Grammar Reference. Unit 11

11.0 Question words

Look at the questions. Notice that What, Which, and Whose can combine with a noun and How can combine with an adjective or an adverb.

What kind of music do you like?
What size shoe do you wear?
What colour are your eyes?
Which pen do you want?
Which way is it to the station?
Whose book is this?
How much do you weigh?
How many brothers and sisters do you have?
How many times have you been on a plane?
How much homework do you get every night?
How tall are you?
How often do you go to the dentist?
How long does it take you to get to school?

11.1 Indirect questions

1. Indirect questions have the same word order as the positive and there is no do / does / did.

Tom lives in California.
Do you know where Tom lives?
NOT Do you know where does Tom live?

2. We often make direct questions into indirect questions to make them sound "softer" or more polite.

Direct question
What time do the banks close?

Indirect question
Could you tell me what time the banks close?
Do you know what time the banks close?
Do you happen to know...?
Have you any idea...?
Do you remember...?
Would you mind telling me ...

If there is no question word, use if or whether.

I don't know if I'm coming or not.
I wonder whether it's going to rain

Here are some more expressions that introduce indirect questions

I don't know how long the journey takes.
I wonder how long the journey takes.
I can't remember...
I have no idea...
I'd like to know...
I'm not sure...

11.2 Question tags

Form

1. Question tags are very common in spoken English. The most common patterns are:

positive sentence - negative tag
You're Jenny, aren't you?

or negative sentence - positive tag
It isn't a very nice day, is it?

2. We repeat the auxiliary verb in the tag. If there is no auxiliary, use do / does / did.

You haven't been here before, have you?
You can speak English, can't you?
We should take the dog out, shouldn't we?
Banks close at five, don't they?
She eats meat, doesn't she?
You went to bed late, didn't you?

Note: For negative questions tags with I'm ... , use aren't.

I'm late, aren't I? NOT I'm late, am't I?

But:

I'm not late, am I? NOT I'm not late, aren't I?

3. Notice the meaning of Yes and No in answer to question tags.

"You're coming, aren't you?"
"Yes." (= I am coming.)
"No." (= I'm not coming.)

Use

We use question tags to keep a conversation going by involving listeners and inviting them to participate. The meaning of a question tag depends on how you say it. A question tag with rising intonation is like a real question - it is asking for confirmation. It means "I'm not sure, so I'm checking." The speaker thinks he / she knows the answer, but isn't absolutely certain.

Your name's Michael, isn't it?
You're in advertising, aren't you?
You work in the city, don't you?

A question tag with falling intonation isn't really a question at all - it is a way of making conversation. It means "Talk to me". The speaker expects people to agree with him / her.

Beautiful day, isn't it?
It's wonderful weather for swimming, isn't it?
That was a great concert, wasn't it?
You haven't been here before, have you?

Note: We can also use question tags with negative sentences to make a polite request for information or help.

You couldn't lend me your car this evening, could you?