34 Yes/no questions 1 Use A yes/no question is one that we can answer with yes or no. Are you ready? ~ Yes, nearly./No, not quite. Has anyone seen my bag? ~ Yes, its on the chair./No, I don't think so. These questions are asking tor information. For example, Daniel wants to know if Vicky is ready or not. Sometimes yes/no questions have other uses, especially questions with modal verbs. For example, when Matthew says Shall we go then? he is making a suggestion, not asking for information. Here are some examples of the different uses. Making a suggestion: Requesting: Offering: Inviting: Asking permission: Shall we eat out tonight? Can/Could you write the address down for me, please? Can 1 carry something for you? - No, it's OK, thanks. Would you like to come to a party? ~ Yes, I'd love to. May I use your phone? ~ Yes, of course. SSSSg3SSS&~*- ........I— AUXILIARY Is Has Can SUBJECT it David Emma VERB raining? got a car? drive? statement: question: ft I is! raining. [js~| it raining? The main verb be also comes before the subject in a question. Is it cold out there? Are you ready? Was it easy? If there is more than one auxiliary verb, only the first one comes before the subject. Have you been working? Could we have done better? In the Present Simple and Past Simple we use a form of do. auxiliary subject verb Do the buses run every day? statement: Does Mark play golf? Did you like the concert? QUESTION: A question cannot begin with an ordinary verb such as run, play or like. not Plays-Markgelfi and not hiked you tbe-eeneeH? The verb sfter the subject does not end in -s or -ed. not Bees-Mark-pktyigelfi and not Di&yotttikeA-tke-ceneert? They Aio)\ ™n every day-[D^theyrun everyday? i > 35 Answers with yes and no page 84 jESTIONS, NEGATIVES / I ANSWERS Practice A Use(l) Write down the use of each question. Choose from these uses: asking for information (x3), asking permission, inviting, making a suggestion, offering, requesting (x2) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Could you post this letter for me? - r..(i»e'. ......................... Can we get a number 35 bus from this stop? ,.^V;i^...-for..ir»-forM^ti.pA.. Can I help you with those bags? ............................................ Shall we stop for a rest? ............................................ Is it Tuesday today? ............................................ Could you wait a moment, please? ............................................ Would you like to have tea with us? ............................................ Will your friend be here next weekend? ............................................ May I sit down? ............................................ B Form (2) Claude Jennings, the World Quiz Champion, is going to be on Guy's chat show. Guy is wondering what to ask Claude. Read what Guy is thinking and write down his questions. ► (I expect Claude has won lots of prizes.) "Ave y.M wor\ 'ots 01" \.ni.c.5<.............................. 1 (I wonder if he's a rich man.) ...................................................................................................... 2 (Perhaps quizzes are his only hobby.) ........................................................................................ 3 (I expect he worked hard at school.) .......................................................................................... 4 (I wonder if he's got any other interests.).................................................................................... 5 (I wonder if it's an interesting life.) .............................................................................................. 6 (Perhaps his wife asks him quiz questions.) ............................................................................... 7 (And maybe he answers questions in his dreams.) ..................................................................... C Yes/no questions (1-2) What would you say in these situations? ► You want to know if Mark has been to Los Angeles. Ask Sarah. .Ha* beers, to. Lot Artete*2.............................................. 1 You aren't sure if Rachel and Vicky are going to America. Ask them. 2 You want to know if Laura plays tennis. Ask Trevor. 3 You are wondering if Claire enjoyed her holiday. Ask her. 4 You want to suggest to Rachel that you both go for a walk, 5 You need to know if David will be at the club tonight. Ask him. ° You want to know if the train is on time. Ask Mark. ' You are wondering if Mike and Harriet go camping. Ask David. 