      What kind of work do you do? I work as a lawyer for a firm in the city.

 

When

 

When: asking about time.

 

      When did he leave?

 

Where

 

Where: asking “in” or “at”, place or position.

 

      Where do they live?

 

      Where else might we find life?

 

How

How: asking about manner. How does this work?

 

How: asking about condition or quality. How was your exam? How did you find my house?

 

How + adj/adv: asking about extent or degree

 

      How heavy is this luggage?

 

      How tall are you?

 

How far: distance. How far is it from İstanbul to Ankara?

 

How long: length (time or space). How long did you work in that company? How long is it from İstanbul to Ankara?

 

How many: quantity (countable). How many cars are there? How many people are coming to the party?

 

How much: quantity (uncountable). How much money do you have?

 

How old: age. How old are you?

 

How come (informal): asking for reason, asking why. How come I can't see her?

 

Who:

 

Nominative case – who; objective case – whom. The interrogative word "whom" is often replaced by "who" in everyday speech and writing, but "who" is an object in this case, not the subject, it is not a question to the subject. Consequently, an auxiliary verb is required for the formation of special questions in which "who" is used instead of "whom", and the word order in them is that of a question, not of a statement. Compare:

      Who saw you? – Tom saw me.

 

      Who / whom did you see? – I saw Anna.

 

      Who asked her to do it? – Ben asked her.

 

      Who / whom did she ask for help? – She asked Mike to help her.

 

Note that not all prepositions can be placed at the end of such special questions, and the preposition at the end should not be too far from the interrogative word. In formal speech and writing, placing the preposition before the interrogative word in long constructions is often considered more appropriate.

      With whom are you playing tennis on Friday?

 

      For whom did she make a pie?

 

“Who” to ask questions about people:

 

      Who is that? Who lives here? Who did you see?

 

Who: asking “what” or “which” person or people (subject).

 

      Who opened the door?

 

      Who won the race?  Barry. Barry won the race.

 

Whom:

 

Asking “what” or “which” person or people (object).

 

      Whom did you see?

 

Whose:

asking about ownership. Whose are these keys? Whose car are you driving?

 

“Whose” indicates possession, and like “which” and “what”, can be used with or without a noun as a question word.

      Whose coat is this? It’s Joan’s.

 

      Whose is that red car across the road? It’s the electrician’s.

 

“Whose” to ask about possession:

 

      Whose coat is this? [or] Whose is this coat?

 

      Whose book is that? [or] Whose is that book?

 

      Whose bags are those? [or] Whose are those bags?

 

Why:

 

Why: asking for reason, asking what...for. Why do you say that?

 

Why don't: making a suggestion. Why don't I help you?

 

 

 

Prepositions at the end of questions

 

 

Questions ending in prepositions are very common in English. After “who, which or what” we often have a preposition at the end of the sentence. When the interrogatives "what, whom/who" ask a question to the object with a preposition, the preposition is often placed at the end of the question after the predicate (or after the direct object, if any), especially in everyday speech.

      What are you talking about? – I'm talking about our plans.

 

      What are you interested in? – I'm interested in psychology.

 

      Who are you looking at? – I'm looking at Sandra.

 

      Who does it depend on? – It depends on my brother.

 

      Whom are you playing tennis with on Friday? – I'm playing tennis with Maria.

 

      Who did she make a pie for? – She made a pie for her co-workers.

 

      Who does this book belong to?

 

      What are you looking for?

 

      Which university did you go to?

 

      What country do you come from?

 

Question word as an Adverb (Interrogative Adverbs)

 

      Why did he do it? (Interrogative adverbs of reason)

 

      Where do you live? (Interrogative adverbs of Place)

 

      When did you last see him?

 

      How long will you stay here?

 

      How does it work?

 

      How many students are there in the class?

 

      How much did you pay? (Interrogative adverbs of degree or quantity)

 

Question word as a Clause

 

Some verbs can be followed by a question word + clause.

 

      I asked what she was doing.

 

      Nobody knows how he did it.

 

      I wonder why she is angry with me.

 

      I can’t decide what I should do next.

 

      I don’t understand why she has behaved like that.

 

      He couldn’t figure out what he should do.

 

Noun clauses which begin with a question word:

 

- Where does she live?                               I don’t know where she lives.

 

      What did he say? I couldn’t hear what he said.

 

      When do they arrive? Do you know when they arrive?

