What kind are there? questions in English? Not so long ago, just n-number of years ago, we went through this in school, without leaving a clear definition in our heads on this issue. It is possible that maybe you are currently studying at some educational institution and they cannot explain everything to you clearly, so we will try to talk in detail about the questions and their classifications in English.
Let's go back and remember or re-study this topic. In English, all questions are divided into 5 types:
- General question (Yes/No question)
- Special question
- Alternative question
- Separated question
- Question to the subject
And now we will analyze each type of question in detail:
1. General question (Yes/No question).
This kind of question can be answered either “Yes” or “No”.
For example:
In Russian, it is enough just to change the intonation in order to turn an affirmative sentence into an interrogative sentence. In English, to transform a general question, the sentence should be slightly adjusted. Again:
- You go to work every day. – Do you go to work every day?
- You go to work every day – Do you go to work every day?
As you can see, in English, adding the auxiliary verb “Do” to the beginning of a sentence creates a common question. In this case, the auxiliary verb itself is not translated in any way, but is needed only to show in what tense the question is asked.
The auxiliary verb “Do” can only be used before the pronouns “I, you, we, they” in the present tense:
- I read interesting books – Do I read interesting books?
- I read the interesting books – Do I read the interesting books? - Yes, you do.
- Do you love me - Do you love me?
- You love me – Do you love me? – No, I don’t.
- We run every morning - We run every morning?
- We run every morning – Do we run every morning? - Yes, we do.
- They love to train together – Do they love to train together?
- They like to train together – Do they like to train together? – No, they don’t
To transform a general question with the pronouns “He, she, it” in the present tense, there is another auxiliary verb “Does”, which also cannot be translated in any way and is placed at the beginning of the sentence:
- He opens his store at 8 o'clock - He opens his store at 8 o'clock?
- He opens his shop at 8 a.m. – Does he open his shop at 8 a.m.? – Yes, he does.
- She always uses this method - Does she always use this method?
- She uses this method always – Does she use this method always? – No, she doesn’t.
- She (the dog) lives here – Does she live here?
- It lives here – Does it live here? - Yes, it does.
Note: When forming a general question with the pronouns “He, she, it”, there is no need to add the ending “-s, -es” to the verbs!
In order to ask a general question in the past tense, for all pronouns there is one common auxiliary verb “Did”, which, strictly speaking, is not translated in any way and shows that the question is asked in the past tense:
- I ate 5 hours ago – Did I eat 5 hours ago?
- I ate five hours ago – Did I eat five hours ago? – Yes, you did.
- We saw them near the sea - We saw them near the sea?
- We saw them about the sea – Did we see them about the sea? – No, we didn’t.
- Did you talk to him - Did you talk to him?
- You spoke with him – Did you speak with him? – Yes, I did.
- They called you - They called you?
- They called you – Did they call you? – No, they didn’t.
- He traveled this summer - Did he travel this summer?
- He traveled this summer – Did he travel this summer? – Yes, he did.
- She answered him - Did she answer him?
- She answered him – Did she answer him? – No, she didn’t.
Note: When forming a general question in the past tense, the main verb does not need to be changed!
You can also safely ask general questions in the future tense. To do this, we need to use the auxiliary verb “Will”, which also cannot be translated in any way and is placed at the beginning of the sentence before all used pronouns:
- We'll go to the cinema - Shall we go to the cinema?
- We will go to the cinema – Will we go to the cinema?
- She will cook dinner - Will she cook dinner?
- She will cook a dinner – Will she cook a dinner?
- Will you do it - Will you do it?
- You will do it – Will you do it?
- I'll meet them tomorrow - Will I meet them tomorrow?
- I will meet them tomorrow – Will I meet them tomorrow?
- They will launch their new project in 2 weeks – They will launch their new project in 2 weeks?
- They will start their new project in 2 weeks – Will they start their new project in 2 weeks?
- He will arrive today - Will he arrive today?
- He will come today – Will he come today?
