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<p>1</p><p>Kev Nair</p><p>Fluency in Asking Questions</p><p>Prof. Kev Nair was born in Kerala, South India, in 1949.</p><p>He’s an eminent scholar of international repute. He’s a first class</p><p>LL.B. and a first class LL.M. And he was ranked first in university</p><p>in both the LL. B. and LL. M. exams.</p><p>• “Nair was the first person in the world to give shape to the</p><p>area of study now known as ‘English fluency development’</p><p>and to systematize it into a distinct teachable subject... So he</p><p>is better known as the father of fluency development.”</p><p>– General Knowledge Today.</p><p>• “He had been researching since 1971, and the results... led</p><p>him to new discoveries... ”</p><p>– THE HINDU.</p><p>• “Prof. Kev Nair is regarded the world over as the father</p><p>of fluency lexicography... Fluency lexicography came into</p><p>existence as a separate branch of dictionary writing with</p><p>the publication of Prof. Nair’s Dictionary of Active Fluency</p><p>Combinations in 1986.”</p><p>– Competition Success Review.</p><p>• “A renowned English language lexicographer”</p><p>– The New Sunday Express.</p><p>• “One of the world’s most respected English language</p><p>scholars...Perhaps more innovative in method than Roget and</p><p>more modern in approach than Fowler, Prof. Kev Nair is... one</p><p>of the foremost Indian scholars who wield great influence</p><p>on the thinking of the English-educated people around the</p><p>world.”</p><p>– General Knowledge Today.</p><p>• “A towering English language expert”</p><p>– Competition Success Review.</p><p>• “Prof. Kev Nair... has... reached out to thousands – judicial</p><p>officers, professionals, top executives, scholars – who need</p><p>2</p><p>that comfort and ease in speech with his specialised fluency</p><p>techniques.”</p><p>– The New Indian Express.</p><p>Prof. Nair is a lawyer by profession. He lives with his wife and</p><p>children in Kochi, Kerala, an enchanting place on the earth.</p><p>3</p><p>Fluent English Dictionaries1 by Kev Nair</p><p>• A Dictionary of Active Fluency Combinations.</p><p>• A Dictionary of Fluency Word Clusters.</p><p>• The Complete Fluency Words.</p><p>• A Dictionary of Essential Fluency Phrases.</p><p>• Core Fluency Thesaurus.</p><p>• Comprehensive Adjectival Fluency Dictionary.</p><p>• Narrative Fluency Dictionary.</p><p>• Thesaurus of Phrasal Verbs.</p><p>• Thesaurus of Descriptive English.</p><p>1 Note: The Fluent English Dictionaries do not form part of Fluentzy: The</p><p>English Fluency Encyclopedia. They’re separate publications – meant for those</p><p>who want to specialize in fluency-oriented vocabulary. For details, visit www.</p><p>fluencybookz.com.</p><p>4</p><p>Books by Kev Nair making up</p><p>Fluentzy: The English Fluency Encyclopedia</p><p>• B1: Idea units & Fluency.</p><p>• B2: Speech Generation & Flow Production.</p><p>• B3: Teaching your Tongue & Speech Rhythm.</p><p>• B4: Key Speech-initiators & Speech-unit Patterns.</p><p>• S1/B13 & S2/B14: Fluency in Functional English (Vols. 1 & 2).</p><p>• S3/B15: Fluency in Telephone English & Sectoral English.</p><p>• B5: How to Deal with Hesitation.</p><p>• B6: Oral Training in Fluency Vocabulary (Vol.1).</p><p>• B7: Packing of Information.</p><p>• B8: Impromptu Speech-flow Techniques.</p><p>• S4/B16: Fluency Building & Mouth Gymnastics.</p><p>• S5/B17: Fluency in speaking about people.</p><p>• B9: Fluency in Asking Questions.</p><p>• B10: Oral Training in Fluency Vocabulary (Vol.2).</p><p>• B11: Fluency & Moment-to-Moment Speech-production.</p><p>• B12: Oral Training in Fluency Vocabulary (Vol.3).</p><p>• S6/B18 & S8/B20: Fluency in Topicwise English (Vols. 1 & 2).</p><p>• S7/B19: Fluency & Pronunciation.</p><p>5</p><p>B9</p><p>Fluency</p><p>in Asking</p><p>Questions</p><p>“(D)eals with a tricky skill.”</p><p>– THE HINDU.</p><p>Fifth Edition</p><p>Prof. Kev Nair</p><p>Adult Faculties Council</p><p>TM</p><p>TM</p><p>6</p><p>For Uma</p><p>FluENCy IN ASKING QuESTIONS.</p><p>Copyright © Prof. K. E. V. Nair @ KevNair 1982, 1989, 1994, 2000, 2009.</p><p>First published 1982.</p><p>4th edition 2000 (11 impressions).</p><p>5th edition 2009.</p><p>Prof. K. E. V. Nair @ KevNair has asserted his right to be identified</p><p>as the author of this book in accordance with the Copyright Act, 1957.</p><p>All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this book shall be copied or</p><p>reproduced or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or</p><p>manner whatever, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,</p><p>recording or otherwise, without the prior permission, in writing, of the</p><p>publisher, except in the case of brief quotations or as expressly permitted</p><p>by law.</p><p>All quotations from this book shall credit the author, Prof. KevNair.</p><p>This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade</p><p>or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form</p><p>of binding or cover other than that in which it is published, and without a</p><p>similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on any acquirer</p><p>or the subsequent purchaser.</p><p>Any violation of these terms and conditions will invite civil and criminal</p><p>proceedings and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.</p><p>Published in India by Mrs. uma V. Nair, Adult Faculties Council,</p><p>DP lane, Elamakkara PO, Kochi-682 026, Kerala.</p><p>Printed in India by Ayodhya Printers ltd., Elamakkara PO,</p><p>Kochi-682 026, Kerala.</p><p>Adult Faculties Council’s websites:</p><p>www.fluentzy.com; www.fluencybookz.com.</p><p>Phone: (91)(0484) 2538449, 2408361.</p><p>Fax: (91)(0484) 2408361.</p><p>E-mail: info@fluentzy.com.</p><p>Price: Rs.175.00</p><p>7</p><p>Contents</p><p>Chapter 1: How to make questions, 11</p><p>Role of questions, 11</p><p>Difficulty in framing questions, 12</p><p>Chief reason for the difficulty, 13</p><p>Question types, 15</p><p>yes-No questions, 15</p><p>Chapter 2: Statements into yes-no questions, 18</p><p>Five types of statements, 18</p><p>Statements containing one or more auxiliaries, 18</p><p>Statements not containing any auxiliary, 19</p><p>Statements containing be as a main verb, 19</p><p>Statements containing do as a main verb, 19</p><p>Statements containing have as a main verb, 20</p><p>Responses to yes-no questions, 23</p><p>Negative yes-no questions, 24</p><p>Chapter 3: Everyday yes-no questions for practice, 26</p><p>Yes-No Questions, 26</p><p>Chapter 4: Wh-questions, 32</p><p>Conversion of statements into wh-questions, 33</p><p>Advanced wh-questions, 34</p><p>Questions with modified wh-word, 36</p><p>Negative wh-questions, 37</p><p>8 CONTENTS</p><p>Chapter 5: Everyday wh-questions for practice, 39</p><p>Alternative questions, 42</p><p>Chapter 6: Question-initiator word groups, 44</p><p>Declarative questions, 56</p><p>yes-no declarative questions, 56</p><p>Wh-declarative questions, 57</p><p>Chapter 7: Tag questions, 58</p><p>Structure, 58</p><p>Three types of tag questions, 59</p><p>Opposite-way tag questions, 59</p><p>Same-way tag questions, 60</p><p>Special cases, 61</p><p>Three important points to remember, 65</p><p>Chapter 8: Tag questions for practice, 68</p><p>Invariant tag questions, 73</p><p>Chapter 9: Rhythm drill with questions, 75</p><p>Chapter 10: Nominal expressions for advanced</p><p>fluency, 83</p><p>Chapter 11: Verb-and-preposition clusters - Part 1, 97</p><p>Chapter 12: Verb-and-preposition clusters - Part 2, 110</p><p>9PREFACE TO THE 5TH EDITION</p><p>Preface to the 5th edition</p><p>Here’s the latest edition of this book.</p><p>I have now added some extremely useful material covering the</p><p>topics “Nominal expressions for advanced fluency” and “Verb-</p><p>and-preposition clusters”.</p><p>Do you have any comments and suggestions? Please do write to</p><p>me care of the publishers.</p><p>KEV Nair</p><p>Kochi, 2009.</p><p>10 ABBREVIATIONS</p><p>Abbreviations</p><p>fml formal</p><p>infml informal</p><p>sb somebody</p><p>sth something</p><p>sw somewhere</p><p>S Subject</p><p>11HOW TO MAKE QuESTIONS</p><p>CHAPTER 1</p><p>How to make questions</p><p>Role of questions</p><p>Are you really good at asking questions in fluent English? If</p><p>you’re not, do you think you’ll be able to have a satisfactory chat</p><p>or conversation in English with someone?</p><p>Suppose you’re at a party or in a gathering. Or suppose</p><p>that you’re travelling on a train. What will make a conversation</p><p>go on? you see, it’s mainly your capacity to ask questions. If</p><p>you’re not able to ask questions, you’ll find it difficult to keep</p><p>up conversations, and the conversations you have will come to a</p><p>stop quickly — or you’ll find yourself forced back into the position</p><p>of a silent listener. Others around you will go away with a wrong</p><p>impression about you — that you do not know English.</p><p>Again, if you want to effectively carry out a number of</p><p>communicative functions</p><p>• What</p><p>other person is…? • What other place can I…? • What</p><p>other places…? • What other thing could a …? • What</p><p>other thing could…? • What other thing must I…? • What</p><p>other work besides…? • What part of…? • What place</p><p>has he…? • What place have you…? • What places have</p><p>52 QuESTION-INITIATOR WORD GROuPS</p><p>you…? • What purpose is served by…? • What questions</p><p>did…? • What road is…? • What salary do you…? • What</p><p>school is…? • What shall I do if…? • What shall I do with</p><p>my…? • What shall I do with…? • What shall I tell…? •</p><p>What shall we do if…? • What should it…? • What should</p><p>they have to…? • What size shoes does he…? • What sort</p><p>of…? • What thing did…? • What time did you…? • What</p><p>time do you have to…? • What time do you…? • What</p><p>time does he…? • What time is …? • What time of year…?</p><p>• What train are you…? • What type of work was he…? •</p><p>What was he…? • What was she wearing when…? • What</p><p>were they...? • What were you doing at the…? • What</p><p>were you doing in the…? • What were you doing with…?</p><p>• What will it…? • What would happen if…? • What</p><p>would you do if…? • What’ll we do if…? • What’s going to</p><p>happen to…? • What’s the capital of…? • What’s the name</p><p>of…? • In what manner is…? • In what other way can…? •</p><p>In what year is…? • At what other place can…? • At what</p><p>other time could…?</p><p>When-initiators</p><p>• When are we going to finish this…? • When are we going</p><p>to meet…? • When are you beginning your…? • When</p><p>are you going back to…? • When are you going to have</p><p>your…? • When did they all tell you…? • When did you</p><p>begin to…? • When did you last go to…? • When did you</p><p>last hear…? • When did you last see …? • When did you</p><p>last take an…? • When did you last write a…? • When</p><p>did you leave…? • When do they…? • When does she...?</p><p>• When should she…? • When will it…? • When will you</p><p>be…? • When have you cleaned the…?</p><p>Where-initiators</p><p>• Where am I supposed to…? • Where are you going</p><p>53QuESTION-INITIATOR WORD GROuPS</p><p>for your…? • Where are the Barkers spending their…?</p><p>• Where are we going to keep the…? • Where are you</p><p>spending…? • Where are they…? • Where can I park</p><p>my…? • Where did I leave my…? • Where did you buy</p><p>that…? • Where did you go…? • Where did you spend</p><p>your…? • Where do you…? • Where has he put my…?</p><p>• Where has she been …? • Where have they been…? •</p><p>Where have you put…? • Where shall we all…? • Where</p><p>shall we meet…? • Where were you last…? • Where were</p><p>you when…? • Where will they…? • Where will you be</p><p>at…? • Where will you be…? • Where will you go after…?</p><p>Which-initiators</p><p>• Which cost more, these or those? • Which gives more…?</p><p>• Which is better, this one or that one? • Which is my…? •</p><p>Which of the two girls is…? • Which of them…? • Which</p><p>of these two books have you…? • Which of these two…? •</p><p>Which of you finished your…? • Which of you knows how</p><p>to…? • Which of you knows the…? • Which of you likes…?</p><p>• Which of you must…? • Which one are you…? • Which</p><p>one did they…? • Which one do you…? • Which one of</p><p>these…? • Which way are you…? • Which will you…?</p><p>Who-initiators</p><p>• Who are the…? • Who broke my…? • Who came…? •</p><p>Who can answer my…? • Who did you meet in the…? •</p><p>Who do they want to…? • Who do you suppose would…?</p><p>• Who do you think is…? • Who do you want to…? • Who</p><p>has been using my…? • Who has taken my…? • Who is</p><p>that…? • Who is the…? • Who is this…? • Who likes…?</p><p>• Who made that dirty mark on…? • Who made that…? •</p><p>Who owns this…? • Who phoned…? • Who put salt in…?</p><p>• Who shut the…? • Who taught you to…? • Who told you</p><p>to…? • Who used to live in this…? • Who wants to…? •</p><p>54 QuESTION-INITIATOR WORD GROuPS</p><p>Who will be…? • Who wrote…? • Who’ll come with me</p><p>to…? • Who’ll help…? • Who’s taken my…? • Who’s the</p><p>present ruler of…? • Whose car did you…? • Why are we</p><p>trying to…?</p><p>Why-initiators</p><p>• Why are you carrying a…? • Why are you carrying</p><p>that…? • Why are you getting out the…? • Why are you</p><p>in such a…? • Why are you looking so…? • Why are</p><p>you looking through…? • Why are you peeling that…? •</p><p>Why are you putting that…? • Why are you so…? • Why</p><p>are you spending so long on…? • Why are you taking all</p><p>that…? • Why are you taking out all your…? • Why are</p><p>you taking up that…? • Why are you wrapping the…? •</p><p>Why aren’t you taking the…? • Why can’t he...? • Why</p><p>can’t you answer…? • Why did David...? • Why did he</p><p>drive so…? • Why did she put parsley in…? • Why did</p><p>they...? • Why did you break my…? • Why did you bring</p><p>your…? • Why did you buy all these…? • Why did you</p><p>come so…? • Why did you come with…? • Why did you</p><p>have to…? • Why did you lock the door…? • Why did</p><p>you say so…? • Why did you take his…? • Why did you</p><p>throw away those…? • Why did you travel…? • Why didn’t</p><p>he call the…? • Why didn’t he repair…? • Why didn’t</p><p>he report it to…? • Why didn’t she…? • Why didn’t they</p><p>mend the…? • Why didn’t you ask your father for…? •</p><p>Why didn’t you buy the…? • Why didn’t you do it if…? •</p><p>Why didn’t you do it when…? • Why didn’t you hit…? •</p><p>Why didn’t you move your…? • Why didn’t you pay the…?</p><p>• Why didn’t you phone from…? • Why didn’t you say</p><p>that…? • Why didn’t you signal to…? • Why do I never</p><p>have…? • Why do some of them carry…? • Why do you</p><p>keep your…? • Why do you suddenly want to…? • Why</p><p>do you have to...? • Why do you want a…? • Why does</p><p>55QuESTION-INITIATOR WORD GROuPS</p><p>he sing so…? • Why doesn’t he play…? • Why doesn’t he</p><p>punish his boys when…? • Why doesn’t he try…? • Why</p><p>don’t you ask…? • Why don’t you cut your…? • Why don’t</p><p>you go and see…? • Why don’t you go by…? • Why don’t</p><p>you have your…? • Why don’t you open…? • Why don’t</p><p>you say…? • Why don’t you take it to…? • Why don’t you</p><p>take the…? • Why don’t you tie it…? • Why has she not</p><p>eaten…? • Why have you brought your…? • Why have you</p><p>forgotten to…? • Why have you…? • Why should she…?</p><p>• Why wasn’t anyone…? • Why wasn’t the car…? • Why</p><p>weren’t you…? • Why weren’t they…?</p><p>Will-initiators</p><p>• Will his mother be…? • Will it be all right if…? • Will</p><p>Mary and you be…? • Will she...? • Will the shops be open</p><p>at…? • Will they still be open at…? • Will the weather</p><p>clear up…? • Will there be a class…? • Will there be</p><p>an…? • Will there be…? • Will they be ...? • Will they be</p><p>open on…? • Will you be able to…? • Will you be angry</p><p>if…? • Will you be at the…? • Will you be here for…? •</p><p>Will you be quiet for…? • Will you buy me…? • Will you</p><p>come again…? • Will you come to…? • Will you explain</p><p>what…? • Will you forget what…? • Will you go on strike</p><p>when…? • Will you have another…? • Will you have</p><p>enough money to…? • Will you have some more…? • Will</p><p>you have time to…? • Will you have to pay for…? • Will</p><p>you help me if…? • Will you help me or…? • Will you help</p><p>me to…? • Will you lend me your…? • Will you please tell</p><p>me when…? • Will you remember these…? • Will your</p><p>brother be…? • Won’t he be..? • Won’t they be able to…?</p><p>• Won’t you find out why…? • Won’t you have something</p><p>to…? • Would you like me to go through…? • Would you</p><p>like a…? • Would you like another…? • Would you like</p><p>to come with…? • Would you like to go to…? • Would</p><p>56 QuESTION-INITIATOR WORD GROuPS</p><p>you like to have…? • Would you like to see…? • Would</p><p>you like to wait or…? • Would you like to…? • Would you</p><p>like…? • Would you mind getting out of…? • Would you</p><p>mind if I…? • Would you mind moving your…? • Would</p><p>you please fill in this form…? • Would you please wait in</p><p>the…? • Wouldn’t you like to…?</p><p>Declarative questions</p><p>Declarative questions are questions in which the speaker does not</p><p>reverse the Subject-operator order. And so these questions have</p><p>the same syntactic structure as statements. That’s why they’re</p><p>called declarative questions.</p><p>Declarative questions are quite common in casual and</p><p>informal speech.</p><p>Yes-No declarative questions</p><p>For all practical purposes, yes-no declarative questions are</p><p>statements themselves. Only, you utter them with a rising</p><p>intonation and in a way questions are asked, rather than in a way</p><p>statements are made. This makes them sound somewhat casual.