 

Some verbs can be followed by “a noun / pronoun + question word + clause”. The important verbs used in this pattern are: say, ask, wonder, know, believe, imagine, decide, discuss, understand, show, reveal, suggest and tell.

      She asked me why I was angry with her.

 

      Tell me what this is.

 

      I showed them how they should do it.

 

      Could you please tell me what I should do?

 

      Can you tell me where she lives?

 

 

 

Question word as a Noun

 

      The whys and wherefores of these procedures need to be explained to student.

 

      I don’t know why.

 

      I don’t know where.

 

When the question is put to any part of the sentence, except the subject, the word order after the interrogative word (e.g., how, whom, what, when, where, why) is the same as in general questions: interrogative + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb (+ object + adverbial modifier). The answer is usually given in full, but short responses are also possible. Special questions (information questions) are pronounced with falling intonation.

      How did you get there? – I got there by bus.

 

      How much did it cost? – It cost ten dollars.

 

      How many people did he see? – He saw five people.

 

      How long have you been here? – I've been here for a week.

 

      Who(m) will you ask? – I'll ask Tom.

 

      What is he doing? – He's sleeping.

 

      What did she say? – Nothing.

 

      What book is he reading? – The Talisman.

 

      Which coat did she choose? – The red one.

 

      When is he leaving? – He's leaving at six.

 

      Where does she live? – She lives on Tenth Street.

      Where are you from? – I am from Turkey.

 

      Where did he go? – He went home.

 

      Why are you late? – I missed my bus.

 

      Why didn't you call me? – I'm sorry. I forgot.

 

 

 

Question word as an Exclamation (!)

 

      Why, that's absurd!

 

Alternative questions

Word order in alternative questions (questions with a choice) is the same as in general questions. The answer is usually given in full because you need to make a choice, but short responses are also possible.

      Is your house large or small? – My house is small.  It's small.

 

      Are you a first-year or a third-year student? – I'm a third-year student.

 

      Would you like tea or coffee? – I'd like coffee, please.

 

      Would you like to go to a restaurant or would you rather eat at home? – I'd rather eat at home.

 

      Would you like eggs, pancakes, or waffles?

 

      Are you coming or going?

 

      Do you want tea or coffee? Coffee, please.

 

      Will we meet John or James? John.

 

      Did she go to London or New York? She went to London.

 

Alternative questions are sometimes asked in the form of special questions:

 

      Where does he live: in Paris or Rome? – He lives in Rome. In Rome.

 

      Which do you like more: hazelnuts or walnuts? – I like hazelnuts more than walnuts. Hazelnuts.

 

Exception! Verb be simple present and Past simple

 

      Is your car white or black? It's black.

 

Notice that the intonation pattern of an alternative question is the same as the pattern used when listing a series of options following a standard wh- question, as in examples:

 

      Which flavor would you like? Chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry?

 

      Which color do you like best? Yellow or orange?

 

Any positive yes/no question can be turned into an alternative question by adding or and a negative tag using an auxiliary or the appropriately tensed form of do as in examples. These alternative questions with tags can carry a petulant or annoyed tone.

      Are you coming or aren’t you?

 

      Do you like it or don’t you?

 

Shortened tags consisting of not, as in example are common.

 

      Are you coming or not?

 

Echo questions repeat all or part of what has been said.

 

      Sarah will be leaving for China in May. B: She’ll be leaving for where?

 

      Are you cold? Am I cold?

 

Exclamatory questions are exclamations asserting the belief of the speaker.

 

      Don’t you look great!

 

Rhetorical questions are not intended to be answered, but instead, serve to state the opinion of the asker.

      Have you heard the news about Alan? Who hasn’t?

 

      Of course I enjoyed the dinner. Who wouldn’t?

 

Display questions do not begin with a wh- word and are often used by teachers to request that students display their knowledge about something.

      So this story is about what?

 

 

 

Tag questions

 

 

Tags are very common in spoken English, and have many functions. One of the common functions is to start a conversation or help keep it going. The two basic rules about tag questions are: If the statement is negative, the tag must be positive. If the statement is positive the tag must be negative.

 

With the verb ”be”:

 

      It's a nice day, isn't it?

 

      It was true, wasn't it?

 

      He wasn't invited, was he?

 

With main verbs:

 

      He's sleeping, isn't he?

 

      He didn't study French, did he?

 

      You don't like me, do you?

 

      You won't tell him my secret, will you?