8 You want to ask Matthew if you can borrow his squash racket. ® You want to know if Nick has got a motor bike. Ask him. QUESTIONS, NEGATIVES AND ANSWERS • page 85 Practice 3 5 Short answers, e.g. Yes, it is. 1 Answering yes or no Look at the answers to these questions. Is it raining? ~ Yes. Are we going to be late? ~ Yes, we are. Did you say something? ~ No. Did you finish the crossword? ~ No, I didn't. We can sometimes answer a question with a simple yes or no, but we often use a short answer like No, I didn't. We usually put a comma after yes or no. We do not normally use a hiU sentence, but we can do if we want to add emphasis to the answer. Did you open my letter? - No, I didn't open your letter. Sometimes, to be polite, we may need to add information. Did you get the tickets? ~ No, I didn't. There wasn't time, I'm afraid. Sorry. 2 F0rm . xanronoun+an auxiliary. A positive short answer is yes + a pronou ^ QUESTION Auxiliary Are Has Will Did you working tomorrow? Emma got a computer? 1 need my passport? they repair your phone. SHORT ANSWER Pronoun Yes, i Yes, she Yes, you . Yes, they Auxiliary am. has. will. did. U1U ,s it time to go? ~ Yes, form rf do. — -0+ronoUn + anauxiliaIy + n, A negative short answer is no P QUESTION Auxiliary Is Have Will Does flre photocopier working now. the children gone to sleep there be food at the party? this train stop at Derby? SHORT ANSWER Pronoun Auxiliary+ nt -No, it -No, they _No, there - No, it isnt haven't, won't, doesn't. But note: No, I'm not. Are you working tomorrow? - No, I'm not. NOT No, / amn't. 3 Answering requests, suggestions, offers and invitations To answer a request, suggestion, etc, we normally use a phrase like Yes, of course or Yes, please rather than! short answer. If we answer in the negative, we have to give some explanation. Request: Could you help me move these chairs, please? ~ Yes, of course, or I'm afraid I'm rather busy. I Suggestion: Shall we have a coffee? - Yes, OK. or Sorry, I can't. 1 have to go. Offer: Can I give you a hand? ~ Yes, please. That's very kind of you. OR It's OK, thanks. I can nuuta%<~ Invitation: Would you like to come to the barbecue? ~ Yes, please. I'd love to. or I'd love to, but I'll be avm Short negative answers would sound strange or impolite here. A Form (2) It's eleven o'clock, and everyone has arrived at a party. Put in the short answers. ► Have you got a drink? ~ Vkf,. .!.,h*v£......., thank you. I've just put it down somewhere. 1 Can you speak Arabic? -............................................., but not very well. 2 Is it raining outside? -.............................................. It's just started. 3 Has David come with you? -..............................................He's in hospital, actually. 4 Did you come by car, Tom? -..............................................It took ages because of all the traffic. 5 Are those people over there your friends? ~..............................................I don't know them at all. 6 Do you like England? ~.........................................I'm enjoying my stay here. 7 Is your brother here? -..............................................He's away on business at the moment. 8 Have you seen Nick recently? - .....................................I think he's moved away. B Form (2) It's one o'clock in the morning, and the party is in full swing. People are still talking. Put in the short answers. ► Are you French? - No,. I'm.Apt.......I'm Italian. I'm from Milan. 1 Will you and Laura be here in August? -.........................................We're going to France. 2 Did you remember to bring the photos? -.........................................I'll give them to you in a minute. 3 Has Rita broken up with her boyfriend? ~..................................It's all over, she told me. 4 Did you see that documentary about the ozone layer on television last night? ~........................................I was working late, unfortunately. 5 Does Laura like these old songs? -.........................................She loves Elvis Presley. 6 Are you and Mike staying the night here? ~.........................................We have to get home tonight. 7 Can we afford a taxi? -.........................................It's quite a long way. 8 Are you OK, Vicky? -.........................................I feel really awful. C Answering questions (1-3) Which would normally be the best answer? ► Are you busy today? a) l] Yes, busy, b) ,/| Yes, I am. 1 Is it too hot in here for you? a) Q No, it isn't, b) Q No, I'm fine, thanks. 2 Do you know Emma? a) |_j Yes. b) Yes, we live in the same building. 3 Tell me, did you steal my money? a) [J No. b) fjj No, I didn't steal your money. 4 Do you live on the campus? a) \ ~_ Yes, I do. b) H Yes, I live on it. 5 Would you like to come out with us for the day? a) Yes, I would like, b) j_Yes, please. 