Aleixo Domingos Caetano

Bendito Eugénio Tiago

José Paulo Martins Guambe

Types of Questions
Honours Degree in English Language Teaching with Minor in Portuguese

Universidade Licungo
Quelimane
2019
Aleixo Domingos Caetano
Bendito Eugénio Tiago
José Paulo Martins Guambe

Types of Questions

Assignment submitted to Department of

Language Science, Communication and
Arts, subject: English VI for assessment,
by Lecturer: Elias A. Chichango

Universidade Licungo
Quelimane
2019
Contents
1
.Introduction.....................................................................................................................................3

2.Questions......................................................................................................................................4

2.1.Use of Questions........................................................................................................................4

2.2.Types of Questions....................................................................................................................4

2.2.1.Yes/No questions....................................................................................................................4

2.2.2.Wh-Questions.........................................................................................................................5

2.2.3.Declarative Questions.............................................................................................................5

2.2.4.Tag Questions.........................................................................................................................6

2.2.5.Rhetorical Questions...............................................................................................................6

2.2.6.Questions without Inversion...................................................................................................6

2.2.7.Indirect and Direct Question...................................................................................................7

2.2.8.Negative Questions.................................................................................................................7

3.Conclusion....................................................................................................................................8

4.References.....................................................................................................................................9
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1. Introduction
Users of English all over the world use the language communicate, this involves also the act of
elicit information, so they ask questions. It is always good to ask, since it is the only way to
obtain information from others. This is what is meant by communication.

There are different types of environment and different types of communication pattern, such as
declarative, imperative and interrogative, also known as question and others. The questions can
vary according to the environment and along the people surrounding the speakers. This leads us
to have different types of question.

The aim of this assignment is to bring an overview about the questions, main types and most
used types of question in English language.
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2. Questions
In grammar there many different types of sentences, phrases, statements and words that help
people to express themselves in different ways. As said in the introduction here we focus on
questions also known as interrogative statements, that also is a type of statement used to express
people’s idea, however this type of statement are mainly used for asking something and usually
require a response.

According to Cambridge Advanced Leaners Dictionary, Question is a sentence or phrase used to

find out information.

2.1. Use of Questions

As we know the most basic use of a question is to ask for information. Moreover, EASTWOOD
(1994: 27) says that we can use questions in other ways, such as getting people to do things, this
happens especially with modal verbs that commonly used for requesting (e.g. Can I have one
then, please?); making suggestions (e.g. shall we take the early train?); offering (Can I help
you?); asking permission (e.g. May I take one of these timetables?) and there are also 'rhetorical
questions', which do not need an answer.

In other hand questions are not used only to ask for information, however we can use it to sound
more polite when asking for permission, requesting, making suggestion and so on.

Examples: You're always criticizing me, but have I ever criticized you?

Fancy meeting you here. It's a small world, isn't it?

2.2. Types of Questions

The questions may vary according to the environment, the person which we are talking to, the
aim of the question and many more aspects that lead to have different types of question.
GREENBAUM & NELSON (2002: 121) introduces two main types of interrogative sentences:

2.2.1. Yes/No questions

‘‘They are called yes–no questions because they expect the answer yes or no. They may in fact
be answered in other ways. Certainly; perhaps; I don’t know; what do you think?
’’ (Ibid. p. 28).
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According to EASTWOOD (1994: 28), the yes/no question begins with an auxiliary (do, will, be
etc.). GREENBAUM & NELSON (2002: 121) agree and add saying that it require subject–
operator inversion; that is, a reversal of the order of subject and verb (the order that is normal in
declaratives); the verb that appears before the subject is an operator.

Example: Are you coming today? Are you ready for this?

2.2.2. Wh-Questions
According to HEWINGS (1999: 66), they are called wh-questions because most of them begin
with wh-expressions (the exception is how). GREENBAUM & NELSON (2002: 121) support
saying that the wh-questions generally require subject–operator inversion too. The exception
occurs when the interrogative word or phrase is the subject, and in that case the normal subject–
verb order applies: Who has taken my car?

Both authors support that wh-questions is an interrogative statement with a wh-expression,

where the wh-expression represents a missing piece of information that the speaker wants to hear
from the listener.

Example: Why are you late? Which bus goes to Mocuba?

Furthermore, GREENBAUM & NELSON (2002: 122) state that apart from yes/no questions and
wh-questions, there are also several other types of questions.