 

      He doesn't speak German, does he?

 

      You're coming to my party, aren't you?

 

      She's really good at chess, isn't she?

 

      You haven't done your homework, have you?

 

With modal verbs:

 

      You can swim, can't you?

 

      He should go, shouldn't he?

 

      I shouldn't do it, should I?

 

 

 

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Responses to tag questions:

 

Responses to tag questions can be in the form of short "Yes" or "No" answers or in the form of full statements. Despite the fact that tag questions are asked to get confirmation, the answer may be negative.

      You live here, don't you?

 

Yes, I do. / Yes, I live here. (agreement)

 

No, I don't. / No, I don't live here. (disagreement)

 

      It wasn't difficult, was it?

 

No, it wasn't. / No, it wasn't difficult. (agreement) Yes, it was. / Yes, it was difficult. (disagreement)

 

Tag questions are made up of a stem (statement) and a tag (short question form).

 

A special type of question is the tag that English speakers put at the end of many statements.

 

      It's a lovely day today, isn't it?

 

      You live in Frankfurt, don't you?

 

      His parents are very old, aren't they?

 

      You will remember to call me, won't you?

 

In opposite polarity tag questions, the verb in the tag and the verb in the stem have opposite values.

 

Rising intonation on the tag indicates that the speaker is asking for information.

 

      Rich will pay me back, won’t he?

 

      You weren’t lying, were you?

 

Falling intonation on the tag indicates that the speaker expects the listener will agree with the information in the stem.

      Sarah owns a car, doesn’t she?

 

Same polarity tag questions can also function as:

 

In same polarity tag questions, both the stem and the tag are positive. A low pitch that jumps up on the tag and then falls indicates the speaker has reached a conclusion, which is stated in the stem.

 

An urgent imperative: Turn down the TV, will you!

 

A polite request: Lend me your pen, would you?

 

A suggestion: Let’s stop for lunch, shall we?

 

A reminder/admonition: You were supposed to pick me up at 5:00, remember?

 

A request for feedback: You understand what I’m talking about, right?

 

Olumlu emir cümlelerinde will you?, won’t you?, would you?, can you?, can’t you?, could you?

 

kullanılabilir. Eğer cümle olumsuz emir cümlesi ise, yalnızca will you kullanılır:

 

      Open the door, will you?  Kapıyı aç, olur mu?

 

      Be careful, won’t you? Dikkatli ol, e mi?

 

      Don’t smoke, will you?  Sigara içme, olur mu?/e mi?

 

      Sit down, will you?

 

      Come with me, will you?

 

Eğer bir cümlede birden çok cümlecik varsa, soru takısında kullanılacak yardımcı fiil, ana cümleye göre konur. Kanaat ifadesi dikkete alınmaz. Cümlede birden çok yardımcı fiil varsa, ilk yardımcı fiil soru takısı olarak kullanılır.

 

      You didn’t tell me that you had visited Tom, did you? Tom’u ziyaret ettiğini bana söylemedin, değil mi?

 

      A man who is rich can’t live in such a place, can he?

 

      I think she will do it, won’t she?

 

      You have been studying English, haven’t you? İngilizce çalışıyorsun, değil mi?

 

When the statement contains a word with a negative meaning such as nothing, nobody, never, rarely, seldom, barely, scarcely, hardly, the question tag needs to be positive:

      He hardly ever speaks, does he?

 

      They rarely eat in restaurants, do they?

 

      Nobody came, did they?

 

      Nothing can stop us now, can it? Şimdi bizi hiçbir şey durduramaz, değil mi?

 

      They seldom go to the cinema, do they?

 

      The old woman can hardly walk, can she? Yaşlı kadın zorlukla yürüyebiliyor, değil mi?

 

This, that, these, those işaret zamirleri, cümle içerisinde eğer özne durumundalarsa, soru takısı olarak “it” ya da “they” kullanılır:

      This is your car, isn’t it? Those are your pictures, aren’t they?

 

There ile başlayan cümlelerin soru takısı yine there olur:

 

      There is something wrong, isn’t there? Bir hata var, değil mi?

 

      There won’t be any people, will there? Hiç kimse olmayacak, değil mi?

 

      According to terms of the agreement, there is quite a few options to choose from, aren’t there?

 

Somebody, someone, everybody, everyone, anybody, anyone sözcükleri için, soru takılarında zamir olarak “they” kullanılır:

      Someone saw you, didn’t they? Biri seni gördü, değil mi?

