AT english language There are several types of questions. One of these types, a general question, we have already learned to ask and answer it. A general question is a question that begins with a verb and an auxiliary verb, and suggests an answer - yes or no. Today we will consider a special issue (special question)that begins with a question word, that is, requests specific information.
Dictionary of Question Words (listen)
Read carefully the list of question words in English and try to guess which one is the most frequently used.
Whatwhat what
Whowho
Whenwhen
Wherewhere, where, where
Whywhy
Howas
How many / how muchhow
Whosewhose
Which which which of
Use of question words in speech
The most common question word in English used to ask questions is the word what. First of all, because it has two meanings - what, which, that is, on questions with this question word, we can give two types of different information, both an object and an attribute of an object. We are already familiar with the most frequently asked questions.
What is your name? What's your name?
What is your surname? What is your last name?
What is your address?What is your address?
What is your hobby? What is your hobby?
If we want to request information about a person, then we should use the question word who.
Who is this man?Who is this man?
Who did you meet yesterday?Who did you meet yesterday?
We request time information using the interrogative word when.
When do you usually get up? When do you usually get up?
When were you born? When were you born?
We will find out information about the place using the interrogative word where, which has as many as three meanings: where, where, where.
Where are you from? Where you're from?
Where were you born? Where you were born?
When asking for a reason or purpose, we use a question word why.
Why do you like reading books? Why do you like to read books?
Why did you go there? Why did you go there?
Using the interrogative word howwe are trying to find out how this or that action (mode of action) happened or by what means.
How do you get to work? How do you get to work?
How do you speak English? How do you speak english?
Also the interrogative word how part of two other question words how many / how much (how).
However, how many used with countable objects (which can be counted), while how muchused with uncountable items (which cannot be counted). In English uncountable nouns those that mean liquid, bulk products, various substances and some others are considered eg, time (time), money (money), furniture (furniture), advice (advice), news (news), weather (weather).
How many apples do you eat a week? How many apples a week do you eat?
As you can see, the interrogative words what and which there is the same meaning - which one. However, the use of these words varies from context. Interrogative word which used in the meaning - which one of, that is, we mean a certain circle of people or objects from which we make a choice.
Which bag do you like? Which bag do you like?
As regards the construction of a special issue, this principle does not differ from the principle of constructing a general question.
Only in this case, the first place will be taken by the interrogative word, and then the rule follows the verb or auxiliary verb and the subject, expressed by a proper noun, pronoun or noun. The intonation pattern of a special question sometimes causes bewilderment among people studying English. The intonation of the special question coincides with the intonation of the usual narrative sentence, that is, there should be a downward tone at the end of the question (voice drop down).
Lesson Assignments
Exercise 1. Ask questions to selected members of the proposal.
1. His favorite color is blue.
2. This man is my uncle.
3. We get up at 7 a.m. every day.
4. They come from Spain.
5. He is looking for a part-time job because he needs money.
6. I go to work by car.
7. My brother spends 2 hours a day riding a bike.
8. This dress is hers.
9. I like these red shoes very much.
Exercise 2. Answer the questions.
1. What is your favorite sport?
2. Who is this old man?
3. When do you usually clean your flat / house?
4. Where do you come from?
5. Why are you learning English?
6. How do you get to work?
7. How much time a day do you spend at work?
8. Whose laptop is this?
9. Which film do you fancy watching?
Exercise 1.
1. What is his favorite color?
2. Who is this man?
3. When do you get up every day?
4. Where do they come from?
5. Why is he looking for a part-time job?
6. How do you go to work?
7. How much time a day does your brother spend riding a bike?
8. Whose is this dress?
9. Which shoes do you like?
If you want to start speaking English faster, then you should know what question words are in the English language, what is the meaning of each of them, and how they should be applied.
As in any other language of the world, interrogative words are a very important component of the language itself. General questions in English are as follows.
Who - who.
Whom - to whom - is an atypical form for colloquial speech, who is usually used instead.
Whose - whose.
What - what, what.
What does he need? - What does he want?
You know what he wants. “You know what he wants.”
What flavor of ice cream does he prefer? What flavor of ice-cream does he prefer?
What kind of book does he need? What book does he need?
Why - why, why.
Where - where, where.
How - as.
When - when.
How many - how much (how much). It can be used only in relation to objects that can be counted (countable). In English, the word "how much" is associated with countable and uncountable nouns. That is, if we talk about some number of certain material objects (which can be counted), for example, books, shelves, people, fingers, ideas, then “How much ...?” Will be translated “ How many .. "
How many employees does he have? - How many employees does he have?
How many gloves does he have? - How many gloves does he have?
How many people are in your office? How many people do you have in your office?
How much - how much / how much. It can be used only in relation to objects that cannot be counted (uncountable).
The uncountable is that which cannot be counted. Or in other words, all loose substances (sugar, groats), everything that can be spread (butter, cream, jam) and spilled (coffee, tea, water). To this incorruptible also applies time, money. In English, the concept of quantity is considered differently. For example, you can have a lot or a little flour, coffee, rice or olive oil, but be that as it may, neither the first, nor the second, nor the third, nor the fourth, we can calculate. If you want to ask “How much ...?” About tea, coffee, butter, sugar or cereals, you need to start your question with the question words “How much ...?”.
Countless example:
How long will you stay here? - How much time will you stay here?
How much sugar do you need? - How much sugar do you need?
How much money do you usually spend on this? Since money in the English language is uncountable, accordingly, you need to use the question " how much».
How much do you usually spend on this?
Countable example:
How many chairs does he have? - How many chairs does he have?
How fast - how fast, (meaning speed).
Howsoon- how soon (duration).
How old - does not have a literal translation, can be used in questions about age.