Sentences with modal verbs are converted into interrogative sentences without adding an auxiliary verb. Modal verbs themselves perform the function of auxiliary verbs:
- I can help you – Can I help you?
- I can help you – Can I help you? - Yes, you can.
- They should bring me something - Should they bring me something?
- They must bring me something – Must they bring me something? – No, they must not.
- She can afford everything - Can she afford everything?
- She may let herself everything – May she let herself everything? - Yes, she may.
- Do you need money - Do you need money?
- You need money – Need you money? – No, we need not.
With the verb to be (to be, to be, to appear) everything is the same as with modal verbs:
- Are you a doctor - Are you a doctor?
- You are a doctor – Are you a doctor? – Yes, I am.
- They were there - Were they there?
- They were there – Were they there? – No, they weren’t.
- I'm sick - Am I sick?
- I am sick – Am I sick? – Yes, you are.
- She's sleeping now - Is she sleeping now?
- She is sleeping now – Is she sleeping now? - No, she is not.
- We'll be here in 20 minutes - We'll be here in 20 minutes?
- We will be here in 20 minutes – Will we be here in 20 minutes? – Yes, we will be.
For the verb to have there are 2 options for forming a general question:
Do you have a car - Do you have a car?
- You have a car – Do you have a car? – No, I don’t (American version)
- You have a car – Have you a car? - Yes, I have. (British version)
To express our surprise or confusion in a general question, we add the negative particle “not” to the auxiliary verb:
- Aren't you a driver? -Aren't you the driver?
- Can't he cook a lunch? – Can’t he cook dinner?
- Didn't they see us? - As if they didn’t see us?
2. Special question - a question that begins with question words:
| № | Question | Translation | Transcription | Pronunciation |
| 1 | What? | What? Which? | Here | |
| 2 | Who? | Who? | xy | |
| 3 | When? | When? | van | |
| 4 | Where? | Where? Where? | wee | |
| 5 | Why? | Why? | wai | |
| 6 | Which? | Which? | hiv | |
| 7 | Whose? | Whose? | xuz | |
| 8 | Whom? | Whom? | hum | |
| 9 | How? | How? | how | |
| 10 | How long? | How long? | how long | |
| 11 | How often? | How often? | how ofen | |
| 12 | How much? | How many? | how much | |
| 13 | How many? | How many? | how mani |
The procedure for forming a special question.
First, we form a general question with an auxiliary verb and then put any appropriate question word before the auxiliary verb:
Did you eat? - Did you eat? (General question)
- What did you eat? - What did you eat?
- When did you eat? - When did you eat?
- Where did you eat? -Where did you eat?
- How long did you eat? – How long did it take you to eat?
Can you do it? - You can do that?
- How can you do it? - How can you do this?
- When can you do it? – When can you do this?
- Where can you do it? – Where can you do this?
Are we going to her? -Are we going to see her?
- Why are we going to her? - Why are we going to her?
- How long are we going to her? - How long will it take us to get to her?
You can also use negative auxiliary verbs:
- Why can't you swim? - Why can’t you swim?
- What doesn’t she know about you? – What doesn’t she know about you?
- When didn’t he go to train? – When did he not go to training?
3. Alternative question – a question where you can choose only one option from those offered. In an alternative question there is always a connecting conjunction “or - or”:
- What language do you know: English or Spanish? – What language do you speak: English or Spanish?
- Does she love Oleg or Alex? – Does she love Oleg or Sasha?
- Are they boxers or chess players? – Are they boxers or chess players?
4. Dividing question. Used to verify the correctness of a proposal, express dissatisfaction, hear confirmation of a proposal, or find mutual agreement. They are formed by adding to the end of the sentence a short question “isn’t it?”, “isn’t it true?”, “isn’t it?”, “would you agree?”, “isn’t it true?” etc.
In English, such a short question is formed by adding to the end of the sentence the auxiliary verb and pronoun that were used in the sentence. If the sentence is affirmative, then the auxiliary verb at the end of the sentence must be negative and vice versa, if the sentence is negative, then the auxiliary verb must be affirmative:
- You are the good lawyer, aren’t you? “You’re that good lawyer, aren’t you?”