 

      Everybody is here, aren’t they?

 

Dare ve need sözcükleri, soru takılarında aynen kullanılırlar:

 

      This trip needn’t cost much, need it? Bu gezinin çok para tutması gerekmiyor, değil mi?

 

      He daren’t lie to his mother, dare he? Annesine yalan söylemeye cesaret edemez, değil mi?

 

Kimi zaman cümle olumlu olduğu halde soru takısı da olumlu olabilir. Bu durumda, cümleden, kızgınlık, şaşkınlık ya da memnuniyet gibi anlamlar çıkar:

      You have passed the test, have you? Testi geçtin öyle mi? (memnuniyet)

 

      He thinks that he can beat me, does he? Beni dövebileceğini sanıyor ha? (şaşkınlık)

 

      You think you are clever, do you? Kendini akıllı sanıyorsun öyle mi? (kızgınlık)

Requests in the form of questions

Requests are usually asked in the form of general questions, have the same word order, and are pronounced with rising intonation. As a rule, requests are not asked in the form of negative questions.

      Will you please sit down? – Thank you.

 

      Could you help me, please? – Of course.

 

      Would you please wait here? – Sure.

 

      Would you mind waiting a little? – OK.

 

      Would you mind not smoking here? – Oh, I'm sorry.

 

      Can you do me a favor? – Sure.

 

      Could you help me with the report? – Sorry, I'm busy right now.

 

      Could you find a good book of idioms for me, please? – I'll try.

 

      May I speak to Alan Smith, please? – Sorry, he has just stepped out.

 

      Could I speak with Maria Green, please? – Just a minute, please.

 

Asking for permission

 

Asking for permission is also a request and has the same word order.

 

      May I come in? – Yes, sure.

 

      Could I borrow your pen, please? – Sure. / Certainly. / Here it is.

 

      Could I use your telephone, please? – I'm sorry, you can't.

 

      Would you mind if I closed the window? – No, I wouldn't mind. – Please don't. It's hot in here.

 

      Can I leave my coat here? – Sure.

 

Requests in the form of negative questions

 

Negative questions may sound impolite in some situations, so you should be very careful with such questions in general. Negative questions usually have some emotion in them, for example, surprise, expecting "yes" for an answer, mockery.

      Isn't she a beauty?

 

      Can't you read?

 

      Why don't you have children?

 

      Haven't you finished your task yet?

 

As described above, requests are usually asked in the form of affirmative questions. When using negative questions in conversation, you should keep the following in mind.

 

If a negative question is actually not a request but an offer or a suggestion, the negative question will sound more interested than the affirmative question. Compare:

      Won't you eat your dessert? – Will you eat your dessert?

 

Standard responses in such cases are "thank you" or "no, thank you". Look at these examples of polite offers and suggestions and possible responses to them.

      Won't you sit down? – Thank you.

 

      Won't you have more cake? – Yes, thank you. / Yes, please. No, thank you.

 

      Why don't you come over for dinner? – Thank you. I'd love to.

 

      Why don't you take my car for the picnic on Sunday? – Thank you. You are very kind.

 

If a negative question is a real request (asking for a favor or asking for permission), the request will sound definitely impolite (like an annoyed remark or a complaint). Language learners should avoid making requests in the form of negative questions. Look at these examples of impolite requests and possible responses to them.

      Can't you get me a cup of coffee? – Of course I can. I just thought that you were in a hurry.

 

      Won't you help me? – Of course I will. Have I ever refused to help you?

 

      Can't I borrow your cell phone for a minute? – Sorry. I'm waiting for an important call.

 

      Why don't you lend me your car for the picnic on Sunday? – Well... I'm afraid I'll need it this weekend.

 

Exam questions:

 

      Don’t you think the solution is a combination of cleaner fuels and cleaner engines?

 

Yes, of course. Also you know we have already developed an innovative formula designed to help reduce fuel consumption.

 

      Actually, it fuels economic growth, doesn’t it?

 

I certainly think so. Therefore, it is of vital importance for the economies of many of the world’s poorest nations.

 

      What do you mean exactly? You seem to be implying something.

 

Well, together all these landfills emit more of the greenhouse gas methane than any other human-related source.

 

      You mean the terrible plague that devastated Europe in the 14th century?

 

Right. I didn’t know that its effects were worst in confined places like hospitals, prisons, and monasteries.