For example: How old is he? How old is he?
How long - how long.
example: How long has he been cooking dinner? How long does he make lunch?
Howoften- how often.
How far - how far.
Which - which (1 of 2 or 3).
example: There are a lot of glasses on the table. Which is mine? - What glass is mine?
There are four glasses on the table. Which (of them) is mine? Which glass is mine?
It is also important to note that the words expressing questions in any interrogative sentence should be put first.
How long is the show? - How long does the show last?
When will she come? - When she comes?
How far is your house from this place? “How far is your house from here?”
How fast can you run? - How fast do you run?
Where do you go? - Where are you going?
Use of question words in various situations
Question words in English have some nuances that need to be considered:
Before form who You can not put an excuse. In colloquial speech, when replacing the object case form whom on the form who, the preposition must be put after the verb, and if there is an addendum, then after it, that is, as a rule at the end of the sentence.
Who is he going to? And not To whom is he going? “Who is he going to?”
Who does she live with? And not With whom does she live? Who does she live with?
Pronoun whom can be used with different prepositions, in Russian it corresponds to the pronoun who in indirect cases with prepositions. It performs the function of a prepositional indirect complement, this style is used only in official speech:
To whom did you give the money? - To whom did you give the money?
Important! With any of the interrogative pronouns: who (whom), which, what, whose in Present Indefinite and Past Indefinite you do not need to use the auxiliary verb in questions to the subject:
Who helped you? - Joe helped me. Who helped you? “Joe helped me.”
In other types of questions (to the definition, addition, etc.), the auxiliary verb should be used do:
Question to supplement:
Who did they see? - They saw Joe. Who did they see? - They saw Joe.
Question to the definition: What car do you wash? - What car are you washing?
I read a russian book - I am reading a Russian book.
If the question relates to the subject, after the word who the predicate verb should be singular.
Who is that girl? - Who is that girl?
If you want to ask a question related to the nominal part of the predicate, then the linking verb should be coordinated in person and number with the subject:
Who is that man? - Who is that man?
Who are they? - Who are they?
Pronoun what can be used as a pronoun-noun that (about an inanimate subject) and as a pronoun-adjective which, what, what, what (in relation to persons and objects).
Pronoun what can be used with different pretexts in the function of a prepositional indirect complement, in Russian it will correspond to the pronoun that in the indirect case:
About what does he want to talk? - What does he want to talk about?
Pronoun whichin the meaning of which (who / what / what) can be used as a pronoun - a noun and a pronoun - an adjective both in relation to animate and inanimate objects.
Thus, interrogative words in English are used differently in different situations.
The need for question words in any language is beyond doubt. But how else to ask and learn about specific places, objects and people, time and direction? From this article you will learn all about special words in English questions. Most of them start with the wh, but there are other options.
Types of Questions
In total, there are 5 types of interrogative sentences in English: alternative, dividing, general, subject questions and special ones. Just in the last two types special words are used, which became the topic of this article.
In the above sentences, the question word is what. Next you will see a list of other representatives of this group.
English interrogative words
The table below contains all the special words at the beginning of the questions.
Interrogative word | Transcription | Example in a sentence |
|
Who are you? Who are you? |
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to whom? whom? | Whom does she call? Who is she calling? |
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Whose is that car? Whose car is this? |
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What did he buy? What did he buy? |
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Which house is ours? Which of our houses? |
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where? where to? | Where do you live? Where do you live |
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When does the shop open? When does the store open? |
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Why is it so cold? Why is it so cold? |
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How do they work? How do they work? |
As can be seen from the table, question words in English almost all begin with the letter wh (although it is read differently in different words).
It is also necessary to say that the question word whom is currently almost not used and replaced by who:
Who does she call?
Now we will consider combinations of words that also have an interrogative meaning and are put at the beginning of sentences.
Combinations
Sometimes interrogative words in the English language are combined with other words and form interrogative phrases.
What kind of? - Which one?
What kind of music do you like? What kind of music do you like?
What kind of person is she? What kind of person is she? What is her character?
Most often, such combinations can be found with the word how.
- How many? - How much? (for countable nouns).
How many people live there? - How many people live there?
- How much? - How much? (for uncountable nouns).
How much does it cost? - How much does it cost?
- How long? - How long?
How long do you know him? “How long have you known him?”
- How long ago? - How long?
How long ago did she leave? −How long has she left?
- How often? How often?
How often do you meet? - How often do you meet?
- How old - How much?
How old is he? - How old is he?
Cliche
Quite often, interrogative words in English can be found in phrases with a stable structure and meaning. it is not always possible to translate and understand literally, so you just need to know them so that when you meet them in someone else’s speech or in the text, you won’t get confused.
What is going on? / What is happening? - What is going on?
What is the point of ...? - Does it make sense in ...?
What is taking so long? “Why so long?”
What took you so long? - Why did you (you) take so long?
What are you? - What is your (your) profession?
What’s up? - How are you?
How are you doing? - How are you?
How can you tell ...? - How do you (you) know that ...?
Place in offer
In a special question, the interrogative word (or phrase) is put first, then the subject, then the predicate, followed by the secondary members of the sentence.
Why do you stay here?
When asking a question to the subject, it is necessary to put in the first place the question word, then the predicate (semantic verb), then the subject and the other members of the sentence.
Who lives here?
The answer to the question to the subject will be an almost identical sentence, only without a question mark at the end and with a noun (pronoun) in place of the interrogative word: Jack (he) lives here.
How to learn?
Question words are difficult for learners of English. Exercises will help to gradually remember them. You can start with simple tasks, where questions are inserted into the place of omissions from the list of questions. Then you need to gradually complicate the work: omissions with self-selection of options, answers to questions, composing dialogs, performing audio tasks and much more.
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