- She doesn’t want to rest, does she? – She doesn’t want to relax, does she?
- We can win them, can’t we? – We can defeat them, can't we?
- Tom pays you, doesn't he? - Tom pays you, right?
- They don’t like your pie, do they? – They don’t like your pie, don’t you agree?
5. Question to the subject. Here the questions themselves play the role of the subject. The big highlight of such questions is that nothing needs to be swapped here. Everything is the same as in Russian:
- Who saw you? -Who saw you?
- Who loves me? -Who loves me?
- Who sent you here? -Who sent you here?
- Who called you? -Who called you?
- Who will start? - Who will start?
- What happened here? -What happened here?
That's all about questions in English, which were worth considering at this stage. As we remember, there are only 5 types. The basis is the correct formation of the general question, and everything else comes from it. Don't be afraid to ask questions. They are the main key to your successful learning.
If you have something to add or want to ask something on this topic, then don’t be shy - write to us in the comments.
Every day we ask questions. For example, we often ask:
How are you doing?
What did you do yesterday?
Who will go to the store?
Are you going to the cafe or not?
Everyone who learns English must know how questions are formed, because without them you will not be able to communicate. In English there is 5 types of questions. In the English course for adults, you will practice each of them until it becomes automatic. In the meantime, let's figure out how they differ.
Special questions in English
The word “special” means “intended exclusively for something.” Accordingly, this question needed to find out specific information you are interested in. That’s why it’s called special, that is, you want to clarify special information.
For example
Where will you go on vacation?
We find out specific information - the place where the person will go.
How to construct a special question?
It is asked using the following question words:
- what - what,
- where - where,
- when - when,
- who - who,
- why - why,
- how (much/often/long) - how (many/often/long).
A special question is constructed according to the following scheme:
Question word + auxiliary verb + character + action being performed?
Examples
Step by step guide
>> How to ask specific questions.
Question to the subject in English
The subject names who or what the sentence is talking about.
In the survey, the subject is asked with the interrogative words who and what, which replace the character or thing being talked about in the sentence. For example
Who will pack your suitcase for you?
Consequently, we ask a question to the subject when we do not know who performed the action or has the attribute.
How to construct a question to the subject?
The peculiarity of this question will be the order of words in the sentence. In this type of question, the word order never changes and proceeds as in an affirmative sentence. The outline of such a proposal would be as follows:
Who + action?
For example, we have an affirmative sentence
They played tennis.
They played tennis.
We simply substitute the question word who instead of they
Who played tennis?
Who played tennis?
At the same time, we imagine that who/what is the singular person in question (he, she). Therefore, the sentence should be constructed as if in place of who/what costs he/she.
For example, we have a proposal
They were in the car.
They were in the car.
When asking a question, we forget about they and introduce he in its place, therefore, we replace were with was
Who were in the car?
Who was in the car?
Examples
Who likes to sing?
Who loves to sing?
What was in the box?
What was in the box?
Who is a doctor?
Who is the doctor?
Step by step guide:
>> How to construct a question to the subject? .
Alternative questions in English
True to its name, this question presupposes an alternative, that is, the right to choose. By asking it we give the interlocutor two options to choose from.
Example
Will you fly to England or Germany?
In such a matter always there is a conjunction or (or). The question itself is constructed as a general one, only at the end we add a choice clause using our or.
Scheme for constructing an alternative question:
Auxiliary verb + actor + action performed + ___ or ___?
Examples
Will they go to the park or to the cinema?
Will they go to the park or to the cinema?
Did you buy apples or pears?
Did you buy apples or pears?
Does he work or study?
Does he work or study?
Step by step guide:
>> How to construct an alternative question correctly.
Dividing questions in English
This type of question is also called a “tail question.” A question expresses doubt or desires confirmation of something.
For example
You've already packed your suitcase, haven't you?
It is divisive because consists of 2 parts, separated by commas.