</p><p>Here</p><p>are some examples:</p><p>• He’s come back? • She hasn’t finished the report? •</p><p>He’s your new boss? • She isn’t a nurse? • you’ve met my</p><p>father? • you’ve never been to his place? • She knew that</p><p>before? • So you heard nothing?</p><p>As these examples show, declarative yes-no questions can be</p><p>positive or negative.</p><p>A declarative question can take the form of a statement</p><p>followed by a comment clause. (But then the statement part is</p><p>not said with a rising intonation, but with a falling intonation,</p><p>and the comment clause is said with a rising intonation). Here</p><p>are some examples:</p><p>57QuESTION-INITIATOR WORD GROuPS</p><p>• you’re going to accept their offer, I suppose? • This is</p><p>your first job, I believe? • you’ll finish it in a day or two, I</p><p>hope? • He didn’t criticize your work, of course?</p><p>Wh-declarative questions</p><p>When you say something or ask for something, the addressee</p><p>sometimes follows it up with a question of a particular kind — a</p><p>question that doesn’t have an interrogative structure and that</p><p>doesn’t begin with a wh-word, but that contains a wh-element in</p><p>the middle or end. (The wh-element occurs as the Complement</p><p>element or Adverbial element in the question-clause — that is, in</p><p>the position that is normal for it in the declarative structure).</p><p>Here are some examples:</p><p>• I don’t like pop music ~ you like what kind of music</p><p>then? • My son hasn’t started school. ~ your son is how</p><p>old? • I met him yesterday. ~ you met him where? • It’s</p><p>several days since I’ve seen him. ~ you last saw him when?</p><p>• I told him about it yesterday ~ you told him at what</p><p>time?</p><p>Remember this: Nobody starts a conversation with a wh-</p><p>declarative question. No. A wh-declarative question is used</p><p>only when it follows on from a question or statement made by</p><p>the previous speaker. That is, a wh-declarative question is only</p><p>used as a follow-up to something that the previous speaker</p><p>has said. Declarative questions of this kind are quite common</p><p>during interviews, interrogations and similar situations. (They’re</p><p>especially used by the person who does the interview or</p><p>interrogation).</p><p>* * *</p><p>58 TAG QuESTIONS</p><p>CHAPTER 7</p><p>Tag questions</p><p>Tag questions are questions like “isn’t it?”, “hasn’t he?” etc. that</p><p>are often tagged on to statements. When you ask a tag question,</p><p>you expect affirmation or negation as the reply, and so tag</p><p>questions are a special category of yes-no questions.</p><p>Here are some examples. In these examples, you’ll find tag</p><p>questions given in italics.</p><p>• It is raining outside, isn’t it? • He has left, hasn’t he? •</p><p>you can see it now, can’t you?</p><p>These are examples in which the statement part contains an</p><p>operator. (As you know an operator is an auxiliary — either the</p><p>sole auxiliary or the first auxiliary). you see, if the statement part</p><p>contains an operator, that operator would be the operator in the</p><p>tag question part, too. But often, the statement may not contain</p><p>an operator. Then the dummy operator do acts as the operator in</p><p>the tag question. Here are some examples:</p><p>• She likes cats, doesn’t she? • you know how to drive a</p><p>car, don’t you? • They turned left, didn’t they? • He called</p><p>you a liar, didn’t he?</p><p>If you take a close look at these tag questions, you can</p><p>find that a tag question can be negative or positive. A negative</p><p>tag question always expects an affirmation, and a positive tag</p><p>question always expects a negation. (Of course, this doesn’t</p><p>mean that the addressee is obliged to reply exactly in the way</p><p>you expect them to reply).</p><p>Structure</p><p>All tag questions (= the tag part) have the following structure:</p><p>Negative tags: operator + n’t + pronoun</p><p>E.g. isn’t he?, doesn’t she?, can’t we?, haven’t they?, wouldn’t you?</p><p>59TAG QuESTIONS</p><p>Positive tags: operator + pronoun</p><p>E.g. is he?, does she?, can we?, have they?, would you?</p><p>Three types of tag questions</p><p>There are 3 types of tag questions: We’ll call two of the types</p><p>‘opposite-way’ tag questions, and the third type, ‘same-way’ tag</p><p>questions.</p><p>The ‘opposite-way’ tag questions are quite common in</p><p>speech. The ‘same-way’ tags are less common than the ‘opposite-</p><p>way’ tags, but they too occur frequently.</p><p>Opposite-way tag questions</p><p>If the statement (to which a tag question is tagged on) is positive,</p><p>the tag question is usually negative. We’ll call tag questions of</p><p>this type ‘negative opposite-way’ tag questions. If the statement</p><p>(to which it’s tagged on) is negative, the tag question is always</p><p>positive. We’ll call tag questions of this type ‘affirmative opposite-</p><p>way’ tag questions.</p><p>Here are some more examples:</p><p>‘Negative opposite-way’</p><p>(+ve statement) + (–ve tag):</p><p>• It is very warm today, isn’t it? • He was satisfied,</p><p>wasn’t he? • They were planning another meeting,</p><p>weren’t they? • you have given up smoking, haven’t</p><p>you? • The last bus has gone, hasn’t it? • you can swim,</p><p>can’t you? • He will be here for a few more days, won’t</p><p>he? • They come here everyday, don’t they? • She likes</p><p>him, doesn’t she? • you told him about it, didn’t you? •</p><p>I would be a fool to reject that offer, wouldn’t I? • They</p><p>must come, mustn’t they?</p><p>60 TAG QuESTIONS</p><p>‘Affirmative opposite-way’</p><p>(–ve statement) + (+ve tag):</p><p>• It wasn’t his fault, was it? • He couldn’t get the car to</p><p>start, could he? • We can’t do it, can we? • They don’t</p><p>need it, do they? • you don’t feel very well, do you? • you</p><p>are not serious, are you? • I am not stopping you, am</p><p>I? • you aren’t ready to start, are you? • The candidates</p><p>mustn’t be over 20 years of age, must they?</p><p>Note: A negative statement need not always have the word not in it.</p><p>Instead, it can have other negative words like never, no, nobody etc.</p><p>So if you use question tags after negative statements containing these</p><p>negative words, they must be ‘affirmative opposite-way’ question tags.</p><p>Here are some examples:</p><p>• He’s never been so angry, has he? • They have no</p><p>objections, do they? • Nobody showed any interest, did</p><p>they?</p><p>Same-way tag questions</p><p>For all practical purposes, all same-way tags are ‘affirmative</p><p>same-way’ ones. Tag questions of this type have the following</p><p>structure:</p><p>(+ve statement) + (+ve tag).</p><p>Tag questions of this type are often used by addressees as</p><p>a reaction signal. As reaction signals, addressees use such a tag</p><p>question not to ask for information, but to show that they’re paying</p><p>attention, and that they’ve just learnt or realized something from</p><p>what the speaker has said, and to express interest in it or to show</p><p>surprise at it or to show concern — or even to express sarcasm.</p><p>And so the statement part in these tag questions typically starts</p><p>with ‘So’ or ‘Oh’. Remember this: Tag questions of this type are not</p><p>used if the speaker already knows what is said in the statement</p><p>part. Here are some examples:</p><p>• Oh, you’re busy, are you? • Oh, you’ve just come in,</p><p>have you? • Oh, it’s yours, is it? • Oh, it’s only 5, is it? •</p><p>61TAG QuESTIONS</p><p>So, that’s what you’re planning to do, is it? • So you only</p><p>think about yourself, do you? • So you’re a very important</p><p>person, are you?</p><p>Sometimes, they’re used to contradict the speaker in a</p><p>sarcastic way:</p><p>• So that’s your car, is it? • So you’re a doctor, are you?</p><p>They’re also used when the speaker has just this moment</p><p>found out something. For example, they’re used to scold someone</p><p>when you’ve found out something:</p><p>So you’ve broken the pen, have you?</p><p>Occasionally, a tag question of this type is used not as a</p><p>reaction signal, but as an enquiry, checking whether a guess is</p><p>correct. In this use, the statements in these tag questions don’t</p><p>start with ‘So’ or ‘Oh’.</p><p>• you’re an artist, are you? • She has been promoted, has</p><p>she? • He is thinking of resigning, is he?</p><p>Special cases</p><p>There are a few special cases you must pay close attention to:</p><p>‘There’ as the Subject</p><p>Sometimes the statement part contains the word ‘There’ as the</p><p>Subject element. Then the tag question also uses the word ‘there’</p><p>as the item that follows the operator.</p><p>E.g. • There’s nothing wrong, is there? • There’s something wrong,</p><p>isn’t there? • There were a large</p><p>number of people at the meeting,</p><p>weren’t there? • There was nobody in his house, was there?</p><p>Compound pronouns</p><p>Sometimes the statement part contains one of the following</p><p>compound pronouns as the Subject element:</p><p>62 TAG QuESTIONS</p><p>Anybody/Anyone, Everybody/Everyone, Nobody/No one,</p><p>Somebody/Someone.</p><p>Then the tag question uses they as pronoun that follows the</p><p>operator.</p><p>E.g. • Anybody can see that, can’t they? • Everyone is in favour of the</p><p>new plan, aren’t they? • Nobody objected, did they? • Somebody</p><p>asked you about it, didn’t they?</p><p>Sometimes the statement part contains the word ‘Nothing’</p><p>as the Subject element. Then the tag question uses it as pronoun</p><p>that follows the operator.</p><p>E.g. • Nothing ever happens in this place, does it? • Nothing came</p><p>out of the discussion, did it?</p><p>Directives</p><p>Normally, tag questions follow statements (= the declarative</p><p>structure). But occasionally, some tag questions also follow</p><p>directives (= the imperative structure). That is, not all tag</p><p>questions, but some. The tag questions that can follow directives</p><p>are:</p><p>will you?, won’t you?, would you?, can you?, can’t you?,</p><p>could you?</p><p>In general, tags are used after directives to tell or ask people</p><p>to do something in an informal way.</p><p>When you offer something to somebody or invite them to do</p><p>something, you can use either will you? or won’t you? (In these</p><p>situations, won’t you? is more common in British English).</p><p>E.g. Have another cake, will you?/won’t you?</p><p>Do come in, will you?/won’t you?</p><p>In positive directives used as warnings, reminders and good</p><p>wishes, you should use won’t you? as the tag question.</p><p>E.g. • Be careful, won’t you? • Make sure you don’t drop it, won’t</p><p>you? • you’ll remember about the doctor’s appointment, won’t</p><p>you? • Remember to post the letter, won’t you? • Have a good</p><p>63TAG QuESTIONS</p><p>time, won’t you? • Have a good trip, won’t you?</p><p>In negative directives used as warnings, reminders and good</p><p>wishes, you should use will you? as the tag question.</p><p>E.g. Don’t touch the wires, will you? • Don’t move, will you? •</p><p>Don’t forget about booking the ticket, will you? • Don’t forget to</p><p>write to him, will you? • Don’t forget to give my regards to your</p><p>parents, will you?</p><p>you can use one of the affirmative tags will you?, would you?,</p><p>can you? or could you? after other types of positive directives.</p><p>E.g. • Try again, will you? • Switch the light off, would you? •</p><p>Tighten that screw a little more, can you? • Ask him to come in,</p><p>could you?</p><p>But after a negative directive, you should only use will you?</p><p>(and not any of the other tags).</p><p>E.g. Don’t leave it there, will you?</p><p>If you want to add greater feeling to an affirmative directive,</p><p>you can use one of the two negative tags won’t you? or can’t</p><p>you?</p><p>E.g. • Give me a hand, won’t you? • Keep quiet, can’t you?</p><p>Can’t you? (after a directive) often expresses annoyance.</p><p>Tags with “Let’s...”</p><p>After a directive starting with “let’s...”, use shall we? as the</p><p>tag question. Directive starting with “let’s...” are used to make</p><p>suggestions.</p><p>E.g. let’s go home, shall we?</p><p>Non-auxiliary ‘have’</p><p>The word have can occur in the statement part either as an</p><p>auxiliary or as a main verb (= non-auxiliary). As I’ve already told</p><p>you earlier in this Book, when have occurs as a main verb, it can</p><p>either express an action or a state. So it’ll help you a lot if you’re</p><p>clear in your mind about the following 3 uses of have:</p><p>64 TAG QuESTIONS</p><p>1) When have occurs as an auxiliary, it functions like any</p><p>other auxiliary, and the tag question contains have itself</p><p>as the operator.</p><p>E.g. • He has already completed the report, hasn’t he? • They have</p><p>been here since 1970, haven’t they? • She hasn’t left, has she?</p><p>2) When have occurs as a non-auxiliary action verb, it</p><p>functions like any other verb (come, go, say, take etc.)</p><p>— and then it can even occur in the continuous. Here, if</p><p>the statement part contains an auxiliary, the tag question</p><p>repeats it (irrespective of what auxiliary it is). And if</p><p>the statement part doesn’t contain an auxiliary, the tag</p><p>question uses the dummy operator do.</p><p>E.g. • He has lunch at 12 noon every day, doesn’t he? • They have</p><p>tea together in the evening on most days, don’t they? • He had an</p><p>operation last week, didn’t he? • She didn’t have breakfast today,</p><p>did she? • you were having dinner then, weren’t you? • She was</p><p>having a swim in the sea then, wasn’t she? • We must have a talk</p><p>with him, mustn’t we?</p><p>3) When have occurs as a non-auxiliary state verb (=</p><p>possession and possession-like meanings), it can occur</p><p>in the simple tense, but never in the continuous. And in</p><p>a simple tense statement, the statement part wouldn’t</p><p>contain an auxiliary that can function as the operator.</p><p>And so the tag question uses the dummy word do, and</p><p>not have, as the operator. This is the standard usage in</p><p>uS English, and this has now become the common usage</p><p>in British English. Alternatively, in informal speech, you</p><p>can use have got (= ’ve got) instead of have alone. This</p><p>usage is more common in British English than in uS</p><p>English. Remember that if you use have got instead of</p><p>have alone, have acts as an auxiliary and the operator in</p><p>the question tag would be have itself, and not do. (But in</p><p>formal British English, the operator can be have as well,</p><p>but this usage has become far less frequent than it used</p><p>to be).</p><p>65TAG QuESTIONS</p><p>E.g. • She has a car, doesn’t she? (Or: She’s got a car, hasn’t she?</p><p>— Instead of: “She has a car, hasn’t she?”). • She has long hair,</p><p>doesn’t she? (Or: She’s got long hair, hasn’t she? — Instead of:</p><p>“She has long hair, hasn’t she?). • He has a bad cold, doesn’t</p><p>he? (Or: He’s got a bad cold, hasn’t he? — Instead of: “He has</p><p>a bad cold, hasn’t he?”). • They have a lot of influence, don’t</p><p>they? (Or: They’ve got a lot of influence, haven’t they? — Instead</p><p>of: “They have a lot of influence, haven’t they?”). • We have no</p><p>option, do we? (Or: We’ve got no option, have we? — Instead</p><p>of: “We have no option, have we?”). • He had a lot of work to do,</p><p>didn’t he? (Instead of: “He had a lot of work to do, hadn’t he?”</p><p>— and instead of: “He’d got a lot of work to do, hadn’t he?”. See</p><p>Note below about avoiding had got).</p><p>• He doesn’t have any change, does he? (Or: He hasn’t got any</p><p>change, has he? — Instead of: “He hasn’t any change, has he?”).</p><p>• They haven’t any children, do they? (Or: They haven’t got any</p><p>children, have they? — Instead of: “They haven’t any children,</p><p>have they?”). • They don’t have any regrets at all, do they? (Or:</p><p>They haven’t got any regrets at all, have they? — Instead of:</p><p>“They haven’t any regrets at all, have they?”). • They don’t have</p><p>any time to wait, do they? (Or: They haven’t got any time to wait,</p><p>have they? — Instead of: “They haven’t any time to wait, have</p><p>they?”). • you didn’t have any idea about it, did you? (Instead of:</p><p>“you hadn’t any idea about it, had you?” — and instead of: “you</p><p>hadn’t got any idea about it, had you?”. See Note below about</p><p>avoiding hadn’t got).</p><p>Note: While have got and haven’t got are quite common, had got (= the</p><p>past tense form of have got) and hadn’t got (= the past tense form of</p><p>have got) are not. Mind you, had got and hadn’t got do not occur in</p><p>uS English, and are rare even in British English. So avoid them. use</p><p>the do-forms instead.</p><p>Three important points to remember</p><p>Here are 3 important points you should remember:</p><p>Shorten “not” to “n’t”</p><p>In normal speech and writing, the word ‘not’ is not used in tag</p><p>questions, except in one case. This exception is ‘am I not’. In all</p><p>66 TAG QuESTIONS</p><p>other cases, the shortened form of ‘not’ is used, along with a</p><p>pronoun. For example, native speakers of English wouldn’t ask</p><p>“do not I?” or “do I not?” — they would only ask: “don’t I?”. In</p><p>the same way, they wouldn’t ask: “will not you?” or “will you</p><p>not?” — they would only ask: “won’t you?”.</p><p>The word not occurs in the full form only in very formal</p><p>written English and in old-fashioned English. In those types of</p><p>English, not occurs after</p><p>the pronoun: do I not?, will you not?, is</p><p>he not? etc.