One of the most difficult topics for studyingForeign are considered interrogative sentences in English. If the Russian question is expressed in intonation and does not require memorization of special rules, then in the language of Shakespeare it depends on whether you understand or not. That is why the interrogative sentences in English are considered to be difficult, but necessary material for study.
General issues and their structure
In English grammar there are manycategories of interrogative sentences. But first, let's consider a common for all English questions scheme. Any interrogative sentence begins with the so-called keyword. In this role can be the forms of the verb "to be"; "to have"; "to do"; modal verbs; "shall", "will" and combinations of words that form the grammatical time of the sentence, depending on the situation. Examples:
1) Are we at home already? - Yes, we are; No, we aren "t.
Are we at home? - Well no
2) Were you there? - Yes, I was; No, I wasn "t.
You were there? - Well no
3) Is your dad an engineer? He is; He isn "t
Is your dad an engineer? - Well no
4) Has she got the doll she liked? Yes, she has; No, she has not.
Now she has a doll that she likes? - Well no
5)
Any ideas on this?
6) Had she ever got a car? Yes, she had; No, she hadn "t.
Has she ever had a car? - Well no
7) Do you really speak English so well? I do; No, I don "t.
Do you really speak English so well? - Well no
8) Does Nina like sushi? Oh! Yes, she does; No, she doesn "t.
Does Nina love sushi? - And how! / No
9) Did they do the job instead of us? Yes, they did. No, they didn "t.
Did they work for us? Yes, they worked / No, they did not work for us.
10) Can you help me? Sure, I can; No, I can "t.
Can you help me? - Of course / no, I can't
11) Should I go business? I think, you should; No, you shouldn "t.
Should I do business? - I think yes / no, this is not for you
12) Need you this? Oh! I really need it. No, I needn't.
Do you need this? - Yes, it is necessary / No, it is not necessary
13) Have we been served well in the restaurant? Yes, we have. No, we haven "t.
We were well served in a restaurant now? - Well no
14) Will the message have been received in time? Yes, it will. No, it won "t
Will the message be received on time? - Yes, on time / No.
15) Is this made of steel? Yes, it is. No, it isn’t.
Is it made of steel? - Yes, from steel / no
These are the most simple interrogative sentences in the English language. Consider other options.
The connection of the auxiliary verb and the structure of the answer to the question
All submitted responses are requiredcompliance with the key in which the question is asked. This is the unique English language. The types of interrogative sentences have a certain similarity in structure. In other words, there is always a part of the answer in the question, namely, the auxiliary verb. With the question "Do you smoke?" can not answer "No, I" m not. "
So these were "generals questions" - questions that need to be answered "yes" or "no." The difference between them is only in the keyword, i.e. in the auxiliary verb.
The keyword special role principle appliesalmost all categories of interrogative types of sentences. Although it is in the first place for general questions, the order of words in other sentences may vary, but it remains the same strict. Thus, interrogative sentences in the English language have a clearly defined structure, which cannot be changed in any way.
Alternative Questions
Alternative questions - the question forces to make a choice. Between the words that express the choice, there is always a particle "or". Examples:
- Do you prefer driving or riding here? Do you prefer driving or horse riding here?
- So where did he live? So where did the main character actually live, in Rome or Milan?
- What is your best swimming or running? What do you do best, swimming or jogging?
Examples clearly show that the answer to such questions should be brief. The last two examples lead us to the consideration of another category of interrogative sentences.
Special questions, or special interrogative sentences in English
The special category of questions in English is"Wh-questions" or "special questions". They are not difficult for English learners. The construction of an interrogative sentence depends on the initial sending of the speaker. Special questions are unique to the fact that in order to answer, you need not only to understand the essence of the statement, but also to correctly express your thought, without falling into the semantic trap. This category of questions differs in that it does not always obey the general pattern of the English interrogative sentence. As a matter of fact, this category is conditionally divided into 2 types - "object question" and "subject question". What they have in common is that Wh-questions always start with one of the following interrogative adverbs: what, where, when, why, which, who, who, how, how.
Types of special questions
Object question
Interrogative adverb acts as a pointersubject to reply. Here "Wh-question" submits to the general English interrogative scheme (with the keyword at the beginning of the sentence) only with the amendment that one of the interrogative adverbs is put before the keyword.
- Who do you choose to your team? Him - Who do you choose in the team? Him.
- What has this man done? Nothing. - What did this man do? Nothing special.
- Where are you going? Just shopping. - Where did you go? Yes, so just go shopping.
Subject question
Interrogative adverb acts as a pointeradditions to the answer. That is, in this case, the cause of the question is a supplement, not a subject. There is an affirmative word order (not subject to the general English interrogative pattern), but with the amendment that the subject language is an interrogative adverb. This category is possible only with the words "what" and "who", which in translation into Russian will always stand in the nominative case.
- Who jumps higher than others? Who jumps above the rest? - Michael jumps higher than others. We jumped above the rest of Misha.
“Jumping above the rest of us” is the cause of the question (addition), but not Misha (what he knows, what he knows, what he knows).
- What makes me well? What makes me feel better? - Oh! It's inspiration. Inspiration.
The essence of the question is “makes me feel better”, and not what it is (my inspiration).
For comparison: object question - What does it make yourself well? How does it feel to make you feel better?
Special questions can be combined with alternative ones, for example:
- Who do you like, Mary or Lucy? - Who do you like more, Masha or Luda?
- What goes next, task or rest? - So what's next, task or rest?
What is the difference between interrogative constructions in Russian and English?
Now consider the most radical difference.when answering in Russian and English. Negative questions often serve to create a more emotional coloring of a question, for example:
- Don't you want to go there with us today? - Don "t you go with us today?
The answer is "yes, (I don't want)", it will sound like "No, I don" t. "And" no, (I want to) "-" Yes, I do. "
Interrogative sentences in English witha negative word in the answer always means a negative answer, and vice versa. In the Russian language, with this question, the word "yes" may mean "I do not want", and the word "no" means "I want." It would be wrong to say in English "Yes, I don" t ". In English, you cannot combine" yes "with negative particles. Negative questions are particularly relevant in business communication.
- Would you like a cup of coffee? How would you like a cup of coffee? / Would you like a cup of coffee?
- Is he just a driver, isn’t he? “He’s just a driver, isn't he?”
- Monk likes to be on his own Doesn’t he? “This monk likes to be alone with him, right?
Thus, interrogative sentences in English are a separate section of grammar that requires painstaking and thoughtful study.