The first part is constructed as an affirmative or negative sentence with the usual word order.
The second part (“tail”) looks like a short question. It consists of:
- auxiliary verb (depending on the tense used in the first part);
- character (I, you, he, she, they, it, we, you) used in the first part.
We translate such a “tail” into Russian as “isn’t it so” / “isn’t it true?”
1. If the first part of the sentence is affirmative, then the second part is negative.
Affirmative sentence + auxiliary verb + not (in shortened form) + character?
Examples
He called you yesterday, didn't he?
He called you yesterday, didn't he?
They play tennis every weekends, don't they?
They play tennis every weekend, don't they? Examples
So, we have looked at all five types of questions in English. Now let's move on to practice.
Reinforcement task
Make 5 types of questions from the following affirmative sentences:
1. He went to school yesterday.
2. She gave me a phone.
3. We will read this book.
4. They bought a car.
5. She doesn’t like to cook.
Leave your answers in the comments below the article.
5 types of questions in English are sometimes incomprehensible to students, students and all those who study English. Therefore, all types of interrogative sentences in English are discussed here.
1. General Questions
The general question in English is the simplest. This is a question that requires either “yes” or “no” as an answer. That is, a question to obtain general information. Therefore, sometimes this question is called “yes / no question”.
It is formed by moving the auxiliary verb or modal verb to the first place in the sentence. Full rule:
Auxiliary verb + subject + semantic verb + object
The auxiliary verb depends on what tense you want to ask:
Past Simple - Did
Present Simple - Do/Does
Future Simple - Shall/Will
Past Continuous - Was / Were
Present Continuous - Am / Is / Are
Future Continuous - Shall/Will
Past Perfect - Had
Present Perfect – Have/Has
Future Perfect - Shall / Will + after the subject comes the auxiliary verb have
Past Perfect Continuous - Had + after the subject comes the auxiliary verb been
Present Perfect Continuous - Have / Has + after the subject comes the auxiliary verb been
Future Perfect Continuous - Shall / Will + after the subject there are auxiliary verbs have been
Future in the Past - Would
Answers to a general question can be either short (Yes / No + subject and auxiliary or modal verb) or complete. The time remains unchanged. examples:
Have you been to London? - Yes, I have (Yes, I have been to London). - Have you been to London? — Yes (I was in London).
Did you buy this car? - Yes, I did (Yes, I bought this car). — Did you buy this car? — Yes (I bought this car).
Do they play football? - No, they do not (No, they do not play football). - They play football? — No (they don’t play football).
Could you do that? - No, I could not (No, I could not do that). - Could you do this? - No (no, I can do it).
2. Special Questions
A special question is a question for additional information. This question always begins with a question word (except for the question words What and Who - they are used in questions to the subject).
The word order in special questions is the same as in general questions, with one exception: the question word is placed before the auxiliary verb. Examples:
What did you visit in Kyiv last time? — What have you visited in Kyiv lately?
Where do they go? -Where are they going?
How did you manage to get tickets? — How did you manage to get tickets?
3. Question to the subject (Who...? What...?)
If there is a need to pose a question to the subject, then use the question words Who? and What?. The word order in the question is slightly different from the previous two, since the subject itself is not used in relation to the subject. That is, the formula will be as follows:
Who / What + semantic verb + object
Who is he? - Who is he?
What is that? - What is this?
4. Alternative Questions
An alternative question asks for two or more choices by using the word or. The word order in such a question is the same as in general.
Does she like coffee or tea? — Does she like coffee or tea?
Did he buy a motorbike or bicycle? — Did he buy a motorcycle or a bicycle?
5. Questions with punctuation marks (Disjunctive Questions)
The divisive issue is called so because it is divided into two parts by means of a coma. The first part of the question contains a statement, and the second part contains a question about this statement. The purpose of a separating question is to test the veracity of a statement. These questions are often used in colloquial speech when the interlocutor is “inadvertently” trying to find out some information based on the available facts.
