Noelia Fantili Picchio QUESTIONS

YES / NO QUESTIONS We usually put the auxiliary (have/has/will/is/are/can/do/does/did/etc.) before the subject. With -be, have (got) and modal verbs (may, can, could, would, should)- the question is formed by inverting the subject and the verb. After -do, does, didwe put the subject and the main verb in infinitive. Has she got a car? Should I buy a dictionary? Do you like fish and chips? Did they enjoy the picnic? Negative Yes / No questions: these are questions which expect a particular answer. We use them specially to show surprise or when we expect the listener to agree with us. Didnt you hear the doorbell? I rang it four times. Havent we met somewhere before? Yes, I think we have.

WH- QUESTIONS Form: WH- WORD + AUXILIARY + SUBJECT + MAIN VERB + (preposition) + ? Why are they laughing? Who did you see at the party? (question about the object) Who do you want to speak to? What was the weather like yesterday? The preposition comes at the end of the sentence or the clause except in very formal writing and speech where whom is used after the preposition. Who did you buy those flowers for? OR For whom did you buy those flowers? (very formal) Who did you speak to when you phoned before? OR To whom did you speak when you phoned before? (very formal) Questions with How: How means in what way. It is used for asking about temporary states. How are you? How was the exam? Questions about the subject: you do not use the auxiliary or inversion. The word order is the same as it is for statements. Who wants an ice-cream? (question about the subject) What is black and yellow and dangerous to eat? (question about the subject)

ALTERNATIVE QUESTIONS There are two types of alternative questions. One type is like a Yes/No question, the other is like a Wh - question. Shall we go to the cinema tonight or on Friday? What do you want to do this weekend, stay at home or go to the country?

INDIRECT QUESTIONS All indirect questions use statements word order. Indirect Yes/No questions use if or whether. I would like to know how much all this is going to cost. Could you tell me if/whether theres a train to Luton? I dont know if/whether Ill go to the party. Would you mind telling me where I can get a ticket for the show tonight? I wonder if/whether she still works here. I dont know who that woman is. Please explain what you mean. I wonder why Ann left early.

Noelia Fantili Picchio AUXILIARY VERBS You can use an auxiliary verb in the answer when you dont want to repeat something. Have you locked the door? Yes, I have. You have? / She isnt? / They do? / etc. We use it to show polite interest in what somebody has said: Ive just seen David. You have? How is he? Liz isnt feeling very well today. She isnt? Whats wrong with her? It rained every day during our vacation. It did? What a shame! Sometimes we use inverted word order to show surprise (Have you? / Isnt she?): Toshi and Keiko are getting married Are they? Thats great!

We use auxiliary verbs with so and neither (you can use -not either- instead of neither): Im tired. So am I. I never read newspapers. Neither do I. Sue doesnt have a car, and neither does Mark. I dont have any money. Neither do I. OR I dont either. I think so / I guess so / I suppose so / I hope so / I expect so / Im afraid so / etc. After some verbs you can use so when you dont want to repeat something: Are those people Australian? I think so. The usual negative forms are: I think so / I expect so >>> I dont think so / I dont expect so Im afraid so / I guess so / I suppose so / I hope so >>> Im afraid not / I guess not / I suppose not / I hope not

TAG QUESTIONS Have you? and Wasnt it? are tag questions (mini-questions that we often put at the end of a sentence in spoken English). In tag questions we use an auxiliary verb. Normally we use a negative tag question after a positive sentence, and a positive tag question after a negative sentence: Maria will be here soon, wont she? (positive sentence + negative tag) Maria wont be late, will she? (negative sentence + positive tag) The meaning of a tag question depends on how you say it. If your voice goes down, you arent really asking a question; you are only inviting the listener to agree with you: It a nice day, isnt it? Yes, beautiful. Eric doesnt look too good today, does he? No, he looks very tired. Shes very funny. She has a wonderful sense of humour, doesnt she? But if the voice goes up, it is a real question: You havent seen Lisa today, have you? No, I havent. (= Have you seen Lisa today by any chance?) We often use a negative sentence and a positive tag to ask for things or information or to ask somebody to do something. The voice goes up at the end of the tag in sentences like this: You wouldnt have a pen, would you? Yes, here you are. You couldnt lend me some money, could you? It depends how much. You dont know where Lauren is, do you? Sorry, I have no idea. After Lets... the question tag is shall we? Lets go for a walk, shall we? After the imperative (Do.../Listen.../Give..., etc.), the tag is usually will you? Open the door, will you? Note that we say arent I? (= am I not?) Im late, arent I?