</p><p>Of course, “am I not?” is an exception. It occurs occasionally</p><p>in native English speech as the negative tag question following</p><p>a positive statement beginning ‘I am...’. But the most frequently</p><p>used tag question after a positive statement beginning ‘I am...’ is</p><p>“aren’t I?”. It’s NOT: “amn’t I?”. NEVER say: “amn’t I?”. NEVER. Say</p><p>“aren’t I?”. Here are a few examples of the negative tag question</p><p>containing am:</p><p>• I’m late, aren’t I? • I’m too lazy, aren’t I? • I’m your</p><p>friend, aren’t I?</p><p>Get out of the “isn’t it?/is it? trap”</p><p>English is different from most non-English languages in the way</p><p>tag questions are made. Of course, in non-English languages also,</p><p>there are ‘tag-questions’. But in many non-English languages,</p><p>there are only two tag questions. They are “isn’t it”? and “is it?”.</p><p>Indian-language-speakers use the words “isn’t it?” or “is it?”</p><p>everywhere. This is a common feature of the languages in India</p><p>(and of several other non-English languages). So, do you know</p><p>what happens? Most non-native speakers of English wrongly</p><p>think that, in English also, there are only two tag questions.</p><p>And they use “isn’t it?” and “is it?” everywhere when they speak</p><p>English — even where the tag question should not be “isn’t it?”</p><p>or “is it?”.</p><p>For example, you can hear people asking like this. “you are</p><p>playing, isn’t it?” or “Rahman has been playing all this time, isn’t</p><p>67TAG QuESTIONS</p><p>it?”. Be careful about this mistake. Don’t make this kind of a</p><p>mistake. In English, there are several kinds of tag questions —</p><p>and we have seen them. The operator in a tag question in English</p><p>varies with that in the statement part. So you should only ask in</p><p>this way: “you are playing, aren’t you?” or “Rahman has been</p><p>playing all this time, hasn’t he?”.</p><p>use “isn’t it?” as a tag question only when the statement part</p><p>has is as the operator, and in no other situation. And use “is it?”</p><p>as a tag question only when the statement part has isn’t as the</p><p>operator, and in no other situation.</p><p>Don’t use ‘yes?’/‘no?’ as tag questions</p><p>There’s a kind of non-standard usage you should avoid. This is</p><p>the use of yes?/no? as tag questions. Here are some examples:</p><p>• your ankle is broken, yes? • She was crying, no?</p><p>Avoid using yes?/no? as tag questions at all costs. use an</p><p>appropriate opposite-way tag instead, as follows:</p><p>• your ankle is broken, isn’t it? • She was crying, wasn’t</p><p>she?</p><p>In informal uS English, speakers often use right? and OK?</p><p>as tag questions, in order to indicate that they expect agreement.</p><p>Here are some examples:</p><p>• They live near the station, right? • you had your car</p><p>serviced, right? • We’re leaving tomorrow, OK? • We can go</p><p>right or left, OK?</p><p>But in general, even these two tags are considered non-</p><p>standard. So it’s better to avoid them, too. use an appropriate</p><p>opposite-way tag instead.</p><p>* * *</p><p>68 TAG QuESTIONS FOR PRACTICE</p><p>CHAPTER 8</p><p>Tag questions for practice</p><p>Here’s a collection of questions with question tags attached to</p><p>them.</p><p>Read each question AlOuD several times — and get the feel</p><p>of the tags. The questions would sound easy to you. But just</p><p>because they are easy, don’t slacken your practice. The aim is</p><p>NOT to teach you the questions themselves. The aim is to let you</p><p>get the feel of the tags and their patterns, and to push you into</p><p>the habit of using tag questions in everyday speech. So go over</p><p>the questions as many times as possible. Here we go:</p><p>• Buses are not running today + are they? • They’re not</p><p>the same + are they? • you’re not buying that one + are</p><p>you? • you’re not eating that + are you? • you’re not really</p><p>leaving + are you? • you’re not very good at it + are you?</p><p>• I am the next +aren’t I? • I’m controlling it + aren’t I? •</p><p>Everyone is well at home + aren’t they? • These shoes are</p><p>my size + aren’t they? • The grapes are fine and ripe +</p><p>aren’t they? • Blue and green are primary colours + aren’t</p><p>they? • Only a few are going + aren’t they? • They are +</p><p>aren’t they? • They are beautiful places + aren’t they? •</p><p>you are going to play tennis + aren’t you? • you are uneasy</p><p>about the quarrel + aren’t you? • you’re due in at ten +</p><p>aren’t you? • you’re from Tokyo+ aren’t you?</p><p>• I can put trust in him + can’t I? • I can do it any way I</p><p>want + can’t I? • I can ring you back a little later + can’t</p><p>I? • They can catch the train, if they go fast + can’t they?</p><p>• you can wait a little longer + can’t you? • you can play</p><p>+ can’t you Nadia? • you can come on Friday + can’t you?</p><p>• you can manage Fridays + can’t you? • you can play</p><p>on Saturday + can’t you? • She couldn’t manage with</p><p>69TAG QuESTIONS FOR PRACTICE</p><p>what she had + could she? • you could see it at a glance</p><p>+ couldn’t you? • you could run faster if you wanted +</p><p>couldn’t you?</p><p>• John didn’t have any breakfast this morning + did he?</p><p>• He didn’t get many right + did he? • She didn’t help</p><p>you with your work + did she? • They didn’t answer your</p><p>questions + did they? • you didn’t know I was an artist +</p><p>did you? • you didn’t know that + did you? • He sat down</p><p>opposite you + didn’t he? • He wanted to throw a scare</p><p>into me + didn’t he? • He wanted to clear up this matter +</p><p>didn’t he? • He did his best to ruin your life + didn’t he? •</p><p>He took his friend home yesterday + didn’t he? • He came</p><p>back just a short time ago + didn’t he? • He gave it to you</p><p>+ didn’t he? • He played for Korea + didn’t he? • The</p><p>fire broke out late at night + didn’t it? • Her car knocked</p><p>a man down + didn’t it? • The fish tasted bad + didn’t</p><p>it? • The train left the station early + didn’t it? • The box</p><p>fell heavily + didn’t it? • The story amused everybody +</p><p>didn’t it? • It became stronger + didn’t it? • She left the</p><p>light on in her room + didn’t she? • She fell off the bicycle</p><p>+ didn’t she? • She waved to you from the bus + didn’t</p><p>she? • She overslept a little this morning + didn’t she? •</p><p>All these things happened long ago + didn’t they? • This</p><p>time everybody clapped harder than before + didn’t they?</p><p>• They went to the football match yesterday + didn’t they?</p><p>• you got to the college late+ didn’t you? • you went there</p><p>on foot + didn’t you? • you lay awake all night + didn’t</p><p>you? • you dropped the pen on the floor + didn’t you? •</p><p>you pulled him by the collar + didn’t you? • you felt dizzy</p><p>after the accident + didn’t you? • you broke the window</p><p>+ didn’t you? • I don’t need a jacket + do I? • I have no</p><p>choice in the matter + do I? • Nobody cares for the law</p><p>nowadays + do they? • Her gray hairs don’t show too</p><p>much + do they? • you don’t eat much meat at home + do</p><p>you? • you don’t suppose it matters + do you? • you don’t</p><p>70 TAG QuESTIONS FOR PRACTICE</p><p>care for it much + do you? • you don’t mind + do you? •</p><p>He doesn’t wear glasses + does he? • He doesn’t take sugar</p><p>in tea + does he? • He doesn’t speak French + does he? •</p><p>He doesn’t want it + does he? • That clown has no sense +</p><p>does he? • This shirt doesn’t look well on me + does it? •</p><p>The car doesn’t start + does it? • It doesn’t work + does it?</p><p>• That hardly counts + does it? • She doesn’t interest you</p><p>in the slightest + does she? • He needs a haircut + doesn’t</p><p>he? • He sleeps too little + doesn’t he? • This jacket goes</p><p>well with this skirt + doesn’t it? • That shirt looks really</p><p>stunning on him + doesn’t it? • This fan looks all right +</p><p>doesn’t it? • This one seems to be just as good as the other</p><p>one + doesn’t it? • This shirt fits you better + doesn’t it?</p><p>• It looks like rain today + doesn’t it? • The school starts</p><p>next week + doesn’t it? • She knows how to drive a car +</p><p>doesn’t she? • She looks very tired + doesn’t she? • She</p><p>usually has curd for lunch + doesn’t she? • Everybody</p><p>wants to make money + don’t they? • Oranges cost less</p><p>than apples + don’t they? • They live near the college +</p><p>don’t they? • We have to get a chair made + don’t we? •</p><p>you want to change this hundred-rupee note + don’t you?</p><p>• you know how to ride a bicycle + don’t you? • you know</p><p>how to ride a scooter + don’t</p><p>you? • you often wonder if I</p><p>am happy + don’t you? • you doubt if I can do the job well</p><p>+ don’t you? • you like your pants a little loose + don’t</p><p>you? • you do believe me + don’t you? • you do know</p><p>the way + don’t you? • you do still need it + don’t you? •</p><p>you like Nadia + don’t you ? • you like staying with your</p><p>cousins + don’t you? • you like Natasha a lot + don’t you?</p><p>• you had on a white shirt and blue pants + didn’t you? •</p><p>you had to work long hours everyday + didn’t you?</p><p>• He has gone off to some place far away + hasn’t he? •</p><p>your son has grown up + hasn’t he? • He has taken off his</p><p>shoes + hasn’t he? • He has done very well in the test +</p><p>hasn’t he? • The postman has delivered mail + hasn’t he? •</p><p>71TAG QuESTIONS FOR PRACTICE</p><p>The milk has gone sour + hasn’t it? • The war has come to</p><p>an end + hasn’t it? • There has been a strike in the factory</p><p>+ hasn’t there? • Father and mother have not come so far</p><p>+ have they? • you haven’t told him + have you ? • you’ve</p><p>never been to Agra + have you? • I have been in the class</p><p>room since the bell rang + haven’t I? • I have made out</p><p>the receipt correctly + haven’t I? • Somebody has to file</p><p>a complaint+ haven’t they? • We have to discuss a few</p><p>preliminaries + haven’t we? • you’ve had lunch + haven’t</p><p>you? • you have got enough for yourself + haven’t you?</p><p>• you have talked with her long enough + haven’t you?</p><p>• you’ve got more than three + haven’t you? • you have</p><p>made up your mind to marry her + haven’t you? • Nobody</p><p>had bothered to plant new ones + had they?</p><p>• He isn’t kind to her + is he? • This battered old car isn’t</p><p>yours + is it? • This chair isn’t comfortable to sit in + is</p><p>it? • Her house is not far to walk + is it? • It’s not very</p><p>difficult + is it? • There is nothing further I’ve to do +</p><p>is there? • There isn’t a drop of water left + is there? •</p><p>There’s nobody in + is there? • Their father is still living +</p><p>isn’t he? • He is quite a good player + isn’t he? • He is very</p><p>selfish + isn’t he? • He is putting off doing that work+ isn’t</p><p>he? • He’s a communist + isn’t he? • He’s nice + isn’t he?</p><p>• It is time for bed+ isn’t it? • That is the man you told me</p><p>about + isn’t it? • That’s enough + isn’t it? • The tea is too</p><p>hot to drink + isn’t it? • your name is Kamala + isn’t it?</p><p>• your father’s name is Gopal Rao + isn’t it? • your motor</p><p>bike is in good condition + isn’t it? • The box is too heavy</p><p>to lift + isn’t it? • your house is across the road + isn’t it?</p><p>• This report is badly written + isn’t it? • your house is</p><p>right by the park + isn’t it? • It’s a good plan + isn’t it? •</p><p>It’s difficult + isn’t it? • It’s good + isn’t it? • It’s Mohan</p><p>Kumar + isn’t it? • It’s rather difficult + isn’t it? • This is</p><p>the bag you asked for + isn’t it? • This room’s freezing +</p><p>isn’t it? • It is quite warm + isn’t it? • She is always very</p><p>72 TAG QuESTIONS FOR PRACTICE</p><p>unlucky + isn’t she? • She is the image of her mother +</p><p>isn’t she? • Mum is preparing the food + isn’t she? • She is</p><p>afraid of the dark + isn’t she? • She’s a pleasant girl + isn’t</p><p>she? • There is a shorter way here + isn’t there? • There</p><p>is plenty of time + isn’t there? • There’s a great deal of</p><p>difference + isn’t there?</p><p>• We mustn’t hurt others + must we? • Children must</p><p>do as they are told + mustn’t they? • We must water the</p><p>plants well + mustn’t we? • We must go now + mustn’t</p><p>we?</p><p>• let’s go out to dinner + shall we? • let’s give them a</p><p>treat + shall we?</p><p>• I should think carefully before I act + shouldn’t I? • I</p><p>should take the train from the junction + shouldn’t I? • She</p><p>should have told us before + shouldn’t she? • He was not</p><p>used to washing his own clothes + was he? • He was not</p><p>used to getting up early + was he? • There wasn’t enough</p><p>food left for you + was there? • He was working all night</p><p>+ wasn’t he? • He was sitting in his room all by himself +</p><p>wasn’t he? • He was too scared to look at you + wasn’t he?</p><p>• The story he told was a strange one + wasn’t it? • The</p><p>wind was blowing hard + wasn’t it? • It was rather odd +</p><p>wasn’t it? • lovely evening + wasn’t it? • The party was</p><p>fun + wasn’t it? • She was working far into the night +</p><p>wasn’t she? • There was quite a crowd at the gate + wasn’t</p><p>there? • There was quite a crowd at the stadium + wasn’t</p><p>there? • It was my mistake + wasn’t it? • you weren’t there</p><p>+ were you? • They were surprised when they saw you +</p><p>weren’t they? • you were holding the things tight + weren’t</p><p>you? • A good deal of the time you were alone + weren’t</p><p>you?</p><p>• There won’t be any discounts + will there? • They won’t</p><p>treat this complaint lightly + will they? • Call your dog +</p><p>will you? • Help me put it right + will you? • lend me fifty</p><p>73TAG QuESTIONS FOR PRACTICE</p><p>rupees + will you? • lend me your pen + will you? • you</p><p>won’t give me away + will you? • you won’t tell a soul +</p><p>will you, Nadia? • you won’t tell anyone + will you? • you</p><p>won’t tell him + will you? • you won’t tell anyone else all</p><p>this + will you? • He will be free in a minute + won’t he?</p><p>• He will tell you the result + won’t he? • Jim’ll help +</p><p>won’t he ? • It’ll hurt + won’t it? • There will be a flower-</p><p>show here next week + won’t there? • your friends will be</p><p>coming to the station + won’t they? • you will get back a</p><p>little after five + won’t you? • Wait for me + won’t you?</p><p>• you will come next week + won’t you? • you will come</p><p>with me + won’t you? • you will come + won’t you? • you</p><p>will go + won’t you? • you will meet me + won’t you? •</p><p>you will play + won’t you? • you will stay a bit longer +</p><p>won’t you? • you will stay + won’t you? • you’ll be going</p><p>there soon + won’t you? • you will stay in touch + won’t</p><p>you? • Cousin would stay here a month + wouldn’t he? •</p><p>He would be at home + wouldn’t he? • you’d love to live in</p><p>a fine new house + wouldn’t you?</p><p>Invariant tag questions</p><p>There are some tag questions that do not have the normal tag</p><p>question structure “operator + n’t + pronoun” or “operator +</p><p>pronoun”. Here are the common ones among these exceptional</p><p>types of tag questions:</p><p>am I right?, can’t you see?, do you agree?, don’t you agree?,</p><p>don’t you know?, do you remember?, (did) you say?, do</p><p>you suppose?, do you think?, don’t you think?, isn’t that</p><p>so?, right? (informal), wouldn’t you say?</p><p>These tag questions are called invariant tag questions,</p><p>because their form does not vary whether the statement (to</p><p>which they’re appended) is positive or negative. Here are some</p><p>examples showing these invariant tag questions in use:</p><p>• They really insulted you, am I right? • They’re only</p><p>74 TAG QuESTIONS FOR PRACTICE</p><p>interested in themselves, can’t you see? • They don’t get</p><p>the help they need from the government, do you agree? •</p><p>This is too good an opportunity to miss, don’t you agree?</p><p>• Schemes like these are not going to succeed, don’t you</p><p>know? • you once offered to contribute to this charity, do</p><p>you remember? • He doesn’t show much gratitude, did you</p><p>say? • This dress looks nice, do you think? • She has the</p><p>prettiest dress, don’t you think? • He’s being promoted,</p><p>isn’t that so? • It was all rather amusing, wouldn’t you say?</p><p>Here’s an important point you should note: you can attach</p><p>invariant tag questions not only to statements, but also to</p><p>exclamations.</p><p>• What a brilliant idea, don’t you think? • How wonderful,</p><p>don’t you agree? • Isn’t that splendid, wouldn’t you say?</p><p>And here’s another important point: Positive invariant tag</p><p>questions do you suppose? and do you think? can occur even at</p><p>the ends of interrogative structures.</p><p>• Is he trying to fool us, do you suppose? • When are they</p><p>going to call off the strike, do you think?</p><p>The interrogative sounds ‘eh?’ and ‘huh?’ are also invariant</p><p>tag questions, but they’re considered rude, and so you should</p><p>avoid them.</p><p>* * *</p><p>75RHyTHM DRIll WITH QuESTIONS</p><p>CHAPTER 9</p><p>Rhythm Drill with Questions</p><p>Here’s a collection of everyday yes-no questions and everyday</p><p>wh-questions. These questions are for you to do the rhythm drill</p><p>with. yes, the rhythm drill.</p><p>Do the</p><p>rhythm drill exactly as you’ve done it before.</p><p>The drill you’re going to do now is very important. For one</p><p>thing, it would give you excellent practice in asking everyday</p><p>questions with the characteristic English rhythm. For another,</p><p>it would help you try and master the patterns of everyday</p><p>questions from an interesting angle. So take up this drill with all</p><p>seriousness.