Part 1 - the part of the dividing question - is a typical affirmative sentence with a typical word order in it: subject - verb - application.
Part 2 is an auxiliary verb in the tense indicated in part 1 and the subject. If we build a question from a statement, then in part 2 there will be objections. If we build a question from negation, then there will be an affirmation.
Example:
You are playing tennis, are not you? — You play tennis, don't you?
He goes to the gym, does not he? — He goes to the gym, doesn't he?
Bill is not famous person, is he? — Bill is not a well-known person, is he?
They have not been to Paris, have they? — They weren't in Paris, were they?
I'm in such a musical mood today! what if we compare English to music? The English language is just as melodic Do re mi fa sol la si...
English as music
- before– subject(that is, the one who performs the action);
- re- this is a predicate(verb, action);
- mi– addition or circumstance;
- F- auxiliary verbs(do, does, did... or linking verb);
- salt- question words(what? where? where? how? why? how much?);
- la– or (or) ;
- si(What, Who in questions specifically to the subject, who or what did the action).
For example:
I like music. – Do re mi;
I am listening to music.
Are you listening to music? – fa do re mi;
Do you like music? – fa do re mi.
English questions may sound different. I suggest listening to 5 different melodies - types of English questions.
General question (YesNo Questions) – Fa do re mi
As its name implies, these are questions that can be answered with “yes” or “no.” Let's look at an example of this “melody” in the most common English verb tenses.
- Present Simple: Do you listen to music every day?
- Past Simple: Did you listen to music yesterday ?
- Future Simple: Will you listen to music tomorrow ?
- Present Continuous: Are you listening to music now?
- : Were you listening to music yesterday at 5 p.m. ?
- Present Perfect: Have you ever listened to Hawaiian music?
Special Question. Special question (Wh question)
Let's listen - Sol fa do re mi
- What do you listen to every day?
- When did you listen to that music?
- Where will you listen to music?
- Why are you listening to music?
- How were you listening to music?
- How many symphonies have you already listened to?
Alternative question
This is a type of question that asks for an alternative, a choice.
For example, " Do you like classical or popular music? ”
Listen to one of the most common variations of this type of verb - Fa do re mi la mi
- Do you like classical or popular music?
Tag question
This is a question with a “tail”, when we say some phrase containing information that we are almost sure of and ask the interlocutor for confirmation “isn’t it?” is not it?"
You love classical music, don't you?
This is the only question type whose main part has direct word order.
The “tail” contains an auxiliary verb and a subject, but if the main part of the sentence is positive, the tail must be negative, and vice versa, if the main part is negative, the tail will be positive.
Do re mi fa do
You like classical music, don’t you?
You are listening to Mozart music now, aren’t you?
You haven’t heard it before, have you?
Subject question
This melody does not like auxiliary verbs (do, does, did). And of course there is no note here BEFORE, because it is about this note (about the subject) that we ask through the note SI(Who or What did the action). Here's a note SI and becomes the subject.
Si re mi
Who likes classical music?
What inspired him to compose that Symphony?
Please note, since the note F(purple, indicating the auxiliary verbs do, does, did) is missing in this melody, verb (blue note re) is placed immediately in the required form in accordance with the grammatical tense, as in an affirmative sentence.
Who called? Past tense. Who called? The ending -ed was added to the verb, as in the affirmative sentence in the Past Simple.
Who calls you every day? Who calls you every day? The ending -s was added to the verb, as in the affirmative sentence in the Present Simple in the 3rd person singular (as with the pronouns he, she or it).
Now make 10 affirmative sentences in different tenses and ask all types of questions to each!
This way, the melodies will be firmly fixed in your memory, and you will not be out of tune.
We have made a short video lesson for you on this topic to better reinforce the material.
Enjoy watching.
Write in the comments if you liked the video?
Happy English to you!
If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.
Our topic today is English language issues. Namely: how to ask them correctly, the difference between general and special questions, questions to the subject, and we will also talk about the use of various question words. This topic is relevant for students of any level of language proficiency, because making mistakes is possible even at a higher level when it comes to constructing questions in English. They confuse word order, miss auxiliary verbs, and use incorrect intonation. Our mission is to prevent such errors from occurring. Can we start?
