Forming questions; reporting questions Farming questions Some questions begin with a t^-word. We can call these wh-questions: What are you doing tomorrow? Where have you been? Some questions can be answered with 'yes' or 'no'. We can call these yes/no questions, i Have you had to come far? □ Did she leave any message? If there is an auxiliary verb (be, do, have, can, will, etc.) we put it in ftont of the subject: 0- Have you ever visited California? Why are you telling me this now? If there is more than one auxiliary verb, we put only the first auxiliary in front of the subject: Will they be arrested if they refuse to leave? (not Will be they arrested...?) We can make questions in a similar way when be is a main verb: Was she happy when she lived in France? When is he likely to arrive? When we ask yes/no questions with have as the main verb, we usually use Have—got...? or Do...have...? Questions such as 'Have you a pen?' are rather formal (see also Unit 27); Do you have... / Have you got a reservation? (rather than Have you a...?) If there is no other auxiliary verb, we make a question by putting do or does (present simple), or did (past simple) in front of the subject. A bare infinitive comes after the subject: Does anyone know where 1 left my diary? When did you last see Mary? If we use what, which, who or whose as the subject, we don't use do: What^apfraeJto your car? (not What did happen,..?) Compare: Who (= subject) did you speak to at the patty? and Who (= object) spoke to you? Notice that we can sometimes use do when what, which, who or whose is subject if we want to encourage the speaker to give an answer. Do is stressed in spoken English: Come on, be honest - who did tell you? Study how we ask questions about what people think or say using a rfwf-clause: When do you think (that) he will arrive? : What do you suggest (that) I should do next? We can ask questions like this with advise, propose, recommend, say, suggest, suppose, think. When the wh-vioiA is the subject of the second clause we don't include that: Who did you say was coming to see me this morning? (not ...say that was coming...?) Reporting questions When we reporr a wh-question we use a reporting clause (see Unit 43) followed by a clause beginning with a wh-ward. When we report a yes/no question we use a reporting clause followed by a clause beginning with either if or whether: She asked me what the problem was. ' Liz wanted to know if/whether I'd seen Tony. We usually put the subject before the verb in the wh-, if-, or whether-dause: 'Have you seen Paul teccntly ?' —* She wanted to know if I had seen Paul recently. However, if the original question begins what, which, or who followed by be + complement, we can put the complement before or after be in the report: 'Who was the winner?' —' I asked who the winner was. (or ...who was the winner. ) Notice that we don't use a form of do in the wh-, if-, or whetber-chuse: She asked me where I (had) found it. (not ...where did I find it./...where I did find it.) Howevet, if we are reporting a negative question, we can use a negative form of do: ■' He asked (me) why 1 didn't want anything to eat. 33.1 What questions did Jill ask Peter? (B & C) 53.2 !3." 1 ...if you know my sister. Do you know my sister? 2 ...what needs to be done next. 3 ...who really gave you that ring. 4 ...who invited you to the restaurant. 5 ...if you have finished your project. 6 ...if you went to the concert last night. 7 ...what the result of your exam was. 8 ...which you like best - chicken or turkey. 9 ...who you invited to the meeting. 10 ...if you have any brothers or sisters. 11 ...what you need from the shop. 12 ...where you went last weekend. 13 ...if you were pleased with the present. 14 ...which comes first - your birthday or your brother's. 15 ...if you are playing cricket this weekend. 16 ...what really, happened to your eye. 17 ...whether you speak Italian. 