We ask questions to get information. In one case, we expect completely new information, in the other we are already partially aware of what is happening and ask for confirmation or refutation of what we know. Also in the latter case, we can express surprise or doubt, that is, these questions are often rhetorical. To obtain new information, we usually use two types of questions :
- are common;
- special.
Separate, alternative questions allow you to build a query using a ready-made assumption. But the alternative, unlike the dividing one, offers several answers to choose from. This article provides general principles of construction and examples of separation questions in the English language .
When are separation questions used?
In the separation question, an assumption is formulated that is either affirmative or negative, it forms the basis. Depending on the words used and intonation, the sentence may take on a different color. Examples of separation questions in English:
- You are sure of a fact and want to summarize it once again . / She is beautiful, isn't she? / She is beautiful, isn't she? /.
- You are sure of a fact at the moment when you voice it, but then suddenly doubts arise that prompt you to make a reservation. / Today is Monday, isn't it? / Today is Monday, right?
- You know that two variants of the course of events are possible, and first stipulate the most probable, and then express the assumption of the second. / He is in the garden now, isn't he? / Is he in the garden now or not? /.
- You know how you could or should act, and expect help in making a decision (sometimes this happens, including in a dialogue with yourself). / I should be careful, shouldn't I? / I should be careful, right? /.
- You suspect that the facts do not correspond to your assumption, but express hope for a favorable scenario. / You have the key, have't you? / Do you have the keys, I hope? /.
- You suspect that the least favorable scenario has occurred, but do not lose hope. / You have no keys, have you? / You have no keys, yes? /.
- You are sure of any fact and voiced your assumption, but then you notice that the interlocutor does not express unanimous agreement with you. / But you weren’t there, was you? / But you weren’t there ... or were you there? /.
“You are observant and check to see if what you think really is.” / You need some rest, aren't you? / You need some rest, am I right? /.
The analogy in Russian
In Russian and English there are similar principles for the formation of phrases and the construction of affirmative and negative sentences. Of course, smooth and direct logic is not always traced here, nevertheless, most constructions have an analogy, including dividing questions. The Russian analogue can be expressed in interrogative turns / After all, so? /, / Or not? /, / Or did? /, / True? /. How is the English separation question built? Exercises with a step-by-step construction scheme and cross-association clearly demonstrate the mechanism of the formation of the ending from the pronoun and the opposed meaningless verb.
Differences from the Russian language
The Russian language is much more flexible, and interrogative turns here are not necessarily isolated at the end of the sentence. They can be harmoniously woven into the fabric of the issue, taking any position. They are also less likely to become bipolar. Often such turns open the sentence, therefore we do not need to listen to the speaker or read the text to the very end, before we understand that the statement is actually not the statement at all. The reason for the difficult comprehension of sentences is mainly the often illogical and cellular grammar of the English language. Separation issues, of course, can also be foreseen - it all depends on the particular case of use and the intonal policy of the interlocutor.
Verbs that can be used
The Russian language allows the expression of such turns in different phrases, including through the use of any verbs. How does the English language build separation questions? Examples of interrogative endings given in the table at the end of the article cover the main possible spellings. In the second part of the separation question, only the following verbs can be used:
- / to be /;
- / do /;
- actually modal verbs.
True modality
The modality must be true, that is, it is incorrect to use improperly modal (quasimodal) verbs, even if they perform such a function in a sentence. The modal verbs proper include / can / capable /, / have / commits /, / must / must /, / may / may /, / ought to / obliged /.
Pronouns in the second part
In order not to pile up speech with repeated words and avoid tautology, the interrogative part uses the appropriate pronouns, the meaningless verbs are put into the appropriate conjugation, provided that they have a personal form. There is an exception - along with / I / in the negative interrogative ending, instead of / am /, always / aren't / is used. Examples of separation questions in English c / I / in the affirmative part of the sentence: / I'm not so bad, am I? / I'm not so bad /, / I am on the path, aren't I? / I'm on the trail , is not it so?/.
Building Rules
Such constructions are built on the opposite - if at first you make a positive statement, then the interrogative ending should be with a negative particle, and vice versa. In the first part, some assumption is voiced, in the second part you put in front of the corresponding pronoun a meaningless verb. Thus, the basic scheme for constructing the separation question is bipolar. 10 separation questions in English, given in the table below, illustrate the principle of construction of endings. This happens regardless of whether you confirm a positive statement or deny a negative. Only in cases where in the first part of the sentence words are used that initially contain negation in their definition, the ending will not be aligned on the pole.
For example: / They will never refuse it, will they? / They will never refuse it, right? /, / Now nowhere we go, are we? / Now we are not going anywhere, right? /.
Difficult use cases
Sometimes it is difficult to determine which pronoun should be in the ending. Such situations arise when the subject is omitted, or when an indefinite pronoun is used instead .
When the subject is omitted, we need to logically assume which person (s) the action is coming from, and in accordance with this use the pronoun and the meaningless verb. There are a number of constructions that are traditionally used with omitted object terms, and the meaning of omitted words is interpreted by default. Such cases need to be remembered and used automatically, using the following examples of separation questions in the English language:
/ Let's go to the forest this night, shall we? / Let's go to the forest tonight, go? /
/ Let us go to the forest this night, will you? / You will let us into the forest tonight, right? /
With an indefinite pronoun, a chain of reasoning is triggered, excluding the possibility of identifying a person. We cannot assume anyone specific (neither / he /, nor / she /, nor / it / nor / you /, nor / I /) in this place, which means that we equate the unknown term with the set. Therefore, they are put in the end.
/ Everyone called him by name, didn't they? / Everyone called him by name, didn't he? /.