Question Formation

Identify which sentence is an example of a Yes/No question. Select one: a. Who is in your class? b. Are you interested in learning English? c. Where did you go to university?

b. Are you interested in learning English? Explanation: This sentence follows the form for Yes/No questions: Auxiliary Verb (be/do/have) or Modal verb + Subject + Main Verb. In addition, this question can be answered simple with "yes" or "no".

Wh- Subject Questions

refer to a question whose answer is found in the subject of the response What have been some of your favorite classes? Who finished the homework? (I finished my homework.) Who teaches history in this school? (Mr. Parker teaches history in this school.) What was the homework for today? (Grammar Exercises were assigned for today.)

True or False: Both of the following sentences are examples of Yes/No questions. Did you have fun yesterday?Have you ever been on a plane? Select one: a. True b. False

a. True Explanation: Both questions follow the Yes/No question format (Auxiliary Verb (be/do/have) or Modal verb + Subject + Main Verb) and both can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no".

True or False: Tag questions are questions we add on to the end of statements. Select one: a. True b. False

a. True Explanation: Tag questions are located at the end of the sentence and communicate a variety of meanings.

True or False: Both of the following sentences are examples of Wh- Predicate questions. Who made dinner?What did mom make for dinner? Select one: a. True b. False

b. False Explanation: The first question (Who made dinner?) follows the Wh- Subject question format (Wh- question Word + Main Verb), and the answer can be found in the subject of the response (I made dinner). The second question (What did mom make for dinner?) follows the Wh- Predicate question format (Wh- question Word + Auxiliary Verb (be/do/have) or Modal verb (will/might/etc.) + Subject + Main Verb), and the answer can be found in the predicate of the response (Mom made pasta for dinner).

True or False: Both of the following sentences are examples of Wh- Subject questions. Were you at home yesterday?Who was at home with you? Select one: a. True b. False

b. False Explanation: The second question (Who was at home with you?) follows the Wh- Subject question format (Wh- question Word + Main Verb), and the answer can be found in the subject of the response (My mom was at home with me). The second question (Were you at home yesterday?) follows the Yes/No question format (Auxiliary Verb (be/do/have) or Modal verb + Subject + Main Verb) and can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no".

Nonnative speakers sometimes make mistakes with tag questions. Which of the following tag questions contains an error? Select one: a. You're new here, aren't you? b. You couldn't be my new teacher, couldn't you? c. You just arrived yesterday, didn't you? d. You like teaching English, don't you?

b. You couldn't be my new teacher, couldn't you? Explanation: This is an example of a negative statement (You couldn't be my new teacher), so when a tag question is used, it should be positive (could you?).

Identify which sentence is an example of a Wh- Predicate question. Select one: a. Who is in your class? b. Are you interested in learning English? c. Where did you go to university?

c. Where did you go to university? Explanation: This sentence follows the form for Wh- Predicate questions: Wh- question Word + Auxiliary Verb (be/do/have) or Modal verb (will/might/etc.) + Subject + Ma

We use tag questions _____________. Select one: a. To ask for help b. To invite someone to do something c. To confirm information that we already think is true d. All of the above

d. All of the above Explanation: All of the examples above indicate reasons we use tag questions with statements.

Tag questions

do exactly as their name suggests. They are extra questions that we add or tag on to the end of statements. ___________ are located at the end of the sentence and communicate a variety of meanings. English is a good language to know for any career in the future, isn't it? Turn off the lights, won't you? (polite) Eat your dinner, will you? (not polite)

4 types of Questions

1) Wh- Predicate Questions 2) Wh- Subject Questions 3) Yes/No Questions 4) Tag Questions

Tag Question Types

1) Positive Main Sentence/Negative Tag Question English is a good language to know for any career in the future, isn't it? You have already taken the test, haven't you? 2) Negative Main Sentence/Positive Tag Question I couldn't be an interpreter or translator with just this degree, could I? I hear they aren't doing the program this summer ... that isn't true, is it? They'll never come to my office hours, will they? 3) With Auxiliaries - When the main sentence uses an auxiliary verb, the same auxiliary verb is included in the tag. This isn't working, is it? They have been here before, haven't they? 4) Without Auxiliaries- When the main verb of the main sentence doesn't include an auxiliary, the tag is created with a form of the verb do She likes country music, doesn't she? I made a mistake, didn't I? 5) With Modals - When the main sentence uses a modal verb, that same modal is included in the tag. He couldn't answer the professor's question, could he? You will come to the party later, won't you? 6) Exception: Tag Questions with I am I'm a good singer, aren't I?

common question words to look for desired info

Who? - person What? - thing, action, concept When? - time Where? - location Why? - reason / motive How? - manner

more specific questions looking for desired info

Whose? - ownership Whom? - person How much? - cost / amount How many? - quantity (count) How long? - duration How often? - frequency How far? - distance What kind (of)? - description Which (one)? - choice between options

Identify which sentence is an example of a Wh- Subject question. Select one: a. Who is in your class? b. Are you interested in learning English? c. What is your favorite subject?

a. Who is in your class? Explanation: This sentence follows the form for Wh- Subject questions: Wh- question Word + Main Verb. In addition, the answer can be found in the subject of the response: "Your brother is in my class."

Nonnative speakers sometimes make mistakes with word order when forming questions. Which of the following questions contains incorrect word order? Select one: a. Where are you from? b. When did you arrive in our country? c. Where you did teach before? d. How long will you stay here?

c. Where you did teach before? Explanation: This is a Wh- Predicate question, and in forming those types of questions, the subject (you) should come after the auxiliary verb (did).

yes/no questions

can be formed using auxiliary or modal verbs, or sometimes with the be verb as the main verb of the question. All of these questions can be answered with a simple yes or no answer. Did you have the opportunity to travel during the program? Did you participate in the English conversation table? Are you satisfied with how your language skills have developed? Yes/No Questions with Modal Verbs* Could you help me with my English homework? (modal verb) (subject) (main verb) (other elements) Should I take an extra English course next semester? (modal verb) (subject) (main verb) (other elements)

Auxiliary verbs (helping verbs)

combined with verbs to form verb phrases eg (be, do, have)

Wh- Predicate Questions

refer to a question whose answer is found in the predicate of the response. What year are you in the program? Why did you want to learn English? Wh-question word + Auxiliary or Modal verb + Subject + Main verb

modal verbs

show degrees of necessity and certainty eg (be, do, have)