</p><p>Here we go:</p><p>Be-questions</p><p>• |Are you |feeling O|K? • |Are you |following me? •</p><p>|Are you |fond of him? • |Are you |free |later to|day?</p><p>• |Are you |free |Saturday |evening? • |Are you |free</p><p>|Saturday |night? • |Are you |going for a par|ticular</p><p>|look? • |Are you |going my |way? • |Are you |going to</p><p>|Anne’s |twenty |first? • |Are you |going to |eat it |here?</p><p>• |Are you |going by |car? • |Are you |happy (|now)?</p><p>• |Is the |plane on |time? • |Is the |radio too |loud? •</p><p>|Is the |railroad |station in this di|rection? • |Is the |train</p><p>on |time? • |Is there a |charge for gift |wrapping? • |Is</p><p>there a |dining-car? • |Is there a |discount for ad|vance</p><p>|purchase? • |Is there a |doctor |here? • |Is there a</p><p>|drugstore |nearby? • |Is there a |final for this |course? •</p><p>|Is there a |history of dia|betes in your |family?</p><p>• |Was your |car |new or second |hand? • |Wasn’t |Rao</p><p>any |help? • |Were the |locals |friendly? • |Were the</p><p>76 RHyTHM DRIll WITH QuESTIONS</p><p>|natives |friendly? • |Were there any |problems?</p><p>Do-questions</p><p>• |D’you |need any |marmalade? • |D’you |need any</p><p>|napkins? • |D’you |need |anything? • |D’you |need</p><p>|anything |else (to|day)? • |D’you |need |anything to</p><p>|go with |that? • |D’you |need |help with |that? • |D’you</p><p>|need it at |once? • |D’you |need my in|surance |card?</p><p>• |D’you |offer |bank fi|nancing? • |D’you |offer |short-</p><p>term |loans? • |D’you |play |tennis? • |D’you pre|fer</p><p>|green or |blue? • |D’you pro|vide |long-term |loans?</p><p>• |D’you |really |know the |way? • |D’you re|member</p><p>|how much this |cost? • |D’you re|member that |party? •</p><p>|D’you re|member which |box |this was |in?</p><p>• |Do you |have an ad|dress? • |Do you |have any</p><p>|allergies? • |Do you |have any |coupons? • |Do you</p><p>|have any |envelopes I could |buy? • |Do you |have</p><p>any fi|nancing |plans? • |Do you |have any |homework</p><p>to|night? • |Do you |have any I|D (= identifi|cation)?</p><p>• |Do I |make my|self |perfectly |clear? • |Do I |need</p><p>|stitches? • |Do I |need |surgery? • |Do I |need to |bring</p><p>|anything? • |Do I |pay you or the |cashier? • |Do my</p><p>|eyes de|ceive me? • |Do you |have a |shirt to |match</p><p>|this?</p><p>• |Does that |come with a |salad? • |Does that |have a</p><p>|shower? • |Does that in|clude u|tilities? • |Does that</p><p>|make any |sense? • |Does the |building |have a se|curity</p><p>|system? • |Does the |building |have an at|tendant? •</p><p>|Does the con|ductor an|nounce the |stops? • |Does the</p><p>ex|pressway |go by |there?</p><p>• |Did you |hear what |happened? • |Did you |know</p><p>you were |going |eighty |kilometres per |hour? • |Did</p><p>you |leave a |light on? • |Did you |like her |father? •</p><p>|Did you |like it? • |Did you |like the |people in |Spain?</p><p>77RHyTHM DRIll WITH QuESTIONS</p><p>• |Did you |lock the |back |door? • |Did you |make a</p><p>reser|vation?</p><p>Have-questions</p><p>• |Have you |had this be|fore? • |Have you |had this</p><p>|problem be|fore? • |Have you |had this |problem |long?</p><p>• |Have you |heard? • |Have you |heard about |Nikhil?</p><p>• |Have you |heard the |latest? • |Have you |lost your</p><p>|marbles? • |Have you |lost your |mind? • |Have you</p><p>|lost your |senses? • |Have you |met?</p><p>Can-questions</p><p>• |Can I ex|change |these for a|nother |night? • |Can</p><p>I |fax my |order to you? • |Can I |finish |reading the</p><p>|paper? • |Can I |get this |refilled? • |Can I |get it |gift-</p><p>wrapped? • |Can I |get on to the |next |flight? • |Can I</p><p>|get this pre|scription |filled? • |Can I |get you a |glass</p><p>of |water? • |Can I |get you |anything? • |Can I |see the</p><p>|place |now? • |Can I |see your |driver’s |licence? • |Can</p><p>I |see your |licence? • |Can I |sell you a |ticket? • |Can</p><p>I |show you |something? • |Can I |stay a |bit |longer?</p><p>• |Can I |still |get into your |course? • |Can I |take a</p><p>|couple? • |Can I |take a |look at your |paper? • |Can I</p><p>|take it for a |road |test?</p><p>• |Could I |see your |menu? • |Could I |sit |here? •</p><p>|Could I |speak with the |manager, |please? • |Could I</p><p>|take a |message? • |Could I |talk to you |sometime?</p><p>• |Could she |come, d’you |think? • |Could she |help</p><p>|breaking it? • |Could they |help it, d’you |think? •</p><p>|Could we |borrow a |ladder? • |Could we |have some</p><p>|water, |please? • |Could you |tell me what |time it is? •</p><p>|Could you |call at the |post office? • |Could you |clean</p><p>up a |little, too? • |Could you |dial it for me, |please? •</p><p>|Could you ex|plain that a|gain?</p><p>78 RHyTHM DRIll WITH QuESTIONS</p><p>May-questions</p><p>• |May I |have some more |pie? • |May I |have the |ZIP</p><p>code for |New york? • |May I |have your |name and</p><p>ad|dress? • |May I |have your |name, |please? • |May I</p><p>|have your |seat (when you |leave)? • |May I |have your</p><p>|PIN code? • |May I |help my|self? • |May I |help you?</p><p>• |May I |hold him? • |May I |hold it for a |minute? •</p><p>|May I |join you? • |May I just |finish my |letter? • |May</p><p>I |please |leave the |table? • |May I |see some I|D (=</p><p>identification)?</p><p>Must-questions</p><p>• |Must you con|tinue to |do that? • |Must you |dwell on</p><p>the sub|ject? • |Must you |harp on the |same |string? •</p><p>|Must you |keep |harping on |that?</p><p>Shall-questions</p><p>• |Shall I |mention it to |Andrew? • |Shall I |pass them to</p><p>|Reddy? • |Shall I |press the |starter? • |Shall I |send it to</p><p>you or to |Julia? • |Shall I |shave your |outline? • |Shall</p><p>I |treat the |lawn for |weeds? • |Shall we |be in |time? •</p><p>|Shall we |call on at |Peter’s? • |Shall we |dance? • |Shall</p><p>we |give him a |couple? • |Shall we |go |now?</p><p>Should-questions</p><p>• |Should I |take this with |meals? • |Should I |trim the</p><p>|bushes this |time? • |Shouldn’t you |be at |work? •</p><p>|Shouldn’t you |be in |school?</p><p>Will-questions</p><p>• |Will that be |cash or |charge? • |Will that be |cash or</p><p>|credit? • |Will they |hold my co|nnecting |flight? • |Will</p><p>this be for |here or to |go? • |Will this com|partment |do?</p><p>79RHyTHM DRIll WITH QuESTIONS</p><p>• |Will this |make me |drowsy? • |Will you |ask him? •</p><p>|Will you be |able to |fetch them? • |Will you be |calling</p><p>a|gain? • |Will you be |coming a|round this |evening? •</p><p>|Will you be |having |lunch to|day? • |Will you be |long,</p><p>|dear? • |Will you be |ready by |six? • |Will you be |using</p><p>a |credit |card? • |Will you both |see him to|morrow? •</p><p>|Will you |call at the |chemist’s for me?</p><p>• |Won’t your wife be |rather |cross?</p><p>• |Would you |like a |smoking or a non|smoking |room? •</p><p>|Would you |like a |taste? • |Would you |like an |orange?</p><p>• |Would you |like |anything |else? • |Would you |like</p><p>|anything with your |bread and |butter? • |Would you</p><p>|like |coffee? • |Would you |like |fries with |that? •</p><p>|Would you |like |smoking or non|smoking? • |Would you</p><p>|like me to |bring |anything?</p><p>What-questions</p><p>• |What d’you |want |now, |lucille? • |What |days</p><p>would you |like to |travel? • |What did he |say a|bout</p><p>it? • |What did |Frieda |say? • |What did you just |say?</p><p>• |What did you |people |think of those |plans? • |What</p><p>did you |say? • |What did you |say the ad|dress |was?</p><p>• |What did you |say, |Andrew? • |What did you |think</p><p>of it? • |What did you |think of the |house? • |What did</p><p>you |think of the |lecture? • |What did you |think of the</p><p>|show? • |What did her |father |die of? • |What did his</p><p>|mother |die of? • |What did your |parents |think ? •</p><p>|What do I |owe you? • |What do you ex|pect |me to |do</p><p>a|bout it? • |What do you |have in |season? • |What do</p><p>you |have |planned? • |What do you |have to |drink? •</p><p>|What do you |know? • |What do you |mean? • |What</p><p>do you |mean by |that? • |What do you |need? • |What</p><p>do you |say? • |What do you |think of my |new |dress?</p><p>• |What do you |want to |see? • |What do you |want to</p><p>80 RHyTHM DRIll WITH QuESTIONS</p><p>|watch? • |What do you |want us to |know for the |test?</p><p>• |What does this |word |mean? • |What does a |robot</p><p>|look like? • |What does he |do for a |living? • |What</p><p>does it |cost? • |What does that |come with?</p><p>When-questions</p><p>• |When is the |final (e|xam)? • |When is the mid|term?</p><p>• |When is the |next |issue |out? • |When may he |have</p><p>them? • |When ought we to |leave? • |When shall I</p><p>|come? • |When shall I |cut the |grass? • |When shall</p><p>I |leave? • |When shall I |meet you? • |When shall we</p><p>|send it? • |When was the |last |time you |had a |tetanus</p><p>|shot? • |When will it be |finished? • |When will it be</p><p>|ready? • |When will she be |out of |hospital? • |When</p><p>will |supper be |ready? • |When will |that be |ready? •</p><p>|When will the |school be |ready? • |When will they |get</p><p>|back?</p><p>Where-questions</p><p>• |Where does it |hurt? • |Where does |Angela |live? •</p><p>|Where does she |come |from? • |Where has he been |all</p><p>this |time? • |Where have they |got to? • |Where have</p><p>you |been? • |Where have you been |keeping your|self?</p><p>• |Where is a |bathroom? • |Where is a |toilet? • |Where</p><p>is it? • |Where is |ladies-wear? • |Where is the |chocolate</p><p>|milk? • |Where is the |automatic |teller ma|chine? •</p><p>|Where is the |bathroom (, |please)? • |Where is the</p><p>|credit de|partment? • |Where is the |fiction?</p><p>Which-questions</p><p>• |Which |route would you ad|vise? • |Which is my</p><p>|place? • |Which is the |nearest |tube |station? • |Which</p><p>is the |quickest |way? • |Which is |William’s |book?</p><p>• |Which |month would you pre|fer? • |Which of you</p><p>81RHyTHM DRIll WITH QuESTIONS</p><p>|broke my |pipe? • |Which one can I |have? • |Which one</p><p>can I |take? • |Which one shall I |buy?</p><p>Who-questions</p><p>• |Who shall I |say is |calling? • |Who |told the |boss</p><p>I was |late? • |Who was the |top of the |class? • |Who</p><p>were you |talking to? • |Who will be in |charge? • |Who</p><p>would have |thought? • |Who’d |help? • |Who’d |know</p><p>a|bout such a |thing? • |Who’ll |give me a |lift? • |Who’ll</p><p>|help, d’you |think? • |Who’ll vo|lunteer? • |Who’s</p><p>|William |law? • |Who’s been |eating my |grapes? •</p><p>|Who’s |buying? • |Who’s |calling? • |Who’s |coming</p><p>this |Friday? • |Who’s |going to |bath the |baby? (British</p><p>English). • |Who’s |going to |bathe the |baby? (uS</p><p>English).</p><p>Why-questions</p><p>• |Why don’t you |buy |one? • |Why don’t you |go? •</p><p>|Why don’t you |go to |bed? • |Why don’t you |like it? •</p><p>|Why don’t you |rub the |lotion into your |skin? • |Why</p><p>don’t you |stop and |ask for di|rections? • |Why don’t you</p><p>|take |off your |coat and |make your|self |comfortable? •</p><p>|Why don’t you |write to the |Director? • |Why |ever did</p><p>you |lose your |temper? • |Why |ever didn’t you |write to</p><p>me? • |Why |ever |give him |that? • |Why |ever |go by</p><p>the |boat?</p><p>How-questions</p><p>• |How do I |get to the |railway |station? (British</p><p>English). • |How do I |get to the |train |station? (uS</p><p>English). • |How do |things |look? • |How do we |get</p><p>there? • |How do you ex|pect to |find |anything in this</p><p>|mess? • |How do you |format discs? • |How do you</p><p>|get to the |other |side of the |river? • |How do you |get</p><p>82 RHyTHM DRIll WITH QuESTIONS</p><p>|there from |here? • |How do you |like |school? • |How</p><p>do you |spell |that? • |How do you |want to |pay for</p><p>|this? • |How does that |look? • |How does your |wife</p><p>|find it? • |How |dumb do you |think I |am? • |How</p><p>|early did you |get there? • |How |far are we from the</p><p>|centre of |town? • |How |far a |way is it? • |How |far</p><p>do you de|liver? • |How |far does this |bus |go? • |How</p><p>|far from the |bus station is your |house? • |How |far is</p><p>it to |Delhi? • |How |far |out can we |swim? • |How |far</p><p>to |Pune? • |How |long can you |wait? • |How |long</p><p>d’you |want me to |stay? • |How |long do you |plan on</p><p>|staying? • |How |long does the |show |run? • |How</p><p>|long have you |had this |problem? • |How |long is |this</p><p>on |sale? • |How |long were you |out of the |country? •</p><p>|How |long will it |be? • |How |long will it |take to |get</p><p>to |london? • |How |long will it |take to |get to |town?</p><p>• |How |long will it |take (to |get there)? • |How |long</p><p>will you be |here? • |How |long will you be |staying?</p><p>• |How |long will you be |with us? • |How |goes it? •</p><p>|How have you |been? • |How is |everything? • |How is</p><p>my |daughter |doing in |class? • |How is that |spelled? •</p><p>|How |large a down |payment is re|quired? • |How |late</p><p>are you |open (to|day)? • |How |late will you be |out?</p><p>• |How |long can I |have it |for? • |How |long can you</p><p>|stay?</p><p>* * *</p><p>83NOMINAl ExPRESSIONS FOR ADVANCED FluENCy</p><p>CHAPTER 10</p><p>Nominal expressions</p><p>for advanced fluency</p><p>I’ve stressed one point again and again in several of the books in</p><p>this series: you may have a good command of single words. But</p><p>that is not sufficient for you to achieve a high degree of fluency.</p><p>What you need is a good command of word groups – yes, groups</p><p>of words – and not merely of single words.</p><p>Keep this in mind: you need this command (of word groups)</p><p>not only for great fluency in producing structures other than</p><p>questions, but also for great fluency in producing questions of</p><p>all types.</p><p>Now, there’s an important category of word groups you</p><p>should do oral practice with. These word groups are nominal</p><p>expressions, that is, naming word groups. you need them to refer,</p><p>without faltering, to many of the things, ideas and situations that</p><p>your speech covers, especially your content-intensive speech.</p><p>yes, especially content-intensive speech. And out of all types of</p><p>nominal expressions, the most frequent ones are the of-nominals</p><p>— that is, nominal expressions in which the preposition of is a</p><p>key grammatical word. We’ve already covered them in detail in</p><p>Book 5 in this series.</p><p>As for the rest of the important types of nominal expressions,</p><p>I’m now going to cover them in this chapter. These remaining</p><p>types of nominal expressions are those in which the words in, on,</p><p>to, for and and are the key grammatical words. let’s call them</p><p>the in-nominals, on-nominals, to-nominals, for-nominals and</p><p>and-nominals.</p><p>I’m now going to give you an exhaustive collection of these</p><p>in-nominals, on-nominals, to-nominals, for-nominals and and-</p><p>nominals.</p><p>84 NOMINAl ExPRESSIONS FOR ADVANCED FluENCy</p><p>Go through each of the categories of word groups given</p><p>below. Pick up each word group. Say it AlOuD several times.</p><p>Complete going through all the word groups in this way. Get your</p><p>organs of speech to become familiar with them all. Here we go:</p><p>in-nominals</p><p>Here’s a collection of nominal expressions in which the word in</p><p>is the key grammatical word:</p><p>Group 1</p><p>a bend in the river; a blessing in disguise; a breach in security;</p><p>a break in the cloud(s); a breakdown in communication(s); a</p><p>breakdown in law and order; a breakdown in negotiations; a</p><p>breakdown in relations; a case in point; a change in circumstances;</p><p>a change in mortality; a change in ownership; a change in</p><p>status; a change in strategy; a change in structure; a change in</p><p>temperature; a change in the composition of sth; a change in</p><p>the weather; a change in/of attitude; a change in/of fortune;</p><p>a change in/of level; a change in/of practice; a change in/of</p><p>routine; a chill in the air; a clause in a constitution; a clause in a</p><p>lease; a cog in the machine; a collapse in demand; a contradiction</p><p>in terms; a cut in expenditure; a cut in funding; a cut in price;</p><p>a cut in production; a cut in salary; a cut in spending; a cut in</p><p>subsidies; a cut in wages; a cutback in supplies.