6 Is it the eighteenth today? a) I__j Yes, it is. b) Yes, it is the eighteenth of November today. 7 Did you bring my CD? a) Q No. b) □ No, sorry. I forgot it. 8 Can I carry your bags? ■R Q No, you can't, b) H It's all right, thanks. page 86 . questions NEGATIVES AND ANSWERS QUESTIONS, NEGATIVES AND ANSWERS • PACE 87 Practice 36 Wh-questions 1 Introduction Reportérky Beamish is interviewing some guerrilla fighters. Kitty: Why ore you fighting? What can you do for the people? When will the war be over? Guerrillas: For our freedom. We can help them. Very soon. A wh-question begins with a question word. Question word: are who, what, which, whose, where, when, why and how. We use a wh-question to ask for information. Form Most wh-questions begin with a question word + an auxiliary verb + the subject. (For another form of wh-question, see Unit 37.) An auxiliary verb is a form of be or have or a modal verb, e.g. can. question word auxiliary subjf.ct verb What is Kitty doing? Where have you put the map? When can we travel safely? The main verb be also comes before the subject in questions. Where is Kitty? How are you? What was that noise? If there is more than one auxiliary verb, only the first one comes before the subject. The guerrillas have been hiding. -* Where have the guerrillas been hiding? I should have said something. —* What should 1 have said? In the Present Simple and Past Simple we use a form of do. question word auxiliary subject verb Where do people meet? How does the radio work? What did the guerrillas say? An ordinary verb such as meet, work or say cannot come before the subject. not Where meet people? and not How works tiw-mdio? The verb after the subject does not end in -s or -ed. not How docs the radio works? and not What-did the guerrillas said? 3 Question phrases Look at these question phrases with what and how. Wliat time is your friend arriving? ~ Half past eight. What colour is your toothbrush? ~ Yellow. What kind of/What sort of club is it? - A nightclub. How old is your sister? ~ She's twenty. How often do you go out? - About once a week, usually. How far is the beach? - Only five minutes' wm-How long will the meeting last? ~ An hour or so, I expect. How many televisions have you got? ~ Three. How much money did you spend? ~ About a hundred pounds. Wh-questions (1-2) What would you say in these situations? ► You are talking to a man at a party. Ask him where he works. Wfwtre. dp.. ypw . wort ?........................................................ 1 You want to know what the date is today. Ask your friend. . questions, negatives and answers 2 You've forgotten when the course finishes. Ask your friend. 3 Your friend is having a party. You'd like to know who he has invited. Ask him. 4 Your favourite band are going to give a concert. Ask how you can get tickets. 5 You are in town with a friend, and you are wondering where the two of you are going to have lunch. What do you ask? Question words and phrases (1-3) Quiz champion Claude Jennings is answering questions. Put in these words and phrases: how far, how long, how often, how many, what, whatyqlour, what kind, when, where, who Quiz-master: ► Wh*.-i the CpnSfcr.-i................................................ Melissa: Oh, we record it every day. It's a full-time job, you know. And ......................................................................................................................... it? Melissa: In Birmingham, at the BBC studios. ■ Guy: ..................................................................................................................................... Melissa: How many? Well, let me see, I think we've done a thousand programmes. ■Suy: ................................................................................................................................ Melissa: I'm not going to tell you. How much money I earn is my business. OK, I'm sorry. 1 Guy: Guy: Melissa: Oh, a long time ago. I started acting when I was twelve. 5 Guy: Melissa: My plans for the future? I just want to go on with 'Round the Corner'. questions, negatives and answers Practice 37 Subject/object questions 1 Who and what Who is interviewing Kitty? Who and what can be the subject of a question. The word order is the same as in a statement. SUBJECT Who rang you? (Someone rang you.) Who is helping you? (Someone is helping you.) What will happen next? (Something will happen next.) Who and what can also be the object of a preposition, e.g. to, with. (For prepositions in questions, see Unit 38.) Compare these sentences. object Who were you talking to? (You were talking to someone.) What does this colour go with? •■i----fcM Who is Kitty interviewing? Who and what can also be the object. An auxiliary (e.g. did, will) comes before the subject. object Who did you ring? (You rang someone.) Who are you helping? (You are helping someone.) What will they do next? (They will do something next.) subject Who was talking to you? (Someone was talking to you.) What wine goes with fish? (Some wine goes with fish.