18 ...where your friend John lives. Use any appropriate wb-word and the verb given to complete the question, as in 1. Put in (that) if it is possible to include that. (D) 1 .Why do m C*«£! you don't like Carl? (say) 2 ........................................................................................would be a good person to ask? (think) 3 ........................................................................................he'll be arriving? (suppose) 4 ........................................................................................1 should do to lose weight? (recommend) 5........................................................................................is a good time to arrive? (suggest) 6 ........................................................................................we should go in town for a good meal? (advise) 7 ........................................................................................Max should be asked to resign? (propose) 8 ........................................................................................is wrong with Daniel? (suppose) Report these questions using a wh-, if- or whether-clause, as appropriate. Make any necessary changes to verb tense, pronouns, etc. (Study Units 45 and 49 if necessary.) (D) 1 'How much will they pay you?' She asked, me how much they would, pay me. 2 'Will you be coming back later?' She asked, me... 3 'When do you expect to finish the book?' She asked, me... 4 'When are you leaving?' She asked, me... 5 'Where did you get the computer from?' She asked, me... 6 'Why didn't you tell me earlier?' She asked me... 7 'How do you get to Northfield?' She asked, me... 8 'Are meals included in the price, or not?' She asked, me... 9 'What do you want?' She asked, me... 10 'Are you happy in your new job?' She askesi me... 11 'What did you think of the performance yesterday?' She asked, me... 12 'Have you ever eaten snails?' She asked, me... Asking and answering negative questions We can sometimes use negative yes/no or wh-qucstions to make a suggestion, to persuade someone, to criticise, or to show that we are surprised, etc.: « Why don't we go out for a meal? (a suggestion) a Wouldn't it be better to go tomorrow instead? (persuading someone) Can't you play that trumpet somewhere else? (a criticism) j Didn't you tell them who you were? {showing surprise) We usually make a negative yes/no or wh- (particularly why) question with an auxiliary verb + -n't before the subject: a Doesn't he want to come with us? 6 Haven't you got anything better to do? m Why can't we go by bus? e Tm not sure I like their new house.' 'What don't you like about it?' We can also ask a negative question using a negative statement and a positive 'tag' at the end: o We don't have to leave just yet, do we? In more formal speech and writing, or when we want to give some special emphasis to the negative (perhaps to show that we are angry, very surprised, or that we want particularly to persuade someone), we can put not aftet the subject: Did she not realise that she had broken the window? Can they not temember anything about it? a Why did vow not return the money? If the question wotd is the subject, we put -n't or not after the auxiliary verb: : Who wouldn't like to own an expensive sports car? (nor Who not would like...?) We sometimes use negative words other than not (or -n't) such as never, no, nobody, nothing, and nowhere: ■;> Why do you never help me with my homework? {or Why don't you ever help...?) 0 Have you no money left? (or Don't you have any money left?) Have you nowhere to go? (or Haven't you got anywhere to go?) ('Haven't you any...?' and 'Haven't you anywhete...?' would be formal in the last two examples.) Some negative questions anticipate that the answer will be or should be 'Yes': 'Wasn't Chris in Japan when the earthquake struck?' 'Yes, he was.' j 'Didn't [ sec you in Paris last week?' 'That's right.' Othet negative questions anticipate that the answer will be or should be 'No': 'What's wrong? Don't you eat fish?' 'No, it disagrees with me.' -i 'Haven't you finished yet?' 'Sorry, not yet.' It is usually clear from the context which kind of answer is anticipated. Notice how we answer negative questions: ■s 'Don't you enjoy helping me?* 'Yes.' (= Yes, I do enjoy it.) or 'No.' (= No, I don't enjoy it.) .... 'You're not living here, are you?' 'Yes.' (= Yes, I am living here.) or 'No.' (= No, I'm not living here.) We can make a suggestion with Why not + verb or Why don't/doesn't...: Why not decorate the house yourself? (or Why don't you decorate...?) "! Why not give her what she wants?' (or Why don't we give her...?) Why didn't... isn't used to make a suggestion, but can be used to criticise someone: Why didn't you tell me that in the first place ? EXERCISES 34.1 Write an appropriate negative question for each situation. Use -n't in your answer.(B) 1 A: Can you show me where her office is? (...there before?) B: Why? Haven't you be**i tiwre. before,! 