</p><p>a damsel in distress; a decline in exports; a decline in</p><p>importance; a decline in morale; a decline in morals; a decline in</p><p>mortality; a decline in numbers; a decline in popularity; a decline</p><p>in powers; a decline in productivity; a decline in profitability; a</p><p>decline in profits; a decline in sales; a decline in size; a decline</p><p>in tourism; a decline in turnout; a decline in turnover; a decrease</p><p>in number; a decrease in size; a decrease in the incidence of</p><p>sth; a decrease in value; a diet high/rich in sth; a difference in</p><p>degree/kind; a dig in the ribs; a downturn in tourism; a drop</p><p>85NOMINAl ExPRESSIONS FOR ADVANCED FluENCy</p><p>in interest rates; a drop in consumption; a drop</p><p>in income; a</p><p>drop in inflation; a drop in numbers; a drop in output; a drop in</p><p>popularity; a drop in population; a drop in price; a drop in profit;</p><p>a drop in the success rate; a drop in salary; a drop in sales; a drop</p><p>in temperature; a drop in the standard (of sth); a drop in tourism;</p><p>a drop in unemployment; a drop in value; a fall in exports; a fall</p><p>in imports; a fall in inflation; a fall in output; a fall in price; a</p><p>fall in production; a fall in profitability; a fall in profits; a fall in</p><p>crime rate; a fall in sales; a fall in supply; a fall in temperature;</p><p>a fall in the standard (of sth); a fall in the standard of living;</p><p>a fall in turnout; a fall in turnover; a fall in unemployment;</p><p>a fall in value; a fall in wages; a flaw in character; a flaw in</p><p>nature; a flaw in system; a flaw in the argument; a flaw in your</p><p>reasoning; a frown in your eyes; a gain in productivity; a gap in</p><p>conversation; a gap in the floorboards; a gap in the market; a</p><p>gap in your knowledge; a glance in sb/sth’s direction; a gleam in</p><p>sb’s eye(s); a glint in sb’s eye; a growth in earnings; a growth in</p><p>numbers; a growth in output; a growth in productivity; a growth</p><p>in sales; a growth in wages; a growth in/of the economy; a jump</p><p>in price; a jump in sales; a keen interest in sth; a kick in the</p><p>face; a kick in the jaw/teeth; a knife in sb’s heart; a landmark in</p><p>the history of sth; a lapse in concentration; a lead in the polls;</p><p>a legend in your own lifetime; a link in the chain; a look in sb’s</p><p>eyes; a loophole in a law; a loophole in an Act; a loophole in</p><p>legislation; a loophole in rules; a lull in the conversation; a lull</p><p>in the fighting; a lump in your throat; a majority in Parliament; a</p><p>man in your life; a marked change in sb/sth; a marked difference</p><p>in sb/sth; a marked improvement in sb/sth; a marked increase in</p><p>sth; a mission in life; a move in the right direction; a niche in the</p><p>market; a nod in sb/sth’s directions.</p><p>Group 2</p><p>a pain in your guts; a part in shaping sth; a participant in a</p><p>workshop; a partner in a firm; a pause in conversation; a phase</p><p>in/of (your) life; a piece in a jigsaw; a piece in the puzzle; a</p><p>86 NOMINAl ExPRESSIONS FOR ADVANCED FluENCy</p><p>place in history; a point in time; a reduction in cost; a reduction</p><p>in expenditure; a reduction in fares; a reduction in manpower;</p><p>a reduction in numbers; a reduction in price; a reduction in</p><p>productivity; a reduction in rate; a reduction in real terms;</p><p>a reduction in risk; a reduction in spending; a reduction in</p><p>subsidies; a reduction in tariff(s); a reduction in the amount of</p><p>sth; a reduction in the number of sth; a reduction in the size of</p><p>sth; a reduction in the standard of living; a reduction in value; a</p><p>rift in a party; a rise in consumption; a rise in demand; a rise in</p><p>expenditure; a rise in exports; a rise in fares; a rise in imports; a</p><p>rise in income; a rise in inflation; a rise in mortgage rates; a rise</p><p>in numbers; a rise in output; a rise in popularity; a rise in price;</p><p>a rise in production; a rise in profits; a rise in salary; a rise in</p><p>sales; a rise in spending; a rise in stature; a rise in temperature;</p><p>a rise in the standard (of sth); a rise in the standard of living; a</p><p>rise in tourism; a rise in turnover; a rise in unemployment; a rise</p><p>in value; a rise in wages; a role in shaping sth.</p><p>a seat in Parliament; a shift in attitude; a shift in policy; a shift</p><p>in public opinion; a shift in sb’s thinking; a shortfall in supply; a</p><p>slap in the face; a slump in production; a slump in sales; a slump</p><p>in the economy; a slump in trade; a sneer in your voice; a soul in</p><p>torment; a sparkle in your eyes; a specialist in the field; a spring</p><p>in your step; a stage in the development of sth; a stage in the</p><p>process; a stage in/of (your) life; a star in the making; a stay</p><p>in hospital; a steep decline in sth; a step in the (right/wrong)</p><p>direction; a stranger in these parts; a strike in protest at sth; a</p><p>surge in crime; a surge in popularity; a surge in rate; a surge in</p><p>sales; a switch in a policy; a turning-point in history; a turning-</p><p>point in life; a turning-point in sb’s illness; a twinkle in sb’s eye;</p><p>a twist in the plot; a variation in temperature; a woman in your</p><p>life; a word in sb’s ear; advances in technology; an argument in</p><p>sb/sth’s favour; an entry in a diary; an entry in a notebook; an</p><p>entry in a register; an entry in an encyclopedia; an expert in the</p><p>field of sth; an improvement in productivity; an improvement in</p><p>relations; an increase in the annual dividend; an increase in cost;</p><p>87NOMINAl ExPRESSIONS FOR ADVANCED FluENCy</p><p>an increase in crime; an increase in expenditure; an increase in</p><p>exports; an increase in fares; an increase in funding; an increase</p><p>in inflation; an increase in mortality; an increase in numbers;</p><p>an increase in output; an increase in popularity; an increase in</p><p>population; an increase in price; an increase in production; an</p><p>increase in productivity; an increase in profitability; an increase</p><p>in profits; an increase in risk; an increase in salary; an increase in</p><p>sales; an increase in spending; an increase in supply; an increase</p><p>in temperature; an increase in the incidence of sth; an increase</p><p>in the standard (of sth); an increase in tourism; an increase in</p><p>trade; an increase in turnout; an increase in turnover; an increase</p><p>in unemployment; an increase in value; an increase in wages.</p><p>an obstacle in the path/way (of sb/sth); an upsurge in crime;</p><p>an upsurge in demand; an upsurge in popularity; an upsurge</p><p>in violence; an upturn in demand; an upturn in economy; an</p><p>upturn in sales; big name in advertising/films etc.; boom in</p><p>demand; boom in popularity; boom in price; boom in sales;</p><p>breakthrough in negotiations; butterflies in your stomach; cash</p><p>in advance; cash in hand; changes in fashion; compensation</p><p>in money; confirmation in writing; cuts in spending; defects</p><p>in nature; defects in the system; difference in age; drop in the</p><p>unemployment figures; everything in sb/sth’s path; evidence in</p><p>favour of sth; evidence in support of sth; faith in God; first thing</p><p>in the morning; improvement in condition; improvement in</p><p>health; improvement in the standard of living; lapse in security;</p><p>obstacles in sb/sth’s path; our man in Delhi etc.; payment in</p><p>advance; payment in cash; payment in kind; provision in a lease;</p><p>recognition in sb’s eyes; researchers in the field; shortcomings</p><p>in/of the system; sticking-point in negotiations; surprises in</p><p>store; taste in music; tears in your eyes; temperatures in the</p><p>30s etc.; tenderness in sb’s eyes; tenderness in sb’s voice; sb’s</p><p>term in office; the beast in sb; the easiest thing in the world; the</p><p>expression in sb’s eyes; the first in a series; the first in line; the</p><p>growth in/of tourism; the last in a series; the matter in hand;</p><p>the odds are in favour of sb/sth; the odds are in sb’s favour; the</p><p>88 NOMINAl ExPRESSIONS FOR ADVANCED FluENCy</p><p>person in charge; the rise in nationalism; the second in a series;</p><p>the street in the left/right; the task in hand; your place/rank in</p><p>society; your purpose in life.</p><p>on-nominals</p><p>Here’s a collection of nominal expressions in which the word on</p><p>is the key grammatical word:</p><p>a ban on demonstration; a ban on exports; a ban on imports;</p><p>a ban on smoking; a ban on the use of sth; a blast on a whistle;</p><p>a blot on the character; a blot on the landscape; a chain on the</p><p>door; a cloud on the horizon; a consensus on policy; a crackdown</p><p>on crime; a curb on prices; the expression on sb’s face; a frown</p><p>on your face; a heaven on earth; a kiss on the cheek; a knock on</p><p>the door; a look on sb’s face; a loss on an investment; a night</p><p>(out) on the town; a paradise on earth; a pat on the back; a pat</p><p>on the shoulder; a place on your shelves; a point on the agenda;</p><p>a profit on an investment; a return on an investment; a return</p><p>on (your) capital; a rung on the ladder; a seat on the council;</p><p>a seat on the board; a slap on the back; a step on the ladder; a</p><p>step on the road/way to sth; a variation on a theme;</p><p>an advance</p><p>on royalties; an agreement on policy; an attempt on sb’s life; an</p><p>entry on a register; an intrusion on (sb’s) privacy; an item on the</p><p>agenda/menu.</p><p>sb’s outlook on life; sb’s arrival on the scene; cash on delivery;</p><p>cheese on toast; discrimination on the grounds of caste etc.;</p><p>freeze on spending; intrusion on privacy; resignation on (the)</p><p>grounds of sth; shortcomings on sb’s part; the fault on sb’s part;</p><p>the last thing on sb’s mind; the last word on sth; the next road on</p><p>the left/right; the second road on the left/right.</p><p>to-nominals</p><p>Here’s a collection of nominal expressions in which the word to</p><p>(used as a preposition and as the infinitive marker) is the key</p><p>89NOMINAl ExPRESSIONS FOR ADVANCED FluENCy</p><p>grammatical word:</p><p>Group 1</p><p>a barrier to success; a battle to save sth; a benefit to mankind;</p><p>a bid to escape; a bid to host sth; a bid to regain sth; a bid to</p><p>save sth; a bite to eat; a bitter pill to swallow; a blow to self-</p><p>confidence; a boost to self-confidence; a boost to the economy; a</p><p>boost to the morale; a call to arms; a campaign to promote sth;</p><p>a campaign to save sth; a capacity to respond; a celebration to</p><p>mark sth; a challenge to sb/sth’s integrity; a challenge to sb/sth’s</p><p>supremacy; a challenge to sb’s leadership; a chance to express</p><p>sth; a chance to prove sth; a chance to regain sth; a chance to</p><p>renew sth; a chance to show sth; a chance to win sth; a claim to</p><p>sovereignty; a claimant to the throne; a contract to supply sth; a</p><p>decision to ban sth; a desire to join the army; a desire to protect</p><p>sb/sth; a disaster waiting to happen; a duty to obey; a duty to</p><p>protect sb/sth; a duty to respect sth.</p><p>a failure to perceive sth; a failure to respond; a fight to the</p><p>death; a fight to the finish; a force to be reckoned with; a great</p><p>loss to sb; a heavy load to bear/carry; a horrible thing to say; a</p><p>joy to watch; a lot to do/see; a lot to eat; a means to an end; a</p><p>mouth to feed; a move to ban sth; a need to protect sb/sth; a</p><p>need to reform sth; a place to hide (sth); a place to live; a plot</p><p>to assassinate sb; a pointer to the future; a relaxed approach to</p><p>life; a remedy to a problem; a return to normality; a return to</p><p>profitability; a rise to prominence; a route to chaos; a scheme</p><p>to promote sth; a shock to the system; a short step from/to sth;</p><p>a shoulder to cry on; a sign of things to come; a small price to</p><p>pay (for sth); a solution to a crisis; a solution to a dilemma;</p><p>a solution to a problem; a solution to a puzzle; a source of</p><p>fascination to sb; a step on the road/way to sth; a strange thing</p><p>to say; a stumbling block to agreement; a stupid thing to say; a</p><p>taste of things to come; a tendency to treat sb/sth; a third to (a)</p><p>half; a threat to democracy; a threat to freedom/liberty; a threat</p><p>90 NOMINAl ExPRESSIONS FOR ADVANCED FluENCy</p><p>to sb/sth’s integrity; a threat to sb/sth’s supremacy; a threat</p><p>to the survival of sth; a train to catch; a turn to the left/right;</p><p>access to a community; access to data; access to funds; access</p><p>to information; access to resources; access to schooling; access</p><p>to the media; access to the records; access to your savings; all</p><p>approaches to the prison; an ability to respond (to sth); an action</p><p>to combat sth; an action to prevent sth; an aid to navigation; an</p><p>amendment to a constitution; an appeal to reason; an innovative</p><p>approach to teaching.</p><p>Group 2</p><p>an assistant to the General Manager; an attempt to assassinate</p><p>sb; an attempt to avert sth; an attempt to avoid sth; an attempt</p><p>to ban sth; an attempt to curb sth; an attempt to destroy sth; an</p><p>attempt to discover sth; an attempt to disguise sth; an attempt</p><p>to disrupt sth; an attempt to ensure sth; an attempt to establish</p><p>sth; an attempt to impress sb; an attempt to improve sth; an</p><p>attempt to intimidate sb; an attempt to overcome sth; an attempt</p><p>to persuade sb; an attempt to place sth; an attempt to preserve</p><p>sth; an attempt to prevent sth; an attempt to reconstruct sth; an</p><p>attempt to reduce sth; an attempt to regain sth; an attempt to</p><p>regulate sth; an attempt to relate sth; an attempt to reproduce</p><p>sth; an attempt to resolve sth; an attempt to restore sth; an</p><p>attempt to restrain sb; an attempt to restrict sth; an attempt to</p><p>revive sb/sth; an attempt to rewrite sth; an attempt to save sth;</p><p>an attempt to secure sth; an attempt to solve sth; an attempt to</p><p>strengthen sth; an attempt to suppress sth.</p><p>an irreverent attitude to life; an easy mistake to make; an</p><p>easy way to do sth; an effort to avert sth; an effort to avoid</p><p>sth; an effort to curb sth; an effort to establish sth; an effort to</p><p>impress sb; an effort to improve sth; an effort to persuade sb; an</p><p>effort to reduce sth; an effort to regain sth; an effort to resolve</p><p>sth; an effort to restore sth; an effort to restrain sb; an effort to</p><p>revive sb; an effort to revive sth; an effort to save sth; an effort</p><p>91NOMINAl ExPRESSIONS FOR ADVANCED FluENCy</p><p>to secure sth; an effort to strengthen sth; an end to the strife;</p><p>an end to violence; an exception to the norm/rule; an heir to an</p><p>estate; an incentive to improve sth; an insult to sb’s intelligence;</p><p>an invitation to join sb/sth; an obligation to obey; an obstacle to</p><p>peace; an opportunity to discover sth; an opportunity to discuss</p><p>sth; an opportunity to express sth; an opportunity to observe sb/</p><p>sth; an opportunity to regain sth; an opportunity to renew sth;</p><p>attempts to reform sth; attention to detail; conspiracy to commit</p><p>(a crime); conspiracy to murder sb; conspiracy to overthrow (a</p><p>government etc.); contrary to (all/sb’s) expectations; contrary</p><p>to popular belief; contrary to popular myth; dedication to duty;</p><p>delegates to a convention; determination to succeed/win;</p><p>devotion to a cause; devotion to duty; efforts to combat sth;</p><p>efforts to ensure sth; efforts to promote sth; efforts to reform</p><p>sth; everything from sth to sth; failure to observe sth; failure to</p><p>perform sth; failure to recognize sth; failure to respect sth; failure</p><p>to thrive; freedom to travel; leave to appeal; little regard to sb/</p><p>sth; measures to combat sth; measures to curb sth; measures to</p><p>ensure sth; measures to prevent sth; measures to promote sth;</p><p>measures to protect sb/sth; measures to reduce sth; measures to</p><p>restore sth; measures to restrict sth; measures to strengthen sth;</p><p>notice to quit; an important point to note; policies to combat sth;</p><p>proposals to reform sth; resistance to a disease; resistance to an</p><p>infection; room to manoeuvre; sources/a source close to sb.</p><p>the ability to adapt (to sth); the ability to manipulate sb/sth;</p><p>the ability to pay; the ability to pursue sth; the ability to relate</p><p>to sb/sth; the answer to (all) sb’s prayers; the approach to a</p><p>problem; the closest (thing) to sth; the days to come; the duty to</p><p>maintain sth; the entrance to a cave; the entrance to a harbour;</p><p>the first to arrive; the freedom to pursue sth; the freedom to</p><p>roam; the heir to the throne; the heir to a legacy; the heir to</p><p>the crown; the heir/heiress to a fortune; the key to a puzzle;</p><p>the key to success; the last to arrive; the need to maintain sth;</p><p>the power to nominate sb; the power to suspend sth; the power</p><p>to transform sb/sth; the power to veto sth; the right to life; the</p><p>92 NOMINAl ExPRESSIONS FOR ADVANCED FluENCy</p><p>right to live; the right to nominate sb; the right to privacy; the</p><p>right to roam; the right to silence; the right to strike; the right to</p><p>terminate sth; the right to veto sth; the road to democracy; the</p><p>road to ruin; the road to stardom; the run-up to an election; the</p><p>shape of things to come; the strength to resist sth; the succession</p><p>to the throne; the will to live/win, etc.</p><p>time to get up; time to go home; time to prepare (sth); time</p><p>to reflect.</p><p>for-nominals</p><p>Here’s a collection of nominal expressions in which the word for</p><p>is the key grammatical word:</p><p>a basis for comparison; a basis for discussion; a basis for</p><p>negotiation; a basis for settlement; a battle for supremacy; a</p><p>battle for survival; a bid for attention;</p><p>a bid for freedom; a bid</p><p>for leadership; a bid for power; a big demand for sth; a big hand</p><p>for sb; a call for sb’s resignation; a candidate for office; a capacity</p><p>for work; a cause for celebration; a cause for pride; a cause for</p><p>rejoicing; a cause for satisfaction; a cause for shame; a cause</p><p>for worry; a change for the better; a change for the worse; a</p><p>claim for damages; a claim for injury; a cry for help; a cure for a</p><p>disease; a demand for autonomy; a demand for energy; a desire</p><p>for fulfilment; a desire for revenge.