} Whataoes ma <.^«- o-(This colour goes with something.) 2 Which, whose, how many and how much 2 ^esewordscanalsobeeitherthesubjectortheobject. subject Which program will work best? (One of the programs will work best.) Whose dog is barking over there? (Someone's dog is barking over there.) How many people came past? (Some people came past.) How much oil got into the river? (Some oil got into the river.) object Which program will you use? (You will use one of the programs.) Whose dog is Melanie walking? (Melanie is walking someone's dog. How many people did you see? (You saw some people.) How much oil did you buy? (You bought some oil.) A Who and what as subject and object (1) Read about the situations and answer each question in a single phrase. ► The morning after his party, Tom was cleaning up. David came along and took away some empty bottles for him. Nick had just woken up after spending the night on Tom's sofa. He watched them for a while. a) Who helped Tom? tW.H.................. b) Who did Nick help? Mo M................ 1 Nick wants to marry Rita. She's been out with him a few times, but really she's in love with Tom. Unfortunately he isn't in love with her. a) Who is Nick in love with? ........................ b) Who is in love with Tom?............................ Mark met Sarah at the airport. The plane was two hours late. On the way out they passed Mike standing at a bus stop, but they didn't notice him. a) Who met Sarah?.............................. b) What was Mike waiting for?.............................. 3 There was an accident at the crossroads. A lorry crashed into a van that was waiting at the lights. The van slid forward and crashed into a car. The van driver had to go to hospital, a) What hit the van?.............................. b) What did the van hit?.............................. B Who and what as subject and object (1) People aren't giving you enough information. Ask questions with who or what. Something has happened. • Oh? Wfvvt..ruW. U^ered?............................................................. I've invited someone to tea. - Well? WhoJiAve yp« jftvito)?..................................................... Somebody is having a party. - Oh, really? .................................................................................... I was reading something. • Oh? ................................................................................................... I've learnt something. - Go on, tell me.......................................................................................... We should do something. - Yes, I know, but................................................................................. Someone is looking for you. - Oh? ............................................................................................... I'm looking for someone. - Maybe I can help................................................. Rachel is planning something. - Is she? ....................................................................................... Somebody has moved in next door. - Oh, really? ......................................................................... Something is worrying me. ~ Well, tell me.................................................................................... I want to meet someone. - What do you mean? ........................................................................... ► ► 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C Which, whose, how many and how much (2) Harriet is visiting her grandmother, Mrs Evans. It's Mrs Evans's birthday. She can't hear very well, and she sometimes gets confused. Complete her questions. Harriet: So ten people have sent cards. I met David's friend yesterday. You can keep those photos. Those flowers look lovely. Fifty pounds went missing. I passed Mark's house earlier. The doctor has four children. Doctors earn lots of money. Mike's uncle has died. Trevor's wife is coming later. Mrs Evans: Pardon? How many people tave « 102 One and ones from? PAGE 94 . questions, negatives and answers Practice A What or which? (i) The questions you are asking have a number of possible answers. the M of answers is incomplete, ask a question wi.h what. „ the iist is compete, use *M* ►