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POLITE QUESTIONS
Whenever you use an introductory phrase before a question, you must change the word order in the question.
Introductions include:
Can you tell me...? Do you know...? I don’t know... I’m not sure... I wonder... I can’t remember...
Introductions include:
Can you tell me...? Do you know...? I don’t know... I’m not sure... I wonder... I can’t remember...
What’s the time? =>Can you tell me what the time is?
Where did he go? =>I don’t know where he went.
Where did he go? =>I don’t know where he went.
Form:
1) If the question has an auxiliary verb, swap the positions of the auxiliary verb and the subject. You can also do this in sentences with the verb to be.
1) If the question has an auxiliary verb, swap the positions of the auxiliary verb and the subject. You can also do this in sentences with the verb to be.
Example: When can you get here?
Can is the auxiliary verb and you is the subject. Swap their positions when you add an introduction.
Do you know when you can get here?
Can is the auxiliary verb and you is the subject. Swap their positions when you add an introduction.
Do you know when you can get here?
Other examples:
Where has he gone? =>I don’t know where he has gone.
What are they doing? =>I don’t know what they’re doing.
What time is it? =>Have you any idea what time it is?
Where has he gone? =>I don’t know where he has gone.
What are they doing? =>I don’t know what they’re doing.
What time is it? =>Have you any idea what time it is?
You cannot contract the verb if it is the last word in the sentence.
Do you know what time it’s? =>Do you know what time it is?
2) If the question is in the present or past simple, remove do / does / did from the question. Change the verb ending so that the verb is in the correct tense.
Example:
Where did he go? =>Did you see where he went?
What time do you get up? =>Can you tell me what time you get up?
Where does she work? =>I wonder where she works.
Where did he go? =>Did you see where he went?
What time do you get up? =>Can you tell me what time you get up?
Where does she work? =>I wonder where she works.
3) If a question does not have a question word (Where, What, Why etc.) use if orwhether before the question.
Example:
Does he live here? =>Do you know if he lives here?
Are they coming to the party? =>Do you know whether they are coming to the party?
POLITE QUESTIONS EXERCISE
Does he live here? =>Do you know if he lives here?
Are they coming to the party? =>Do you know whether they are coming to the party?
POLITE QUESTIONS EXERCISE
INSTRUCTIONS: CHANGE THE FOLLOWING
REGULAR QUESTIONS TO MORE
POLITE QUESTIONS.
EXAMPLE: Where is the nearest
bank? Can you tell me ?
Why is that little baby crying? Do you know?
Is there any water here? Could you tell me?
Is he coming tomorrow Do you know?
How many cars does she have? Would you tell me?
Do they like swimming? Could you tell me?
What does she want? Can you explain to me ?
Why is that little baby crying? Do you know?
Is there any water here? Could you tell me?
Is he coming tomorrow Do you know?
How many cars does she have? Would you tell me?
Do they like swimming? Could you tell me?
What does she want? Can you explain to me ?
TAG QUESTIONS
Use question tags in two situations.
1) You are not sure if something is true, so you want to check. In this case, your voice should rise when you say the question tag.
↗
You’re not going now, are you?
2) You know something is true. You want to include/involve another person in the conversation. In this case, your voice should fall when you say the tag. It does not sound like a question.
↘
He doesn’t live here now, does he?
1) You are not sure if something is true, so you want to check. In this case, your voice should rise when you say the question tag.
↗
You’re not going now, are you?
2) You know something is true. You want to include/involve another person in the conversation. In this case, your voice should fall when you say the tag. It does not sound like a question.
↘
He doesn’t live here now, does he?
Form:
Question tags are either:
1) positive statements with short, negative questions at the end.
These tags check something that you believe is true.
It’s Monday today, isn’t it?
Question tags are either:
1) positive statements with short, negative questions at the end.
These tags check something that you believe is true.
It’s Monday today, isn’t it?
2) negative statements with short, positive questions at the end.
These tags check something that you believe is false.
It’s not raining, is it?
These tags check something that you believe is false.
It’s not raining, is it?
Make question tags this way:
1) If there is an auxiliary verb or a modal verb, write it in the opposite form (positive or negative) at the end of the sentence. Then write the subject pronoun of the sentence.
Ian’s nice, isn’t he?
Laura hasn’t arrived yet, has she?
I can’t do anything to help, can I?
We won’t be late, will we?
Ian’s nice, isn’t he?
Laura hasn’t arrived yet, has she?
I can’t do anything to help, can I?
We won’t be late, will we?
Caution:
CAUTION: Use aren’t with I’m in questions tags.
I’m a bit careless, aren’t I? NOT I’m a bit careless, am not I?
CAUTION: Use aren’t with I’m in questions tags.
I’m a bit careless, aren’t I? NOT I’m a bit careless,
2) In present and past simple sentences, use do, does or did in the question tag.
Brian and Cathy don’t eat meat, do they?
Your dad lives abroad, doesn’t he?
Your friends enjoyed themselves, didn’t they?
Brian and Cathy don’t eat meat, do they?
Your dad lives abroad, doesn’t he?
Your friends enjoyed themselves, didn’t they?
3) Use a positive question tag after never.
Miles never goes out, does he?
Miles never goes out, does he?
TAG QUESTIONS EXERCISE
COMPLETE THE QUESTIONS WITH
THEIR CORRESPONDING TAG QUESTIONS. FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE.
EXAMPLE: She is collecting stickers, ?
1.
We often watch
TV in the afternoon, ?
2.
You have a
mountain bike, ?
3.
John and Max
don't like mathematics, ?
4. Peter played baseball
yesterday, ?
5.
They are going
home from school, ?
6.
Mary didn't do
her homework last Monday, ?
7.
He can buy a
new car, ?
8. Kevin will come
tonight, ?
9. I am intelligent, ?