</p><p>a fight for liberation; a fight for life; a fight for supremacy;</p><p>a fight for survival; a force for good; a forum for discussion; a</p><p>good advertisement for sth; a good bet for sth; a lust for life;</p><p>a matter for conjecture; a matter for negotiation; a matter for</p><p>pride; a matter for regret; a matter for speculation; a motive for</p><p>the killing; a need for continuity; a need for cooperation; a need</p><p>for coordination; a need for discretion; a need for flexibility; a</p><p>need for fulfilment; a need for integration; a need for vigilance; a</p><p>place for a rendezvous; a plea for help; a plea for leniency; a quest</p><p>for perfection; a recipe for disaster; a recipe for success; a request</p><p>93NOMINAl ExPRESSIONS FOR ADVANCED FluENCy</p><p>for help; a request for information; a reward for your efforts; a</p><p>safe bet for long-term growth; a scramble for power; a search</p><p>for identity; a search for knowledge; a search for perfection; a</p><p>sneaking admiration/respect for sb; a struggle for liberation;</p><p>a struggle for supremacy; a struggle for survival; a subject for</p><p>discussion; a target for abuse; a target for repression; a target</p><p>for ridicule; a thirst for knowledge; a thirst for power; a thirst</p><p>for vengeance; a timetable for reform; a topic for discussion; a</p><p>treatment for burns/asthma etc.; a treatment for depression etc.;</p><p>a vision for the future; a voracious appetite for sth; a warrant for</p><p>sb’s arrest; a witness for the defence/prosecution; a zest for life;</p><p>a zest for winning; an action for damages; an agent for change;</p><p>an appeal for calm/restraint; an appeal for help; an appeal for</p><p>unity; an application for (political) asylum; an application for</p><p>bail; an application for registration; an area for improvement; an</p><p>eye for detail; an ingredient for success; an occasion for rejoicing;</p><p>an outlet for your energy.</p><p>body blow to/for the ruling party; complete disregard for sth;</p><p>concern for the individual; counsel for the defence/prosecution;</p><p>food for thought; ground(s) for expulsion; grounds for complaint;</p><p>grounds for concern; grounds for disagreement; grounds for</p><p>dismissal; grounds for divorce; grounds for optimism; grounds</p><p>for satisfaction; grounds for settlement; grounds for suspicion;</p><p>little regard for sb/sth; nostalgia for the past; potential for</p><p>dispute; potential for expansion; preparation for parenthood;</p><p>reckless disregard for sth; respect for law; respect for the</p><p>individual; respect for the rules; respect for tradition; responsible</p><p>for the upkeep of a building etc.; room for disagreement; room</p><p>for expansion; room for improvement; room for manoeuvre;</p><p>room for misunderstanding; room for negotiation; room for</p><p>optimism; scope for creativity; scope for disagreement; scope for</p><p>dispute; scope for expansion; scope for improvement; scope for</p><p>innovation; scope for misunderstanding; security for a loan; space</p><p>for expansion; springboard for a career; support for a policy; the</p><p>(last) date for receipt of sth; the case for the prosecution/the</p><p>94 NOMINAl ExPRESSIONS FOR ADVANCED FluENCy</p><p>defence; the criteria for inclusion (in sth); the criteria for judging</p><p>sth; the demand for imports; the going rate for sth; the instinct</p><p>for survival; the lust for power; the need for caution; the need</p><p>for reform; the quest for (the) truth; the quest for knowledge; the</p><p>right person for the job; the search for (the) truth; the search for a</p><p>clue; the search for a cure; the struggle for existence; the struggle</p><p>for independence; time for bed; value for (your) money.</p><p>and-nominals</p><p>Here’s a collection of nominal expressions in which the word and</p><p>is the key grammatical word:</p><p>a ball and chain; a bow and arrow; a breakdown in law</p><p>and order; a brush and comb; a bucket and spade; a carrot</p><p>and stick; a cup and saucer; a dustpan and brush; a friend and</p><p>ally; a hammer and chisel; a hammer and nails; a horse and</p><p>carriage; a horse and cart; a jacket and tie; a knife and fork; a</p><p>map and compass; a mop and bucket; a pen and paper; a suit</p><p>and tie; aches and pains; advantages and disadvantages; age</p><p>and infirmity; aims and objectives; airs and graces; alarm and</p><p>despondency; arrivals and departures; art and design; arts and</p><p>crafts; arts and sciences; assault and battery; assets and liabilities;</p><p>bed and breakfast; behaviour and attitudes; blazer and tie; board</p><p>and lodging; body and soul; boom and bust; boom and slump;</p><p>boos and hisses; brandy and cigars; bread and butter; bread and</p><p>cheese; bread and jam; bread and margarine; bread and water;</p><p>bribery and corruption; bricks and mortar; brother and sister;</p><p>business and pleasure; care and attention; cause and effect;</p><p>cheese and biscuits; cheese and onion; chicken and chips; collar</p><p>and tie; comfort and convenience; crime and disorder; crime and</p><p>punishment; cuts and bruises.</p><p>dozens and dozens; dreams and aspirations; drink and</p><p>drugs; duties and responsibilities; each and every one; fact and</p><p>fiction; facts and figures; fame and fortune; family and friends;</p><p>fear and anxiety; fear and loathing; fear and trepidation; fish</p><p>95NOMINAl ExPRESSIONS FOR ADVANCED FluENCy</p><p>and chips; fixtures and fittings; flesh and blood; flesh and bone;</p><p>food and drink; food and water; food and wine; friends and</p><p>acquaintances; friends and family/family and friends; friends</p><p>and neighbours; friends and relations; gloom and despondency;</p><p>goods and services; greed and selfishness; guns and ammunition;</p><p>hammer and sickle; heart and soul; herbs and spices; hopes and</p><p>aspirations; hugs and kisses; husband and wife; hustle and bustle;</p><p>income and expenditure; input and output; landlord and tenant;</p><p>law and order; light and shade; likes and dislikes; lots and lots;</p><p>love and affection; love and compassion; love and romance;</p><p>marriages and deaths; mind and body; mum and dad; music and</p><p>song; myths and legends; name and address; names and faces;</p><p>nausea and vomiting; needle and thread; needs and aspirations;</p><p>needs and desires.</p><p>pain and suffering; painter and decorator; peace and quiet;</p><p>peace and tranquillity; pen and ink; pluses and minuses; pomp</p><p>and ceremony; pomp and circumstance; the poor and needy;</p><p>postage and packing; pots and pans; puffing and blowing; pushing</p><p>and shoving; rags and tatters; reading and writing; receipts and</p><p>payments; repair and maintenance; research and development;</p><p>rest and refreshment; rest and relaxation; reward and punishment;</p><p>right and wrong; rights and remedies; rights and responsibilities;</p><p>risks and benefits; risks and rewards; rows and rows (of sth);</p><p>rules and regulations; sales and marketing; salt and pepper;</p><p>science and technology; shampoo and conditioner; shampoo and</p><p>set; shapes and sizes; sheets and blankets; shirt and tie; soap</p><p>and water; stage and screen; strength and resilience; strengths</p><p>and weaknesses; stresses and strains; supply and demand; tact</p><p>and diplomacy; tact and sensitivity; taste and decency; tea and</p><p>biscuits; tea and cake(s); tea and coffee; tea and sandwiches; tea</p><p>and scones; tea and sympathy; terms and conditions; the bride</p><p>and bridegroom; the bride and groom; the dead and dying; the</p><p>dead and injured; the decline and fall of sth; the highs and lows;</p><p>the length and breadth of sth; the peaks and troughs; the pros</p><p>and cons [of (doing) sth]; the rich and famous; the rights and</p><p>96 NOMINAl ExPRESSIONS FOR ADVANCED FluENCy</p><p>wrongs (of sth); the rise and fall (of sth); the rough and tumble of</p><p>politics; the sick and wounded; the sights and sounds; theory and</p><p>practice; thunder and lightning; time and space;</p><p>in English, you need to be good at</p><p>asking questions in fluent English.</p><p>Suppose you want some information from someone or</p><p>somewhere. What alone will help you get the information you</p><p>want? Only your skill in putting questions. Isn’t that so? Nothing</p><p>else. If you ask someone about something, they’ll give you some</p><p>kind of a reply. That may not be the kind of information you</p><p>want. Or that may only be part of what you want. you’d then</p><p>want extra information or the right information, or clarifications</p><p>or explanations. Which means that you have to put questions —</p><p>more questions, the right kind of questions.</p><p>Or suppose that you want to ask somebody for something, or</p><p>to offer something to somebody, or to make a polite suggestion.</p><p>Or suppose that you want to buy something from somewhere. Do</p><p>you think you’ll be able to do these things effectively in English if</p><p>12 HOW TO MAKE QuESTIONS</p><p>you aren’t fluent in asking questions in English?</p><p>Mind you, most non-native speakers of English are</p><p>handicapped in one way: In schools and colleges, they never had</p><p>much opportunity of learning to make ‘questions’. They only had</p><p>the opportunity of learning to make ‘answers’. And of course,</p><p>generally speaking, the answers could not be in the form of</p><p>questions. The answers had to be in the form of statements.</p><p>Many non-native speakers of English started facing the</p><p>problem of having to make questions only when they left school</p><p>or college. They came face to face with this problem only when</p><p>they found themselves having to SPEAK in English — in real-life</p><p>situations.</p><p>Difficulty in framing questions</p><p>Most educated people are able to produce questions correctly</p><p>in writing. True. But when they have to produce questions in</p><p>speech, they falter and fail.</p><p>Sometimes, they end up asking such un-English questions</p><p>as “What you’re doing?” (instead of “What are you doing?”),</p><p>“Where you’ve put it?” (instead of “Where have you put it?”),</p><p>“Why she’s standing there?” (instead of “Why is she standing</p><p>there?”), “When you came?” (instead of “When did you come?”),</p><p>“How she is managing?” (instead of “How is she managing?”),</p><p>“Whether he is coming?” (instead of “Is he coming?”), “Whether</p><p>you will do it?” (instead of “Will you do it?”), “Whether he can</p><p>come?” (instead of “Can he come?”) etc.</p><p>At other times, they end up muttering nonsense. Or they</p><p>become nervous and embarrassed and keep mum — or they fall</p><p>back on their mother tongue.</p><p>Even very highly-educated people can be heard to make</p><p>these sorts of distortions. yes, they are distortions, because they</p><p>do not represent natural or genuine English. This is not the kind</p><p>of English that native speakers of English speak. It’s artificial</p><p>13HOW TO MAKE QuESTIONS</p><p>English.</p><p>Of course, you may already know all this. you may already</p><p>know that this is not the right way to frame questions. But the</p><p>problem is this: If the right question patterns are not firmly fixed</p><p>in your mind, you’re sure to slip up and utter questions with “un-</p><p>English” patterns.</p><p>So it’s now time for us to pay close attention to question</p><p>patterns.</p><p>you know, making questions is one of the most important</p><p>spoken English skills. One of the most difficult skills, too. Of</p><p>course, many people are likely to be thinking like this: “Oh!</p><p>That is quite easy. I can make any number of questions without</p><p>difficulty”. Perhaps you can. But the problem is not simply of</p><p>making questions. The problem is of making them while you’re</p><p>speaking — on your feet.</p><p>Mind you, you’ll never be able to learn “right” question</p><p>patterns from a list of “wrong” and “right” samples. The thing</p><p>to do is to get the “right” question patterns imprinted on your</p><p>mind — so they don’t fade away. They’ll then remain there, and</p><p>act as the framework for all the questions you utter. And soon,</p><p>it becomes second nature to you to use those patterns and to</p><p>produce the ‘right’ sort of questions.</p><p>Chief reason for the difficulty</p><p>Here’s the chief reason for the difficulty in asking questions in</p><p>the right way:</p><p>The way you should arrange your words when you utter a</p><p>question — that is different from the way in which you arrange</p><p>your words when you utter a statement. That is, when you’re</p><p>uttering a simple sentence (a single independent clause) in the</p><p>form of a statement, you order your words in one way. But when</p><p>you’re uttering a simple sentence (a single independent clause)</p><p>in the form of a question, you order your words in another way.</p><p>14 HOW TO MAKE QuESTIONS</p><p>For example, when you say, “John is a good boy”, you’re</p><p>uttering a statement, and not a question. (Grammatically</p><p>speaking, you’re using a declarative structure here). But when</p><p>you arrange the words in a different order and say “Is John a</p><p>good boy?”, you’re uttering a question. (Grammatically speaking,</p><p>you’re using an interrogative structure here). A basic difference</p><p>between a statement (declarative structure) and a question</p><p>(interrogative structure) is this: A statement normally starts with</p><p>a Subject element and is followed by a verb. But in questions, the</p><p>Subject element is pushed into another position. (We’ll soon look</p><p>at how this word-order reversal happens).</p><p>you see, simple sentences belong to four syntactic classes,</p><p>and each has a separate semantic function. Here are the names</p><p>of these syntactic classes (with the corresponding semantic class</p><p>name given within brackets):</p><p>• Declarative form (= Statements). • Interrogative form</p><p>(= Questions) • Exclamative form (= Exclamations) •</p><p>Imperative form (= Directives).</p><p>If you want to speak English fluently, the right order of</p><p>words must come easily and naturally — whether you’re uttering</p><p>a statement or a question or an exclamation or a directive. The</p><p>right word-order must come as second nature to you — almost</p><p>without thinking.</p><p>So the most important thing you should do now is to get</p><p>the patterns of questions in English fixed in your mind and to</p><p>get into the habit of uttering questions in those patterns. you</p><p>know, any advanced learner of your level can easily achieve these</p><p>goals through constant and thorough practice — constant and</p><p>thorough practice with a sufficiently large collection of everyday</p><p>questions.</p><p>And this sort of extensive practice is just what you’re going</p><p>to do. And you’re going to get large collections of everyday</p><p>questions that are sufficient for your purpose.</p><p>15HOW TO MAKE QuESTIONS</p><p>Question types</p><p>There are 3 major types of questions. They are:</p><p>• ‘yes-No’ questions. • Wh-word questions. • Alternative</p><p>questions.</p><p>Yes-No questions</p><p>‘yes-No’ questions are questions that expect ‘affirmation’ or</p><p>‘negation’ as a reply. The most common word that expresses</p><p>affirmation is ‘yes’, and the most common word that expresses</p><p>negation is ‘No’. That is why these questions are called ‘yes-No’</p><p>questions.</p><p>Here are a few examples of yes-no questions:</p><p>• Is he a nice person? • Isn’t she coming to the wedding? •</p><p>Are there any objections? • Aren’t you ready yet? • Doesn’t</p><p>she like coffee? • Did you paint it yourself? • Would you</p><p>like an orange? • Can I come too? • Hasn’t she been here</p><p>often? • Can’t we do something about it?</p><p>As you can see from these examples, a yes-no question starts</p><p>with an auxiliary verb. Here’s a complete list of the auxiliaries</p><p>that are normally used to make yes-no questions:</p><p>Primary auxiliaries:</p><p>be: am, is, are, was, were.</p><p>do: do, does, did.</p><p>have: have, has, had, have... been, has... been, had... been.</p><p>Modal auxiliaries:</p><p>can: can, could, is/was/are/were... able to, have/has/</p><p>had... been able to.</p><p>may: may, might.</p><p>must: must</p><p>16 HOW TO MAKE QuESTIONS</p><p>shall: shall, should.</p><p>will: will, would.</p><p>Note: The modal auxiliary “ought... to” and the semi-modal auxiliary</p><p>“dare” do not normally initiate questions, and so I have not included</p><p>them in this list.</p><p>Here are some examples of everyday yes-no questions</p><p>starting with the various auxiliaries:</p><p>• Am I late? • Am I right? • Are you sure? • Are you still</p><p>in that dingy little office? • Are you sure of the spelling? •</p><p>trial and error;</p><p>trials and tribulations; twists and turns; values and aspirations;</p><p>vim and vigour; wants and needs; wear and tear; weeping and</p><p>wailing; weights and measures; wit and wisdom; (your) hopes</p><p>and dreams; (your) hopes and expectations; (your) hopes and</p><p>fears; (your) likes and dislikes; (your) pride and joy.</p><p>* * *</p><p>97VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS - PART 1</p><p>CHAPTER 11</p><p>Verb-and-preposition clusters</p><p>- Part 1</p><p>Most people are not certain whether some of the verbs they use</p><p>should be followed by prepositions at all. And even when they</p><p>know that the answer is ‘yes’, they’re not certain what the right</p><p>prepositions are.</p><p>And this feeling of uncertainty makes them falter from time</p><p>to time as they speak.</p><p>Most people try to get over this problem by learning the</p><p>meanings of prepositions and how to use them in grammatically</p><p>correct ways. This method will, of course, help them learn the</p><p>grammar and usage of prepositions — and to do well in exams.