Question Words
2020-07-24
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1A few years ago, On the American television show Saturday Night Live, actor Jerry Seinfeld answered questions from the audience.
2However, the people who asked them were not ordinary showgoers, but Hollywood stars.
3The questions were jokes that made fun of other actors.
4Tim Meadows asked if he could read from a magazine list of the worst actors to ever appear on the show.
5But let me just read who is dead last.
6And do we have a camera ready to cut to Robert Downey Jr.?
7No, let's not do this, let's not do this! This is not a good idea. Other questions.
8Oh! Bob Odenkirk here. Bob!
9Jerry, when are we doing a tribute to the writers of SNL...?
10That short discussion provides examples of two of the most common kinds of questions in English - "yes/no" questions and "wh-" questions.
11A yes/no question is one that can be answered simply with a yes or a no.
12And do we have a camera ready to cut to Robert Downey Jr.?
13No, let's not do this...
14The "wh-" question requires a more detailed answer:
15Jerry, when are we doing a tribute to the writers of SNL...?
16That question includes the word "when," which starts with "wh-."
17The words what, where or why are also used for "wh-" questions.
18 This is where the "wh-" name comes from.*
19"Wh-" questions follow a pattern.
20The question word comes first.
21Then come the subject and main verb.
22In some cases, there is a helping verb, such as do, have, or can, in between the question word and the subject.
23The pattern is Question word + (helping verb) + subject + main verb
24Here are two examples, one in the present and one in the past:
25Where does he work?
26What did she say?
27You might be thinking that this is all you need to know about question words.
28But question words are important for another reason: they can be used in answers.
29Question words often begin noun clauses - groups of words with a subject and a verb.
30These clauses act like a noun in the sentence.
31Think back to our examples:
32Where does he work?
33What did she say?
34In response to these questions, a person might say:
35I don't know where he works.
36I didn't hear what she said.
37In the first example, where he works is a noun clause.
38In the second example, what she said is a noun clause.
39Notice that the question word order is not used in the answer.
40The verb do does not appear in the noun clause in the answer.
41Where does he work?
42I don't know where he works.
43The next time you are listening or reading, try to find examples of question words - both in questions and in answers.
44Also pay attention to how speakers use intonation and word stress with question words.
45Then practice using them a lot.
46There are only a small number of question words, and they are useful in almost any situation you can think of.
47If your goal is to improve your speaking skills, then you must use question words with ease.
48I'm John Russell.
1A few years ago, On the American television show Saturday Night Live, actor Jerry Seinfeld answered questions from the audience. However, the people who asked them were not ordinary showgoers, but Hollywood stars. 2The questions were jokes that made fun of other actors. Tim Meadows asked if he could read from a magazine list of the worst actors to ever appear on the show. 3But let me just read who is dead last. And do we have a camera ready to cut to Robert Downey Jr.? 4No, let's not do this, let's not do this! This is not a good idea. Other questions. 5Oh! Bob Odenkirk here. Bob! 6Jerry, when are we doing a tribute to the writers of SNL...? 7That short discussion provides examples of two of the most common kinds of questions in English - "yes/no" questions and "wh-" questions. 8What are question words? 9A yes/no question is one that can be answered simply with a yes or a no. 10And do we have a camera ready to cut to Robert Downey Jr.? 11No, let's not do this... 12The "wh-" question requires a more detailed answer: 13Jerry, when are we doing a tribute to the writers of SNL...? 14That question includes the word "when," which starts with "wh-." The words what, where or why are also used for "wh-" questions. This is where the "wh-" name comes from.* 15"Wh-" questions follow a pattern. The question word comes first. Then come the subject and main verb. In some cases, there is a helping verb, such as do, have, or can, in between the question word and the subject. 16The pattern is Question word + (helping verb) + subject + main verb 17Here are two examples, one in the present and one in the past: 18Where does he work? 19What did she say? 20Question words in answers 21You might be thinking that this is all you need to know about question words. But question words are important for another reason: they can be used in answers. 22Question words often begin noun clauses - groups of words with a subject and a verb. These clauses act like a noun in the sentence. 23Think back to our examples: 24Where does he work? 25What did she say? 26In response to these questions, a person might say: 27I don't know where he works. 28I didn't hear what she said. 29In the first example, where he works is a noun clause. 30In the second example, what she said is a noun clause. 31Notice that the question word order is not used in the answer. The verb do does not appear in the noun clause in the answer. 32Where does he work? 33I don't know where he works. 34Closing thoughts 35The next time you are listening or reading, try to find examples of question words - both in questions and in answers. Also pay attention to how speakers use intonation and word stress with question words. 36Then practice using them a lot. 37There are only a small number of question words, and they are useful in almost any situation you can think of. If your goal is to improve your speaking skills, then you must use question words with ease. 38I'm John Russell. 39John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 40* Not all so-called "wh-" questions begin with "wh-." 'How' is one example. 41________________________________________________________________ 42Words in This Story 43tribute - n. something that you say, give, or do to show respect or affection for someone 44pattern - n. the regular and repeated way in which something happens or is done 45intonation - n. the rise and fall in the sound of your voice when you speak 46word stress - n. greater loudness or force given to a syllable or a word in speech 47We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.