2.2.3. Declarative Questions

Idem, Declarative questions have the form of a declarative sentence but the force of a question.
They are signalled by a rising intonation in speech and by a question mark in writing.

In this perspective, the author means that this type of question does not need subject inversion,
nevertheless there also the use of question mark in writing and intensification of intonation when
speaking.

Examples: You know my name? He’s got the key?

We have also Alternative Questions that present two or more choices, and the hearer is
expected to reply with one of them, as HEWINGS (1999: 67) suggested, the alternative questions
gets the hearer to choose between several option already presented by the speaker.
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Examples: which one do you want, coffee or tea? What colour do you prefer, black or
white?

2.2.4. Tag Questions

‘‘Tag questions are attached to sentences that are not interrogative. They invite the hearer to
respond in agreement with the speaker (You didn’t come yesterday, did you?)’’ (GREENBAUM
& NELSON, 2002: 122)

EASTWOOD (1994: 39) introduces the basic pattern of tag question:

Statement Tag Examples

Pattern A Positive Negative Today is Friday, isn’t it?
Pattern B Negative Positive He has not a laptop, has he?
Pattern C Positive Positive It's your birthday, is it?

2.2.5. Rhetorical Questions

‘‘Rhetorical questions do not expect a reply since they are the equivalent of forceful statements.
If the rhetorical question is positive it has negative force, and if it is negative it has positive
force.’’ (GREENBAUM & NELSON, 2002: 122).

Rhetorical questions are similar to sarcastic questions, it is ironic, does not need a response.

Examples: You're always criticizing me, but have I ever criticized you?

Fancy meeting you here. It's a small world, isn't it?

2.2.6. Questions without Inversion

EASTWOOD (1994: 36) says that in informal conversation a question can sometimes have the
same word order as in a statement.

The question only has a rising intonation which shows that it is a question. We use this kind of
question only when it follows on from what was said before.

Examples: You're travelling tomorrow? The car is what colour?

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2.2.7. Indirect and Direct Question

Conferring EASTWOOD (1994: 35), we can ask a question indirectly by putting it into a sub
clause beginning with a question word or with if/whether. There is no inversion of the subject
and auxiliary in the sub clause. This makes the question sound less abrupt, more tentative, it is an
indirect question (IQ).

Idem, a direct question (DQ) is a type of question the ends with a question mark. It is so called
because it is not a question that comes indirectly; it is clear that it is a question that cannot be
mistaken for a statement or sentence when someone asks you because it comes directly as a
question. A clear example of this are the wh-questions.

From here, can be understood that a direct question is denoted by the presence of a question
mark and appears always in the pattern question form, while an indirect question can take a form
of a normal sentence and may not bring a question mark.

IQ: We need to know what the rules are. I was wondering if you could give me a lift.

DQ: What are the rules? Can you give me a lift?

2.2.8. Negative Questions

HEWINGS (1999: 68) states that we make a question negative by putting n't after the auxiliary.

Haven't you finished yet? NOT: Have not you finished yet?

NOTE 1: The negative of am I is aren't I. Why aren't I getting paid for this?

In more formal English not comes after the subject.

Have you not finished yet? Why does the government not take action?

 If the question word is the subject, n't or not comes after the auxiliary.

Who hasn't returned/has not returned this library book?

 We can use other negative words.

Are you never going to finish? Why does the government take no action?

NOTE 2: In informal speech the question can be without inversion. - You haven't finished yet?
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3. Conclusion
Communication means sharing ideas. This process involves asking for information and getting
answers by the listener by using interrogative sentences, also known as question. Questions are
means of eliciting information but not all, also for asking for permission, requesting, making
suggestion, offers and more.

From here, can be concluded that the different types of questions that exist can be applied
according to the environment and the people we are talking to. There direct question that are
meant to be informal and can be used with people that we are familiarized with, however there
people that we are not familiarized with that will demand the use of formality and when we want
to ask something for them we have to use more formal question, it can be indirect question.

There are also question with no need of a response, nevertheless they have a meaningful function
in communication.
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4. References
EASTWOOD, J., Oxford Practice Grammar, 2nd ed., New York, Oxford University Press, 1999.

HEWINGS, M., Advanced English Grammar in Use, United Kingdom, Cambridge University
Press, 1999.

GREENBAUM, S. & NELSON, G., An Introduction to English Grammar, 2 nd ed., Great Britain,
Pearson Education Limited, 2002.