49. Questions 1 ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

49. Questions 1

A	In questions we usually put the subject after the first verb: subject + verb verb + subject  Tom you the house will have was → → → will have was Tom? you? the house? Will Tom be here tomorrow? Have you been working hard? When was the house built? Remember that the subject comes after the first verb. ·         Is Katherine working today? (not is working Katherine)
B	In present simple questions, we use do/does: you the film live starts → → do does you live? the film start? ·         Do you live near here? ·         What time does the film start? In past simple questions, we use did: you the train sold stopped → → did did you sell? the film stop? ·         Did you sell your car? ·         Why did the train stop? But do not use do/does/did if who/what etc. is the subject of the sentence. Compare: In these examples, who/what etc. is the subject: Who wants something to eat? (not Who does want) What happened to you last night? (not What did happen) How many people came to the meeting? (not did come) Which bus goes to the centre? (not does go)
C	Note the position of prepositions in questions beginning Who/What/Which/Where ... ?: ·         Who do you want to speak to? ·         What was the weather like yesterday? ·         Which job has Tina applied for? ·         Where are you from? You can use preposition+ whom in formal style: ·         To whom do you wish to speak?
D	Isn't it ... ? I Didn't you ... ? etc. (negative questions) We use negative questions especially to show surprise: ·         Didn't you hear the doorbell? I rang it three times. or when we expect the listener to agree with us: ·         Haven't we met before?' 1 Yes, I think we have.' Note the meaning of yes and no in answers to negative questions: Note the word order in negative questions beginning Why ... ?: ·         Why don't we eat out tonight? (not Why we don't eat) ·         Why wasn't Emma at work yesterday? (not Why Emma wasn't)

EXERCISES

49.1	Ask Joe questions. (Look at his answers before you write the questions.) 1 (where /live?) _____ Where do you live? _________ In Manchester. 2 (born there?) ______________________ No, I was born in London. 3 (married?) ______________________ Yes. 4 (how long/ married?) ______________________ 17 years. 5 (children?) ______________________ Yes, two boys 6 (how old/ they?) ______________________ 12 and 15. 7 (what/do?) ______________________ I’m a journalist. 8 (what/wife/do?) ______________________ She’s a doctor.
49.2	Make questions with who or what. 1 Somebody hit me. ____Who hit you?______ 2 I hit somebody. _____ Who did you hit? ____________ 3 Somebody paid the bill. Who _________________ 4 Something happened. What _________________ 5 Diane said something. ________________________ 6 This book belongs to somebody. ________________________ 7 Somebody lives in that house. ________________________ 8 I fell over something ________________________ 9 Something fell off the shelf. ________________________ 10 This word means something. ________________________ 11 I borrowed the money from somebody. ________________________ 12 I'm worried about something. ________________________
49.3	Put the words in brackets in the correct order. All the sentences are questions. 1 (when /was /built /this house) ____When was this house built? _______________ 2 (how /cheese /is /made) _____________________________ 3 (when /invented /the computer /was) _____________________________ 4 (why /Sue /working /isn't /today) _____________________________ 5 (what time /coming /your friends /are) _____________________________ 6 (why /was /cancelled /the trip) _____________________________ 7 (where /your mother /was /born) _____________________________ 8 (why /you /to the party /didn't /come) _____________________________ 9 (how /the accident /did /happen) _____________________________ 10 (why /this machine /doesn't /work) _____________________________
49.4	Write negative questions from the words in brackets. In each situation you are surprised. 1 A: We won't see Lisa this evening. B: Why not? (she /not /come /out with us?) _____ Isn’t she coming out with us? ______ 2 A: I hope we don't meet Luke tonight. B : Why? (you /not /like /him?) ___________________________ 3 A: Don't go and see that film . B : Why not? (it /not /good?) ___________________________________ 4 A: I'll have to borrow some money. B: Why? (you /not /have /any?) ____________________________________

ANSWER KEY

49.1 2 Were you born there? 3 Are you married? 4 How long have you been married? 5 Have you got (any) children? or Do you have (any) children? 6 How old are they? 7 What do you do? 8 What does your wife do? 49.2 3 Who paid it? /Who paid the bill? 4 What happened? 5 What did she/Diane say? 6 Who does it I this book belong to? 7 Who lives in that house? /Who lives there? 8 What did you fall over? 9 What fell off the shelf? 10 What does it I this word mean? 11 Who did you borrow it from? /... borrow the money from? 12 What are you worried about? 49.3 2 How is cheese made? 3 When was the computer invented? 4 Why isn't Sue working today? 5 What time are your friends coming? 6 Why was the trip cancelled? 7 Where was your mother born? 8 Why didn't you come to the party? 9 How did the accident happen? 10 Why doesn't this machine work? 49.4 2 Don't you like him? 3 Isn't it good? 4 Haven't you got any? Or Don't you have any?