2 Ai I'm afraid I won't be able to give you a lift home. (...drive here?) B: Why not? 3 A; I've left my job at Ronex. (...happy there?) B: Why? 4 A: Will you help me look for my purse? (...where you put it?) is: Why? 5 A: Maybe it wouid be better not to give that vase to Jane for Christmas. (...like it?) R: Why not? 6 A: We might as well go home now. (...we can do to help?) R: Why? Do the same for these situations. You are particularly surprised or annoyed. 7 A: I'm sorry, but I don't know the answer. (...supposed to be / expert / the subject?) B: Why not? Are you not supposed to be an expert on tfce SMlyect? 8 A: I was expecting you at 8 o'clock. (...my message / would be late?) B: Why? 9 A: I haven't been able to finish the work. (...my instructions?) B: Why not? 34.2 Expand the notes and write two alternative negative questions in each situation. In the first use -n't; in the second use one of: never, no, nobody, nothing, nowhere. (B & C) 1 (not I anything I me to do?) bs!y^£.. Sjus EXERCISES 35.1 Underline one or both. (A) 1 I can't get the computer to work. Which/What have you done to it? 2 When we get to the next junction, which/what way shall we go? 3 Which/What countries in Europe have you been to? 4 Which/What are you worried about? 5 Which/What kind of work do you do? 6 Whkh/Wbat do you think I should wear - my blue or my red tie? 7 I still have to type these letters and photocopy your papers. Which/What do you want me to do next? 8 Which/What is the best way to get to Sutton from here? Look again at the answers in which you have underlined both. Are there any where which is more likely than whit? SS.£ Complete the sentences with who, which or what. (B & C) 1 .....................are you working for now? 2 '.....................are Paul's parents?' 'The couple near the door.' 3 .....................living person do you most admirer 4 '.....................are Tom's parents?' 'They're both teachers.' 5 .....................of them broke rhe window? 6 .....................one of you is Mr Jones? 7 .....................else knew of the existence of the plans? 8 .....................is to blame for wasting so much public money? 9 .....................knows what will happen next? 10 .....................of the countties voted against sanctions? 11 I know that Judy is an accountant, but.....................is her sister Nancy? If necessary, correct these sentences. If the sentence is already correct, put a /. (B-D) 1 What one of you borrowed my blue pen? 2 'Who do you want to be when you grow up?' 'An astronaut.' 3 Who are you inviting to the meal? 4 What are left in the fridge? 5 Which of the children are in the choir? 6 'Who are coming with you in the car?' 'Jane, Amy and Alex.' 31.4 First, complete the sentences with how, what, or how/what if both are possible. Then choose an appropriate answer for each question. (E) 1 '...............'s your cat now?' a 'It's beautiful.' 2 1...............about stopping for a coffee?' b 'Good idea.' 3 '...............was your holiday like?' c 'The flowers and the small pond.' 4 '............... do you like about the garden?' d 'He needs a lot more ptactice.' 5 '...............'s your cat called?' e 'It's a lot better, thanks.' 6 '...............do you like the garden.' f 'We really enjoyed it.' 7 '...............was your holiday?' g 'Tom.' 8 '...............did you think of his playing?' h 'We had a great time.' A Question tags: form J&j^tKsmMm^^Bffl&aiaams^^&BBt^m A question tag is a short phrase at the end of a statement that turns it into a question. It invite? the other person to reply. 4'- Question tags are formed using auxiliaries (do, be, have or a modal). An affirmative statement usually has a negative tag, and vice-versa. You speak French, don't you? You don't speak French, do you? You went to the conference, didn't you? You didn't go to the conference, did you? You can meet him tomorrow, cant you? You can't meet him tomorrow, can you? He's here, isn't he? He isn't here, is he? (request for information) (confirmation) {sitae k) (defence) (sarcasm) B Question tags', use ft"9 Here are five possible uses of question tags presented in a dialogue: A: Vou haven't got the sates figures yet, have you? B: They don't have to be ready till Friday, do they? A: You're not going to leave it until the iast minute again, are you? B: Well, I haven't had any time, have I? A: So it wasn't you going home early yesterday, was it? * If we use a negative statement with an affirmative tag, we often expect the answer to be no A: I'm going to need an interpreter. B: Of course. You don't speak French, do you? This form can be more polite because it is easier for