The first thing you need to know about questions in English is that they differ from the structure of affirmative sentences. We usually (but not always!) ask questions in English by changing the word order: we put the auxiliary verb first before the subject. Another (main) verb is placed after the subject.
Continuing to delve deeper into this topic, it is worth mentioning what types of questions there are in the English language. The differences in the construction of those same questions in English depend on this.
5 types of questions in English
Common question in English
We ask this question when we want to know general information. Are you learning English? We can answer it with one word “yes” or “no”.
Special question
We need such questions in order to find out certain, specific information that interests us. When did you start learning English?
Question to the subject
We set it when we want to find out who is performing the action. Who teaches your English courses?
Alternative question
This is a question in which you are given a choice of 2 options. Do you study English with a teacher or on your own?
Separated question
This question requires confirmation of some information. You continue to learn English in the summer, don’t you?
Now let's look at how each of these questions is constructed in English.
General issues
When forming such questions, reverse word order is used. This means that we put the auxiliary verb in first place, the subject in second place, and the main verb in third place.
Tom likes swimming in the sea. - Does ( auxiliary) Tom ( subject) like ( main verb) swimming in the sea?
She goes to work everyday. - Does ( auxiliary) she ( subject) go ( main verb) to work everyday?
General questions in English are also constructed with modal verbs. In this case, the modal verb will replace the auxiliary verb, that is, it will be placed in first place.
Could you close the door, please? - Could you close the door, please?
May I come in? - May I come in?
Should I put on a sweater? - Should I wear this sweater?
We draw your attention to the verb to be. We can safely consider it special - in general questions there is no need to add an auxiliary verb to it.
Is he a teacher? - He is a teacher?
Was the weather good yesterday? - Was the weather good yesterday?
We form a negative general question. To do this you need to add a particle not. It will come immediately after the subject. However, if we use the short form not - n't, she will stand in front of him. Let's look at an example:
Does she not go to work on Sunday? = Doesn’t she go to work on Sunday? - She doesn't go to work on Sunday?
Have you not watched this movie? = Haven’t you watched this movie? -Have you seen this film?
Special questions
This type of question requires an extensive and detailed explanation. A special question can be asked of any member of an interrogative sentence in English. The word order in such questions is the same as in general, only one of the question words must be placed at the beginning:
- What?- What?
- When?- When?
- Where?- Where?
- Why?- Why?
- Which?- Which?
- Whose?- Whose?
- Whom?- Whom?
In a descriptive format, we will construct a special question according to the following scheme:
Question word + auxiliary (or modal) verb + subject + predicate + object + other parts of the sentence.
Easier - with an example:
What (question word) are (auxiliary) you (subject) cooking (predicate)? - What are you cooking?
What (question word) do (auxiliary verb l) you (subject) want to eat (predicate)? - What do you want to eat?
When (question word) did (auxiliary) you (subject) leave (predicate) the house (addition)? - When did you leave home?
Due to the fact that a special question in English is posed to almost any member of a sentence (addition, circumstance, definition, subject), it can be used to find out any information.
Questions to the subject
This type of question differs from the previous topics discussed because it does not use auxiliary verbs. You just need to replace the subject with who or what, add a questioning intonation and veil - the question is ready.
The scheme for constructing a question to a subject in English is as follows:
Question word + predicate + minor parts of the sentence
Who went to the supermarket? - Who went to the supermarket?
What happened to your friend? - What happened to your friend?
Who did that? - Who did it?
At first glance it is very simple. But you should not confuse questions to the subject and special questions - questions in English to the object. An addition is a member of a sentence that gives some additional information and answers questions in English: “who?”, “what?”, “to whom?”, “what?”, “what?”. And most often the question to the addition begins with the interrogative pronoun who or whom and what. This is where there is a similarity with questions to subjects. Only context will help you understand. Examples for comparison:
The girl saw me yesterday. - The girl saw me yesterday.
