Sometimes simple gestures are enough to communicate with foreigners, but there are situations when it is absolutely necessary to clarify something. This is where difficulties begin, since few people remember how to ask a general question in English. The rules are often long forgotten, and a person is simply lost.
It is pointless to argue that the correctly asked question is one of the most effective and quick ways to obtain the required information from the interlocutor. Using the question, you can find out:
- name of the interlocutor;
- how to get to the place you need;
- information about the product you are interested in in the store;
- your state of health if you find yourself in a hospital abroad;
- what to do in an emergency or emergency, etc.
However, people who have difficulty with the English language feel rather insecure in situations where they need to say something. As a rule, they are embarrassed to say anything at all, even if they need help or any clarification. Therefore, the ability to correctly construct a question in English will give confidence to any person in any situation abroad.
What types of questions exist in English
The construction of affirmative sentences, as a rule, does not cause special difficulties for students of the language, but the preparation of questions is difficult. Only an understanding of their structure will allow us to clarify for ourselves how to ask a general question in English. Types of questions have their own characteristics and are used in everyday communication by native speakers. There are five types of questions in total, among which are:
- The general question. For example: Do you like reading ?
- Special issue. For example: Who bought this ugly hat ?
- Alternative question. For example: Do you like comedies or dramas ( Do you like comedies or dramas )?
- Question asked to subject. For example: Which pen is yours ?
- Separated question. For example: Children usually eat fruit and vegetables, don't they ( don't they )
Let's take a closer look at how to ask a general question in English.
The purpose of the question
This is the simplest and most common type of the five existing. He is asked to complete the proposal, and he requires a simple affirmative or negative answer. Consider the following examples:
- I like eating chocolate. Do you like eating chocolate? Yes, I do. No, I don't. - I like to eat chocolate. Do you like to eat chocolate? Yes. Not.
- Mark drives to California every month. Does Mark drive to California every month? Yes, he does. No, he doesn't. - Mark travels to California every month. Does Mark travel to California every month? Yes. Not.
- They can bring Kate some fruit. Can they bring Kate some fruit? Yes, they can. No, they can't. - They can bring kate fruit. Can they bring fruit to Kate? Yes. Not.
Note that in order to construct a general question, the auxiliary word “do” is sometimes used. This verb and its derivatives are used in combination with other verbs to obtain an interrogative or negative type of interrogative sentence. However, if it has the verb “to be”, the use of the auxiliary word “do” is not required. Consider the following examples:
- He is a generous man. Is he a generous man? Isn't he a generous man? - He is a generous person. Is he a generous person? Is he a generous person?
- They are doctors. Are they doctors? Aren't they doctors? - They're doctors. They're doctors? Are they doctors?
- They visit Margaret every Tuesday. Do they visit Margaret every Tuesday? Don't they visit Margaret every Tuesday? “They visit Margaret every Tuesday.” Do they visit Margaret every Tuesday? Did they visit Margaret every Tuesday?
Question building
How to ask a general question in English? This is easier than it might seem. First of all, you need to find the verb in the sentence and determine what function it performs:
- bunch verb ( to be and its derivative forms - am, are, is );
- modal verb ( must, need, can, should, have to );
- main verb (any verb, for example, jump, go, watch, work , etc.).
Then you should determine the time of the question. In order not to get confused with his definition, try turning this phrase into a narrative sentence. For example, the interrogative sentence “Does your aunt love to sing?”, We remake it in the affirmative “Your aunt loves to sing.” After you find the verb and determine the time, proceed to the construction of the question itself.
Word order
Another point that should be addressed to those who do not know how to ask a general question in English is the word order. While in Russian we just change the intonation and get an interrogative sentence, this does not work with English. To ask something, it is not enough just to change the intonation to the interrogative one. In the English interrogative construct, the reverse order of words is characteristic.
This means that the use of either the auxiliary or modal verb, or the conjugated verb “to be”, in the necessary form, is especially important in this situation. Next comes the subject (most often expressed by a personal pronoun), the predicate, and other members of the sentence. Consider the following examples:
- They like expensive cars . In this example, “they” plays the role of the subject, and “like” is the predicate. Do they like expensive cars ? Here “do” acts as an auxiliary word, “they” - subject, “like” - as a predicate.
- We are friends . In this example, “we” is the subject, and “are” is the predicate, in the form of the verb “to be” for the pronoun “we”. Are we friends ? Here, “are” acts as a predicate, and “we” as a subject.