</p><p>Also, this knowledge might help them, to some extent, when they</p><p>want to write something at their leisure — in their own good</p><p>time and when it suits them.</p><p>But it is one thing to write something at your leisure; it is quite</p><p>another to speak spontaneously. When you speak spontaneously,</p><p>your can’t compose your speech at your convenience, that is,</p><p>when you have time to and when you’re not under pressure of</p><p>time. you have to compose your speech and speak at the same</p><p>time. On the spot.</p><p>In the same way, answering questions (about prepositions)</p><p>in examinations is one thing, and speaking spontaneously is quite</p><p>another. The form and content of the things you have to write in a</p><p>test on prepositions are entirely different from those of the things</p><p>you need to say when you’re on your feet and speaking about</p><p>something in real time. And remember this: A speech-situation,</p><p>its pressures, demands, objectives, participants, etc. are entirely</p><p>different from those of an examination-situation.</p><p>98 VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS- PART 1</p><p>The point is this: The kind of knowledge and practice that</p><p>help you with your exams or with writing done at your leisure</p><p>won’t help you much with achieving fluency in speech.</p><p>What you need is the mastery of a skill : The skill of being</p><p>able to produce the verb+preposition combinations you need</p><p>easily and naturally as you speak. So here’s what you must</p><p>understand: This skill comes only from the experience of using</p><p>the verb+preposition combinations as single units. And here’s</p><p>the most important kind of practice that begins to give you this</p><p>experience: Do with the essential verb+preposition combinations</p><p>the same kind of oral practice as you’ve been doing with other</p><p>word combinations. When you have done this kind of oral practice</p><p>many times, the essential verb+preposition combinations you</p><p>need begin to occur to you as single units easily and naturally.</p><p>And remember this: This kind of experience alone will make</p><p>your organs of speech produce the verb+preposition combinations</p><p>without hesitation.</p><p>Here’s a list of prepositions that normally follow frequently-</p><p>used verbs:</p><p>about, above, according to, across, across from, after, against,</p><p>ahead of, among, apart from, around, as, at, before, behind,</p><p>beside, between, beyond, by, down, in favour of, for, from, in,</p><p>into, like, of, off, on, onto, out of, over, round, through, to,</p><p>towards, under, up, upon, with, within, without.</p><p>To speak English fluently, you must have a good mastery of the</p><p>combinations of frequently-needed verbs and these prepositions.</p><p>This chapter and the next will give you comprehensive preposition-</p><p>wise lists of these verb+preposition combinations.</p><p>This chapter covers these prepositions:</p><p>about, above, according to, across, across from, after, against,</p><p>ahead of, among, apart from, around/round, as, at, before,</p><p>behind, beside, between, beyond, by, down, in favour of, for,</p><p>from, in, into.</p><p>99VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS- PART 1</p><p>And the next chapter will cover these prepositions:</p><p>like, of, off, on, onto, out of, over, round/around, through, to,</p><p>towards, under, up, upon, with, within, without.</p><p>Now go through the lists of verb+preposition combinations</p><p>given below. Pick up each word combination and say it AlOuD</p><p>several times. Saying these word combinations as single units</p><p>becomes second nature to you after a while.</p><p>Here’s something you should note before you start your</p><p>practice: The word combinations given below contain the</p><p>abbreviations sb, sth and sw. Here are the words they stand for:</p><p>sb stands for somebody (usually, an individual, and sometimes,</p><p>a group or several people); sth stands for something (usually, a</p><p>single thing – an object, action, activity, event, situation, fact,</p><p>etc. – and sometimes, a group of things or people, like an</p><p>organization); sw stands for somewhere.</p><p>For example, “forget about sb/sth” must be said as “forget</p><p>about somebody/something”. The word somebody stands for</p><p>a person (him/her, etc.), and the word something stands for a</p><p>thing (like the meeting, the medicine, her birthday, etc. depending</p><p>on the context). Wherever you’re not sure what words or word</p><p>groups can take the place of somebody/something, consult your</p><p>dictionary (Dictionary meant for Advanced learners). In fact, the</p><p>oral practice you do with the word groups in the various books</p><p>in this Fluentzy series will be preparing your brain to supply you</p><p>with what to say in place of sb and sth (from context to context)</p><p>when you’re speaking in real time.</p><p>Here we go:</p><p>about</p><p>• advise (sb) about doing sth. • advise sb on/about sth. •</p><p>agree about sth. • agree with sb on/about sth. • approach sb</p><p>about sth. • argue about/over sth. • argue with sb about/over</p><p>sth. • ask sb (sth) about sth. • ask about sb/sth. • bother sb</p><p>about/with sth. • bother with/about sth. • care for/about sb.</p><p>100 VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS- PART 1</p><p>• complain to sb (about sth). • complain about sth. • concern</p><p>yourself with/about sth. • convince sb of/about sth. • dream of/</p><p>about sth. • feel happy/bad, etc. about sth. • fight about/over</p><p>sth. • forget about sb/sth. • go about sth. • hang about/around</p><p>sw. • hear about sb/sth. • inform sb about/of sth. • keep on</p><p>about sth. • know about sth. • know about/of sth. • laugh at/</p><p>about sth. • learn about sth. • lie to sb about sth. • press sb</p><p>about/on sth. • protest at/about/against sth. • question sb about</p><p>sth. • read about sth. • remind sb about/of sth. • row with sb</p><p>about/over sth. • say sth to sb about sth. • say sth about sb/sth.</p><p>• say sth on/about sth (= a topic). • see sb about sth. • set about</p><p>doing sth. • speak about/of sth. • speak to/with sb about sb/sth.</p><p>• talk about/on/of sth. • tell sb about sth. • tell sb sth about sth.</p><p>• think of/about sb/sth. • warn sb of/about sth. • wonder about</p><p>sb/sth. • worry about sb/sth.</p><p>above</p><p>• appear above sth. • come above sth. • fly above sth. • put</p><p>sth above/before sth. • rise above sth. • score above sth. • value</p><p>sth above sth.</p><p>according to</p><p>• create sth according to sth. • do sth according to sth. • fix</p><p>sth according to sth. • go according to sth (= plan/schedule). •</p><p>service sth according to sth. • vary with/according to sth.</p><p>across</p><p>• build sth across sth.• come across sb/sth. • cut across sw.</p><p>• fly across sth. • lie across sth. • run across sb. • run sth across/</p><p>down/through sth. • see sb across sth. • speed sb across/to/up</p><p>sth. • stare across sth. • spread across sth. • stop across sth. •</p><p>walk across sth.</p><p>across from</p><p>• sit across from sb. • stay sw across from sth. • stop across</p><p>from sth.</p><p>101VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS- PART 1</p><p>after</p><p>• arrive after sth. • ask after sb. • call after sb. • come after</p><p>sth. • lock up after you. • look after sb/sth. • name sb/sth after</p><p>sb. • run after sb/sth. • shout after sb. • stare after sb. • take</p><p>after sb. • tidy up after yourself.</p><p>against</p><p>• advise against doing sth. • advise sb against sth. • appeal</p><p>to sb against sth. • argue for/against sth. • argue for/against</p><p>doing sth. • balance sth</p><p>with/against sth. • bring sth against sb.</p><p>• campaign for/against sth. • come up against sth. • compete</p><p>against/with sb. • count against sb. • cover sb against sth. • cry</p><p>out against sth. • decide against sth. • decide for/against sb. •</p><p>defend sb from/against sb/sth. • defend sth from/against sb/sth.</p><p>• defend yourself from/against sb/sth. • defend sb/sth from/</p><p>against sth. • direct sth at/against sb. • fight against sth. • fight</p><p>with/against sb. • find against sb. • go against sb. • go against</p><p>sb/sth. • guard against sth. • guarantee sth against sth. • hold sth</p><p>against sb. • level sth at/against sb/sth. • match yourself against</p><p>sb. • measure sb/sth against sb/sth. • play against sb/sth. • play</p><p>sb/sth off against sb/sth. • press sth against sth. • produce sth</p><p>for/against sth. • protect sb/sth against/from sth. • protect (sb/</p><p>sth) against sth. • protest at/about/against sth. • rebel against</p><p>sth. • rule against sb/sth. • run up against sth. • secure sb/sth</p><p>against/from sth. • set sb against sb. • set sth against/beside sth.</p><p>• set sth against sth (= tax). • stand out against/for sth. • take</p><p>against sb/sth. • turn against sb. • vote against sb/sth. • warn sb</p><p>against doing sth.</p><p>ahead of</p><p>• announce sth ahead of sth. • do sth ahead of sb. • finish</p><p>ahead of sb. • go on ahead of sb. • happen ahead of sth. • have</p><p>sth ahead of you. • lie ahead of sth. • reach sw ahead of sb. • say</p><p>sth ahead of sth.</p><p>102 VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS- PART 1</p><p>among</p><p>• argue among ourselves/themselves. • count sb among</p><p>sth. • disappear among sb (= the crowd, etc.). • divide sth (up)</p><p>among/between sb. • distribute sth (out) among sb/sth. • find</p><p>sth among sth. • rummage among sth. • search among sth. •</p><p>share sth (out) among/between sb. • spread sth among sb. •</p><p>stroll among sth. • walk among sth.</p><p>apart from</p><p>• do sth apart from sth. • finish apart from sth. • have sth/</p><p>nothing apart from sth. • know no one apart from sb. • see</p><p>nobody apart from sb.</p><p>around</p><p>• centre around/round/on sth. • crowd around/round sb/</p><p>sth. • hang around/about sw. • show sb around/round sw. • sit</p><p>around sth. • wrap sth around/round sth.</p><p>as</p><p>• accept sb as sth. • accept sth as sth. • act as sth. • address</p><p>sb as sth. • adopt sb/sth as sth. • appoint sb (as) sth. • attack sth</p><p>as sth. • begin as sth. • cast sb as sth (in sth). • choose sb/sth as</p><p>sth. • come as sth. • consider sb/sth as sth. • continue as sth. •</p><p>count as sth. • count sb as sth. • count sth as sth (= be counted</p><p>as sth). • describe sb/sth as sth. • double as sb/sth. • elect sb as</p><p>sth. • employ sb/sth as sth. • establish sb/sth as sth. • establish</p><p>yourself as/in sth. • express sth as sth. • feature sb/sth as sth. •</p><p>figure as sth. • function as sth. • grow as sth. • guess sth as sth.</p><p>• have sb as sth. • identify sb/sth as sb/sth. • imagine sb/sth as</p><p>sth. • include sb/sth as sth. • intend sth as sth. • look on/upon</p><p>sb/sth as sth. • name sb/sth as sth. • pass for/as sb/sth. • pass</p><p>sth off as sth. • picture sb/sth as sth. • present sb/sth as sth. •</p><p>present yourself as sth. • project sb/sth as sth. • promote sth as</p><p>sth. • put sb down as sth. • qualify as sth. • qualify sth as sth. •</p><p>103VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS- PART 1</p><p>rate sb as sth. • read sth as sth. • receive sb as sth. • recognize</p><p>sb/sth as sth. • recommend sb/sth as sth. • refer to sb/sth as sth.</p><p>• regard sb/sth as sth. • replace sb as sth. • represent sb/sth as</p><p>sth. • resign as sb. • respect sb as sth. • reveal sth as sth. • see</p><p>sb as sth. • see sb/sth as sth. • serve as sth. • show sth as sth. •</p><p>sit as sth. • start (off) as sth. • strike sb as being sth. • succeed as</p><p>sth. • succeed sb as sth. • suggest sb/sth as sth. • survive as sth.</p><p>• train as/for sth. • treat sb like/as sth. • treat sth as sth. • use</p><p>sth as sth. • welcome sth as sth. • work as sth.</p><p>at</p><p>• aim at/for sth. • aim sth at sb/sth. • arrive at sth. • arrive</p><p>at/from sw. • book sb in at sth. • catch sb at it. • check in at sth</p><p>(= a hotel/airport). • direct sth at/against sb. • direct sth at/to/</p><p>towards sth. • drop sb at/in… (= sw). • estimate sth at sth. •</p><p>fire sth at sb. • fly at sb. • get at sb/sth. • guess at sth. • hit back</p><p>at sb. • jump at sth. • keep on at sb. • knock on/at sth. • laugh</p><p>at sb/sth. • laugh at/about sth. • level sth at/against sb/sth. •</p><p>look across at sb/sth.• look at sb/sth. • nod at sb/sth. • nod to/</p><p>at sb. • pick at sth (= food). • play at (doing/being) sth. • point</p><p>at/to sb/sth. • point sth at/towards sb/sth. • present yourself</p><p>at… (= sw). • protest at/about/against sth. • pull on/at sth. •</p><p>reckon sth at sth. • run at sth. • sell sth for/at sth. • shoot at sb/</p><p>sth. • shoot sth at sb. • shout at sb. • smile at sb/sth. • stand at</p><p>sth. • stare at sb/sth. • stick at sth. • stop at… (sw). • strike at</p><p>sb/sth. • tear at sth. • throw sth at sb/sth. • value sth at sth. •</p><p>wave to sb/at sb. • wave sth at sb. • wonder at sth. • work at…</p><p>(sw). • work on/at sth.</p><p>before</p><p>• appear before sb. • arrive before sb. • bring sb before sb/</p><p>sth. • do sth before sb. • go before sb. • have sth before you. •</p><p>kneel before sth. • lay sth before sb. • live sw before sth. • put sth</p><p>above/before sth. • put sth before sb (for them to do sth). • turn</p><p>before sth.</p><p>104 VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS- PART 1</p><p>behind</p><p>• fall behind sb. • glance behind sb/sth. • hang sth behind</p><p>sth. • hide behind sth. • lie behind sth. • put sth behind you. •</p><p>run sth behind/through/under sth. • stand behind sb/sth. • stay</p><p>behind sb/sth.</p><p>beside</p><p>• build sth beside sth. • kneel down beside sth.• set sth</p><p>against/beside sth. • sit beside sb. • stand beside sb.</p><p>between</p><p>• choose between x and/or y. • come between sb and sb.</p><p>• decide between x and y. • divide sth among/between sb. •</p><p>establish sth between x and y. • range between x and y. • share</p><p>sth (out) among/between sb. • split sth between sb. • vary between</p><p>x and y.</p><p>beyond</p><p>• continue beyond sth. • extend beyond sth. • extend sth</p><p>beyond sth. • go beyond sth. • live beyond sth. • own sth beyond</p><p>sth. • push sb beyond sth. • rise beyond sth. • say sth beyond sth.</p><p>• stop sw beyond sw. • work beyond sth.</p><p>by</p><p>• address sb by sth. • benefit from/by sth. • call sb by sth. •</p><p>close sth by doing sth. • come by sth. • finish with/by doing sth.</p><p>• gain sth from/by (doing) sth. • go by sth. • have sb by sth. •</p><p>intend sth by sth. • judge sth on/by sth. • lead sb by sth. • live by</p><p>sth. • lose (sth) by sth. • lose (sth) by doing sth. • mean sth by</p><p>sth. • measure sth by sth. • profit from/by sth. • recognize sb/</p><p>sth (by/from sth). • reduce sth by sth. • respond to sb (by doing</p><p>sth). • round sth off by doing sth. • show sth by sth. • sort sth</p><p>by sth. • stand by sb. • stand by sth. • start (off) by doing sth. •</p><p>stick by sb. • stick by sth.</p><p>105VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS- PART 1</p><p>down</p><p>• drive down sth. • fall down sth. • follow sb up/down sth. •</p><p>go down sth. • hurry down sth. • look down sth. • look back down</p><p>sth. • run (up and) down sth. • sail sth down sth. • slide down</p><p>sth. • walk down sth.</p><p>in favour of</p><p>• argue in favour of sth. • come down in favour of sth. •</p><p>decide in favour of sb/sth. • find for/in favour of sb/sth. • reject</p><p>sth in favour of sth. • rule in favour of sb/sth. • speak out in</p><p>favour of sb. • vote in favour of sth.</p><p>for</p><p>• account for sth. • act for sb. • aim at/for sth. • allow for</p><p>sth. • allow sth for sb/sth. • appeal for sth. • appear for/on behalf</p><p>of sb. • apply for sth. • apply to sth for sth. • argue for/against</p><p>sth. • argue for/against doing sth. • arrange sth for sth. • arrest</p><p>sb for sth. • ask for sb/sth. • ask sb for sth. • ask sth (for sth). •</p><p>attack sb/sth for sth. • bid sth for sth. • bid for sth. • blame sb/</p><p>sth for sth. • book sb for (committing) sth (= a crime). • break</p><p>for sth. • bring sth to/for sb/sth. • bring sth for sb. • buy sth</p><p>for Rs.500/$10, etc. • call for sb. • call for sth. • campaign for/</p><p>against sth. • care for sb. • care for/about sb. • charge sth for</p><p>sth. • choose sb/sth for sth. • close sth for</p><p>sth. • come in for sth.</p><p>• come up for sth. • compete for sth. • cook sth for sb. • count</p><p>for sth. • cover up for sb. • cover sb for sth. • cry out for sth. •</p><p>decide for/against sb. • depend on sb for sth. • describe sb/sth</p><p>to/for sb. • dress for sth. • enter for sth. • enter sb/sth for/in sth.</p><p>• exchange sth for sth. • fall for sb/sth. • fall for sth. • fear for</p><p>sb/sth. • feel for sth. • feel sth for sb. • fight for sth. • file for sth.</p><p>• fill in for sb. • find for/in favour of sb. • find sth for sb. • fish</p><p>for sth. • fit sb for sth. • fit sb/sth for sth. • get sth for sth. • get</p><p>sth for yourself/sb. • go for sb. • go for sth. • go in for sth. • head</p><p>for sw. • hold out for sth. • hope for sth. • investigate sb for sth.</p><p>106 VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS- PART 1</p><p>• invite sb to/for sth. • join sb for sth. • leave for sw. • leave sth</p><p>for sb. • leave sth with/to sb (for them to do sth). • listen for sth.</p><p>• live for sth. • long for sth. • look for sb/sth. • look out for sth.