Whom (Who) did the girl see yesterday? -Who did the girl see yesterday?
We are waiting for the train. - We're waiting for the train.
What are you waiting for? - What are you waiting for?
Alternative questions
Based on the name, it is clear that these questions presuppose an alternative or the right to choose. By asking them, we give the interlocutor two options.
Will you fly to England or Ireland? - Will you fly to England or Ireland?
In such a question there is always a conjunction “or” - or. The question itself is constructed as a general one, only at the end with the help of the above or We're adding choice.
Scheme for constructing a question:
Auxiliary verb + actor + action performed + ... or ...
Will they go to the park or to the cinema? - Will they go to the park or to the cinema?
Did you buy apples or pears? - Did you buy apples or pears?
Does he work or study? - Does he work or study?
If an alternative question contains several auxiliary verbs, then we place the first one before the subject, and the rest immediately after it.
She has been studying for several years. - She has been studying for several years.
Has she been studying or working for several years? - Is she studying or working for several years?
An alternative question in English can also begin with a question word. Then such a question consists directly of a special question and the following two homogeneous members of an interrogative sentence in English, which are connected by means of a conjunction or.
When were you interrupted: at the beginning or in the middle of your speech? - When were you interrupted: at the beginning or in the middle of your speech?
Dividing questions
These questions in English can hardly be called questions in full, since their first part is very similar to an affirmative sentence. We use them when we are not 100% sure about something and want to verify or clarify information.
Dividing questions consist of two parts: the first is an affirmative or negative sentence, the second is a short question. The second part is separated from the first comma and is called tag or in the Russian version "tail". That is why dividing questions are also called tag-questions or English tail questions.
Dividing questions are very popular in spoken English. And that's why:
- They do not ask the question directly, but encourage the interlocutor to answer.
- They can express many emotions and states (irony, doubt, politeness, surprise, etc.).
- They use direct word order. A regular sentence is constructed, a “tail” is added to it, and the question is ready.
“Tails” are translated into Russian by the words “truth”, “isn’t it true”, “isn’t it so”, “correctly”, “yes”.
Let's look at examples and see for ourselves:
I am your friend, aren’t I? - I'm your friend, aren't I?
He isn’t your brother, is he? - He's not your brother, right?
They aren't at home now, are they? - They are not at home now, are they?
Your friend worked in IT, didn’t he? - Your friend worked in the IT field, didn’t he?
You used to get up at 5 a.m., didn’t you? - You used to get up at 5 am, right?
Pay attention to the “tails” for the pronoun I (I) - in a negative sentence the auxiliary verb changes.
I am not right, am I? - I'm wrong, right?
I am right, aren’t I? - I'm right, right?
If you have a sentence with a verb have, then several options for “tails” are possible with it.
You have a cat, have you? (British English) - You have a cat, right?
We have a car, don’t we? (American English) - We have a car, right?
Also sometimes there is no negative in the first part of the sentence not before the auxiliary verb and it will still be considered negative. For example: They never went there, ...What will we deliver? Right, did they! And all because the word never(never) has a negative meaning. To words like never, can be attributed rarely(rarely), scarcely(barely) hardly(hardly), Barely(barely) little(few), few(some).
They rarely go out, do they? - They rarely go out, right? ( there is a word with a negative meaning rarely)
It's unbelievable, is it? - It's incredible, right? ( the word unbelievable with a negative prefix, so the first part is considered negative)
Nothing is impossible, is it? - Nothing is impossible, right? ( nothing and impossible are words with a negative meaning)
They have nowhere to go, do they? - They have nowhere to go, do they? ( nowhere - a word with a negative meaning)
Conclusion
As you managed to replace, there is nothing difficult in asking a question and finding out the information you are interested in. We hope that this article will help you understand all the subtleties and nuances. Learn English, be inquisitive and ask correct English questions to your interlocutors. Cheers!
Big and friendly EnglishDom family