the other person to reply no. A: You don't speak French, do you? B: No, sorry, I don't. A negative statement with an affirmative tag can also be used to ask people for things in a polite way. You couldn't give me a hand, could you? You haven't got any change for the parking meter, have you? C Question tags: other points ® If the main verb in the statement is have, you make a tag with do. You had a meeting this morning, didn't you? When have is the auxiliary the tag is with have (as normal): You've just been to Austria, haven't you? The tag with I'mII am is aren't. I'm a fool, aren't I? # The tag with let's is shall. This is a suggestion. Let's break for coffee now, shall we? • After an imperative we can use will you? or won't you? Have a seat, will you? Give me a call later, won't you? If the imperative is a request we can use can you? or could you? Hold the lift for me, can you? Pass me that file, could you? D Reply questions We can use a short question to reply to what someone says. We do this to show interest, surprise or uncertainty. The meaning is like Really? or fe fhaf true? A: / went to Head Office iast week. B: Did you? (interest) A: / can t install the new software. B: Can't you? (surprise) A: / think they're arriving at ten. B: Are they? (uncertainty) © The reply question uses an auxiliary verb like in a question tag, but there is no change of affirmative to negative. E Indirect questions © We can be more polite or tentative by beginning a question with a phrase like Do you know, Do you think/ feel, Do you mind telling me. Could you tell me, Could I ask you, I'd like to know, I was wondering. Do you feel this rise in interest is a result of increased recruiting? Can you give me Yale's profile for the Class of '99 (ie minority, non-US, female)? Also, you mentioned that Yale has been working hard to strengthen its interview program. Could you tell me a bit more about what the school is doing on that front? (Business Week website) The word order of an indirect question is like a normal statement, direct: Could you call me a taxi? indirect: Do you think you could call me a taxi? direct: How old are you? indirect: Could I ask you how old you are? Where there is no question word or modal verb we use if at whether. direct: Does Jane still work here? indirect: Do you know if Jane still works here? 9 F Prepositions in questions * The preposition comes in the same place as in a statement, following the main verb, and this is often at the end. Who are you waiting for? What are you looking at? Where do you come from? What were they talking about in the meeting? G What is it for and what was it like • We use what... for? to ask about a purpose- The meaning is 'why'. VWiat Is this switch for? (= Why is this switch here?) # We use what... like? to ask if something js good or bad. The meaning is 'how' What was the conference like? (~ How was the conference?) Exercise 5 ill Complete these dialogues with question tags. A john: Hi, Martha, we're due to meet next week (1).......L*<........?Well, I've just remembered that I'm on holiday then. Can you make another time? martjia: Yes, when are you free? john: Um, let's meet a fortnight on Tuesday, (2)......................................? martha: Let me look in my diary. Yes, that's fine - a fortnight on Tuesday. B dan: Luis will be arriving at the office at two, (3)......................................? frank No, at three. dan: Oh, right. Well, he's been here before, so he should know how to find the office, (4)......................................? frank: But that was before we moved buildings, (5)......................................? dan: Oh, yeah. I'll email him with directions to get here, then. C stan: These designs need to go to Norton Smith's office in Guildford today. They've got a fax machine there, (6)......................................? nicole: Yes, but it's not working, I'll send the document to them by first class post. stan: It'd be quicker if you sent it by courier, (7)......................................? nicole: Oh, yes. I'll sort that out now. D br,idghT: TMs quote for the parts is much cheaper than the other one we had, (8)......................................? sfk.gh: Yes, much. It's very strange. They haven't forgotten to include delivery costs, (?)......................................& Bridget: No, everything is included in the price. serge: Really? It all looks too good to be true, (10)......................................? Bridget: Um, yes, well, let's give them a try anyway.