- He can sing well (he sings well). In this example, “he” is the subject, and “can” is the modal verb. C an he sing well (he sings well)? Here “can” acts as a predicate, which comes first, and “he” is still the subject.
Building a negative question form
Having sorted out the word order, we can move on to the next important point - how to ask a general question in English in a negative form. The mentioned construction in the Russian language, as a rule, begins with the words "really" or "maybe" and serves to express surprise and misunderstanding. The pattern of formation of this form is the same as in the affirmative, only with the use of the negative particle “not”. Consider the following examples:
1. Do you not like our French lessons? - Don't you like our French lessons? “ Don't you like our French lessons?”
2. Are they not at work? - Aren't they at work? “ Are they not at work?”
3. Must we not do this work tomorrow? - Mustn't we do this work tomorrow? “Shouldn't we do this job tomorrow?”
How to answer a question
The general question requires a clear yes or no, which are formed as follows:
1. A positive answer implies the use of the word “yes”, a pronoun and a verb. For instance:
- Do you like eating strawberry cakes? Yes, I do . - Do you like to eat strawberry cakes? Yes.
- Should they go to the party this Friday? Yes, they should . “Should they go to the party this Friday?” Yes.
- Is he a student of Harvard University? Yes, he is. “Is he a student at Harvard University?” Yes.
2. A negative answer is made out as follows: “no” + pronoun + verb + particle “not”. For instance:
- Do they like watching TV before going to bed? No, they do not (don't). “Do they like to watch TV before going to bed?” Not.
- Can you read this new novel? No, I can not (can't). “Can you read this new novel?” Not.
- Is Casandra his friend's sister? No, she is not (isn't). “Is Casandra the sister of his friend?” Not.
Intonation features
The most difficult thing is left behind, because you already have an idea of how to ask a general question in English. The rules of composing and intonation are another point worth considering. For English, the pronunciation of common questions with a rising tone is typical. This tone is used in all questions that can be answered unambiguously “yes” or “no”. To clarify everything, consider in more detail with examples:
- 'Do you' like this' new ↗films (do you like these new films)? This is an interrogative sentence, which implies a definite answer (yes / no), therefore it is pronounced in an upward tone.
- 'Is it a ↗ desk ? This interrogative sentence can be answered unambiguously (yes / no), therefore it is pronounced in an upward tone.
- Have you got a ↗ sister (do you have a sister)? It is also pronounced in a rising tone, since it requires an affirmative "yes" or "no."
Now you know how to ask a general question in English. Pronunciation rules in this case are very easy to remember.
Conclusion
Thus, we examined all theoretical aspects regarding how to ask a general question - in English such a phrase is the simplest and at the same time the most important and common, therefore, knowing how to formulate it correctly, you can more confidently feel in conversation with foreigners abroad. To consolidate the studied material, we should go to the practical part.
Pin exercises
1. To complete the first task, remember that everything that you studied earlier with regards to how to ask a general question. In English, words following the ↗ sign are pronounced with ascending intonation:
- Is she ↗ old?
- Do you ↗ like it?
- Is it a ↗ sofa?
- Can you ↗ forger it?
- Must you ↗ read it?
- Is it ↗ your pen?
- Are you ↗ brothers?
- Does she ↗ love you?
- Is it ↗ dirty?
- Are you ↗ seventeen?
- Do they usually ↗ watch TV?
- Can you repeat ↗ after me?
- Is your brother a ↗ policeman?
- Is Mary ↗ kind?
- Do you like cooking?
2. Answer the following general questions:
- Are you a teacher?
- Should we go there?
- Can you help me on Monday?
- Are they right?
- Do they like it?
- Is she her cousin?
- Can you swim?
- Is his name Mark?
- Must I close the door?
- Does she know him?
- Can he jump?
- Is it cheap?
- Does he like fishing?
- Am I naughty?
- Can you forget about it ?
3. Translate the following general questions into English:
- Do you want to go to the cinema with me tomorrow?
- Is she at home now?
- Is their car red?
- Can you turn off the tv
- Are these kids so naughty?
- They are kind?
- Does she like tulips?
- Should I call him?
- Should she go there?
- Do you work on Saturday?
- Do you like to listen music?
- This is their home?
- Have you forgotten about our meeting?
- Can you repeat the last sentence?
- Do you know their parents?
- Do you work here?
- Do they see us?
- Can you call her back tomorrow morning?
- Don't you know where this building is?
- Is this the same person?