</p><p>• look to sb for sth. • make for sw. • make for sth. • make up for</p><p>sth. • measure sb for sth. • meet (sb) for sth. • mistake sb/sth for</p><p>sb/sth. • name sb/sth for sb. • negotiate with sb (for sth). • offer</p><p>sb sth for sth. • operate on sb (for sth). • order sth for sb/sth. •</p><p>owe sth to sb (for sth). • owe (sb) sth for sth. • pass for/as sb/</p><p>sth. • pay for sth. • pay sb back for sth. • pay sb for sth. • pick sb/</p><p>sth for sth. • plan for sth. • prepare (yourself) for sth. • prepare</p><p>sb for sth. • prepare sth for sb/sth. • press for sth. • produce sth</p><p>for/against sth. • provide sth for sb/sth. • push for sth. • put sth</p><p>before sb (for them to do sth). • qualify for sth. • qualify sb for</p><p>sth. • quote for doing sth. • recommend sb/sth for sth. • require</p><p>sth for sth. • reserve sth for sb/sth. • respect sb for (doing) sth. •</p><p>ring for sb/sth. • run to sb for sth. • save (up) for sth. • save sth</p><p>(up) for sth. • save sth for sb/sth. • schedule sth for sth. • score</p><p>sth for sth. • search for sth. • sell sth for/at sth. • send for sb. •</p><p>send (off) for sth. • set sth for sb to do. • settle down to/for sth.</p><p>• settle for/on sth. • sign for sth. • sign sb to/for sth. • sit for sb.</p><p>• speak for sb/sth. • stand for sth. • stand in for sb. • stand out</p><p>against/for sth. • stand up for sb/sth. • stick out for sth. • stick</p><p>up for sb/sth. • study for sth. • suffer for sth. • suggest sb/sth for</p><p>sth. • telephone (sb) for sth. • test for sth. • test sb for sth. • test</p><p>sth for sth. • thank sb for (doing) sth. • trade sth for sth. • train</p><p>as/for sth. • trouble sb for sth. • try for sth. • try sb for sth. • turn</p><p>to sb for sth. • use sth for sth. • value sth for sth. • vote for sb/</p><p>sth. • wait for sb/sth. • want sth for sth. • watch (out) for sth. •</p><p>wish for sth. • work for sb. • work for/towards sth.</p><p>from</p><p>• accept sth from sb. • arise from/out of sth. • arrive at/from</p><p>sw. • ban sb from doing sth. • bar sb from (doing) sth. • benefit</p><p>from/by sth. • break away from sb/sth. • bring sth from sb. •</p><p>buy sth from sb. • catch sth from sb/sth. • change from sth to/</p><p>107VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS- PART 1</p><p>into sth. • choose (x) from y. • come from sw. • come from sth.</p><p>• come from/out of sw. • conclude from sth that…. • conclude</p><p>sth from sth. • construct sth from/out of sth. • cut sb off from</p><p>sth. • cut sth from/off sth. • cut sth out from sth. • defend sb</p><p>from/against sb/sth. • defend sth from/against sb/sth. • defend</p><p>yourself from/against sb/sth. • defend sb/sth from/against sth. •</p><p>deliver sb from sth. • demand sth of/from sb/yourself. • develop</p><p>(sth) from sth. • develop from sth to/into sth. • die of/from sth.</p><p>• drive sb to/from sth. • escape from sb/sth. • escape from sw</p><p>to sw. • exclude sb/sth from sth. • exclude sth from sth. • expect</p><p>sth of/from sb. • export sth from x (= one country) to y (=</p><p>another). • export sth to/from x (= a country). • fall from x to y.</p><p>• flow from sth. • follow from sth. • free sb/sth from sth. • gain</p><p>sth from (doing) sth. • gain sth from/by (doing) sth. • get sth</p><p>from/out of sth. • grow sth from sth. • guard sb/sth from sth. •</p><p>guess sth from sth. • hear from sb. • hide sth from sb. • judge sth</p><p>from sth. • keep away from sth. • keep sb/sth from doing sth. •</p><p>keep sth from sb. • kick sth away from sth. • lead sth away from</p><p>sth. • learn sth from sb/sth. • learn from sth. • lift sth from sth.</p><p>• lift sth from sb/sth. • lift sb from sth. • make sth from/out of</p><p>sth. • move from sw to sw. • obtain sth from sb/sth. • prepare sth</p><p>from sth. • prevent sb/sth (from) doing sth. • produce sth from</p><p>sw/sth. • profit from/by sth. • promote sb (from sth) to sth. •</p><p>promote sb from sth (to sth). • protect sb/sth against/from sth. •</p><p>range from x to y. • receive sth from sb. • recognize sb/sth (by/</p><p>from sth). • recover from sth. • reduce sth (from sth) to sth. •</p><p>release sth from sth. • remove sb/sth from sw. • remove sth from</p><p>sb/sth. • resign from sth. • result from sth. • rise from sth. •</p><p>rise from x to y. • save sb/sth from sth. • save sb/sth from doing</p><p>sth. • secure sb/sth against/from sth. • separate sb/sth from sb/</p><p>sth. • separate sb from sb. • separate sth from sth. • set sb/sth</p><p>apart from sb/sth. • split away/off from sth. • spring from sth. •</p><p>stop sb from doing sth. • strike sth from sth. • suffer from sth. •</p><p>survive from sth. • switch from sth to sth. • take sth from sb/sw.</p><p>• tear sb away from sw/sth. • tell x from y. • tell sth from sth. •</p><p>108 VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS- PART 1</p><p>tell sb from sb. • transfer from sw/sth to sw/sth. • transport sb</p><p>to/from sth. • turn from sth to sth. • turn sth from sth into sth. •</p><p>vary from sth to sth. • view sth from sth. • walk away from sth.</p><p>• want sth from sb/of sb. • withdraw from sw/sth. • withdraw</p><p>sb/sth from sth.</p><p>in</p><p>• assist sb in/with sth. • base sth in… (sw). • break out in</p><p>spots. • break out in a sweat. • bring sb out in sth. • bury sth in</p><p>sth. • cast sb as sth (in sth). • come in sth. • compete in sth. •</p><p>confirm sb in sth. • consist in sth. • deal in sth. • die in sth. •</p><p>drop sb at/in… (= sw). • encourage sb in sth. • encourage sth</p><p>in sb/sth. • end with/in sth. • enter sb/sth for/in sth. • enter sth</p><p>in/into sth. • establish yourself as/in sth. • establish sb/sth in</p><p>sth. • fail in sth. • feature sb/sth in sth. • feature in sth. • figure</p><p>in sth. • find sth in sth. • fit in with sth. • gain in sth. • grow in</p><p>sth. • guide sb in sth. • include sb/sth in/on sth. • interest sb in</p><p>sth. • invest in sth. • invest sth in sth. • invest sth in doing sth.</p><p>• involve yourself/sb in sth. • join in sth. • keep in with sb. •</p><p>land sb in sth. • leave sth to sb in sth (= your will). • occupy sb/</p><p>yourself in doing sth. • occur in sb/sth. • read sth in sth. • result</p><p>in sth. • settle sb into/in/on sth. • share in doing sth. • shut sb</p><p>in sth. • succeed in sth. • succeed in doing sth. • support sb in</p><p>(doing) sth. • tie with sb in sth. • trust in sb/sth. • vary in sth. •</p><p>work with/in sth.</p><p>into</p><p>• accept sb into sth. • back sb into sth (= a corner, etc.). •</p><p>bend sth into sth. • book into sth (= a hotel). • break into sth. •</p><p>break into sw. • bring sb/sth into sth. • build sth into sth. • carry</p><p>sb/sth to/into sth. • change from sth to/into sth. • change into</p><p>sth. • channel sth into sth. • channel sth into/to sth. • check</p><p>into/out of sw. • come to/into sth. • copy sth into sth. • crowd</p><p>into sw. • develop (sth) into sth. • develop from sth to/into sth. •</p><p>dip into sth. • direct sth into sth. • divide sth into sth. • draw sb</p><p>109VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS- PART 1</p><p>into sth. • drive sb to/into sth. • drop sth down/into sth. • drop</p><p>sth into sth. • eat into sth. • enter into sth. • enter sth in/into</p><p>sth. • fall into sth. • feed sth into sth. • fit into sth. • fit sth into/</p><p>with sth. • fly into sth. • follow sb to/into/through sth. • force</p><p>sb into doing sth. • force sb into/out of sth. • form sth into sth.</p><p>• get into sth. • go into sth. • go on/into sth. • group sb/sth into</p><p>sth. • grow into sth. • guide sth into/towards</p><p>sth. • introduce</p><p>sth into/to sw/sth. • launch into sth. • lay into sb. • lead to/</p><p>into sth. • lead sb into sth. • lift sb/sth into/onto sth. • look into</p><p>sth. • make sth into sth. • model sth into sth. • move into sw. •</p><p>press sb into doing sth. • press sb into sth. • press sth into sth. •</p><p>push sb into (doing) sth. • put sth into sth. • read sth into sth. •</p><p>receive sb into sth. • release sth into sth. • roll sth into sth. • run</p><p>into problems. • run into sth. • run sb to/into sw. • send sb to/</p><p>into sth. • settle sb into/in/on sth. • shape sth into sth. • show</p><p>sb into sth. • slip into/out of sth. • split sb into sth (= groups). •</p><p>talk sb into doing sth. • tear into sb. • throw sth into sth. • turn</p><p>into/to sth. • turn sth from sth into sth. • work yourself into sth.</p><p>• write sth into sth.</p><p>* * *</p><p>110 VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS - PART 2</p><p>CHAPTER 12</p><p>Verb-and-preposition clusters</p><p>- Part 2</p><p>The previous chapter gave you comprehensive lists of</p><p>verb+preposition combinations in which the following were the</p><p>prepositions:</p><p>about, above, according to, across, across from, after, against,</p><p>ahead of, among, apart from, around, as, at, before, behind,</p><p>beside, between, beyond, by, down, in favour of, for, from, in,</p><p>into.</p><p>The present chapter will now give you lists of verb+preposition</p><p>combinations in which the following are the prepositions:</p><p>like, of, off, on, onto, out of, over, round, through, to, towards,</p><p>under, up, upon, with, within, without.</p><p>The lists you’re going to get are as comprehensive as those in</p><p>the previous chapter. Go through these lists. They’ve been given</p><p>preposition-wise. Pick up each word combination and say it AlOuD</p><p>several times. Get your organs of speech to become familiar with</p><p>these word combinations.</p><p>Here we go:</p><p>like</p><p>• act like sth. • feel like sth. • feel like sb. • feel like (doing)</p><p>sth. • look like sth. • seem like sth. • treat sb like/as sth.</p><p>of</p><p>• accuse sb of doing sth. • accuse sb of sth. • approve of</p><p>sb/sth. • ask sth of sb. • break sb of sth. • complain of sth. •</p><p>consist of sb/sth. • construct sth of sth. • convince sb of/about</p><p>sth. • convince yourself of sth. • demand sth of sb. • demand</p><p>111VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS - PART 2</p><p>sth of/from sb/yourself. • die of/from sth. • dream of/about sth.</p><p>• expect sth of/from sb. • free sb/sth of sth. • hear of sb/sth. •</p><p>inform sb about/of sth. • know about/of sth. • learn of sth. •</p><p>make sth of sb. • make sth of sth. • remind sb about/of sth. •</p><p>remind sb of sb/sth. • satisfy sb of sth. • speak about/of sth. •</p><p>suspect sb of sth. • suspect sb of doing sth. • talk about/on/of</p><p>sth. • think of/about sb/sth. • want sth from sb/of sb. • warn sb</p><p>of/about sth.</p><p>off</p><p>• blow sth off sth. • clean sth off sth. • come off sth. • cross</p><p>sth off sth. • cut (sb) sth from/off sth. • cut sth off sth. • drop off</p><p>sth. • drop sth off sth. • fall off sth. • feed on/off sth. • get off sth</p><p>(= a bus/plane/train, etc.). • get sth off sth. • go off sth. • keep</p><p>off sth. • keep sth off sth. • kick off sth. • knock sth off sth. • lay</p><p>off sth. • lead off sw. • let sb off sth. • live (just) off sth. • scrape</p><p>sth off sth. • stay off sth. • take off sth. • take sth off sth. • want</p><p>sth off sth.</p><p>on</p><p>• act on sth. • advance on/towards sb/sth. • advise sb on/</p><p>about sth. • agree on sth. • agree with sb on/about sth. • appear</p><p>for/on behalf of sb. • back sb on sth. • blame sth on sb/sth. •</p><p>blow sth (= money) on sth. • border on sth. • border (on) sth</p><p>(= a country). • break in on sb. • break in on sth. • bring sth (=</p><p>shame/disgrace, etc.) on sth (= your family, etc.). • bring sth on</p><p>yourself. • build on sth. • build sth on/upon sth. • call on sb. •</p><p>call on sb to do sth. • cash in on sth. • cast sth (= doubt) on sth.</p><p>• catch up on sth. • centre round/around/on sth. • check (up)</p><p>on sb/sth. • close in on sb. • come on/upon sb/sth. • comment</p><p>on/upon sth. • concentrate on/upon sth. • count on/upon sb/</p><p>sth. • cut back on sth. • cut down on sth. • decide on/upon sth.</p><p>• deliver on sth. • depend on/upon sb/sth. • depend on sth. •</p><p>depend on sb for sth. • depend on sb to do sth. • draw on/upon</p><p>sth. • drop in on sb. • enter sth on sth. • examine sb on sth. •</p><p>112 VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS - PART 2</p><p>exist on sth. • expand on/upon sth. • experiment with/on sth. •</p><p>fall back on sth. • feature sb/sth on sth. • feed sth (= an animal)</p><p>on/with sth. • feed on/off sth. • fill sb in on sth. • fix on sth. •</p><p>fix sth on/upon sb/sth. • focus sth on sb/sth. • force sth on/upon</p><p>sb. • gain on sb/sth. • give up on sb/sth. • go back on sth. • go</p><p>easy on sth. • go on/into sth. • grow on sb. • hang on sth. • hear</p><p>sb on sth. • hit on sth. • impose on/upon sb. • impose sth on/</p><p>upon sb. • impose yourself on/upon sb/sth. • improve on/upon</p><p>sth. • include sb/sth in/on sth. • inform on sb. • insist on sth.</p><p>• insist on/upon doing sth. • insist on/upon having sth. • judge</p><p>sth on/by sth. • judge sb/sth on sth. • knock on/at sth. • launch</p><p>sb on sth. • lay sth on/upon sb. • lay sth on/upon sth. • lean on</p><p>sb. • let sb into/in on sth. • live on sth. • look back on sth. • look</p><p>down on sb/sth. • look on/upon sb/sth as sth. • lose (sth) on sth.</p><p>• manage on sth. • miss out on sth. • model sth on sth. • move in</p><p>on sw/sb. • operate on sb (for sth). • pick on sb. • place sth on/</p><p>upon sb. • plan on doing sth. • plant sth on sb. • play on/upon</p><p>sth. • press ahead/on with sth. • press sb about/on sth. • press</p><p>sth on/upon sb. • pull on/at sth. • push sth on/onto/upon sb. •</p><p>put sth on sth. • read up on sth. • reckon on/upon sth. • reflect</p><p>well/badly on sb/sth. • reflect on/over/upon sth. • rely on/upon</p><p>sb/sth. • report back on sth. • report on/upon sth. • rest on/</p><p>upon sb/sth. • rule on sth. • save on sth. • save sth on sth. • say</p><p>sth on/about sth (= a topic). • sell sb on sth. • serve sth on sb. •</p><p>set sb off on sth. • set sb/sth on/upon sb. • set sth on sth. • settle</p><p>for/on sth. • settle sb into/in/on sth. • sit in on sth (= a class/</p><p>meeting, etc.). • sit on sth (= a board/committee, etc.). • spend</p><p>sth on sth. • spread sth on/over sth. • spring sth on sb. • stake</p><p>sth on/upon sth. • start on sth. • strike on sth. • strike sb/sth on</p><p>sth. • survive on sth. • take sb up on sth. • take sth out on sb. •</p><p>talk about/on/of sth. • test sb on sth. • test sth on sb/sth. • touch</p><p>on sth. • trade on sth. • train sth on sb/sth. • try sth on sb. • try</p><p>sth out on sb. • turn on sb. • turn on sth. • turn sth on sb/sth.</p><p>• vote on sth. • wait on sb. • walk in on sb. • walk out on sb. •</p><p>waste sth on sb/sth. • work on/at sth. • write sth on sth.</p><p>113VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS - PART 2</p><p>onto</p><p>• carry sth onto sth. • climb onto sth. • come to/onto sth. •</p><p>copy sth to/onto sth. • drop sth onto/over sth. • empty sth onto</p><p>sth. • fall onto sth. • fit sth onto/over sth. • hang onto sth. • lift</p><p>sb/sth into/onto sth. • pour out onto sth. • push sth on/onto/</p><p>upon sb. • roll over onto sth. • run onto sth. • walk onto sth.</p><p>out of</p><p>• argue sb out of sth. • arise from/out of sth. • break out of</p><p>sth. • check into/out of sw. • choose sb/sth out of sb/sth. • come</p><p>from/out of sw. • construct sth from/out of sth. • cut sb out of sth.</p><p>• cut sth out of sth. • drop out of sth. • force sb into/out of sth.</p><p>• get out of sth. • get out of doing sth.• get sth from/out of sth.</p><p>• go out of sth/sw. • grow out of sth (= clothes). • grow out of</p><p>sth (= a habit). • keep sb out of sth. • kick sb out of sth. • knock</p><p>sth out of sb. • lift sb/sth out of sth. • look out of sth. • make sth</p><p>from/out of sth. • pay for sth out of sth. • pull out of sth. • run</p><p>out of sth. • sell out of sth. • shout out of sth. • slip into/out of</p><p>sth. • take sth out of sth. • talk sb out of doing sth. • turn sb out</p><p>of sth.</p><p>over</p><p>• argue about/over sth. • argue with sb about/over sth. •</p><p>bend sth over/round sth. • dispute with sb over sth. • drop sth</p><p>onto/over sth. • fight about/over sth. • fit sth onto/over sth. • get</p><p>over sth. • go over sth. • hang over sb/sth. • reflect on/over/upon</p><p>sth.</p><p>• row with sb about/over sth. • rule over sb/sth. • score over</p><p>sb. • spread sth on/over sth. • think back over sth. • watch over</p><p>sb/sth.</p><p>round/around</p><p>• bend sth over/round sth. • centre round/around/on sth.</p><p>• come round to sth. • crowd around/round sb/sth. • follow sb</p><p>round sw. • get round sb. • get round sth. • show sb around/</p><p>round sw. • wander round sw. • wrap sth round/around sth.</p><p>114 VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS - PART 2</p><p>through</p><p>• break through sth. • channel sth through sth. • cut through</p><p>sth. • feed sth through sth. • follow sb to/into/through sth. • get</p><p>through sth. • go through sth (= a difficult/unpleasant situation).</p><p>• go through sth (= the drawers, etc.). • go through sth (= the</p><p>details, etc.). • go through sth (= a process). • guide sb through</p><p>sth. • help sb through sth. • live through sth. • look through sth.</p><p>• run through sth. • run sth across/down/through sth. • run sth</p><p>behind/through/under sth. • see sb through sth. • see through</p><p>sb/sth. • sit through sth. • work through sth.</p><p>to</p><p>• add sth to sth. • add to sth. • add up to sth. • admit sb</p><p>to sth. • admit to sb that… • admit to sth. • advance sth to sb.</p><p>• agree to sth. • amount to sth. • announce sth to sb. • answer</p><p>to sth. • appeal to sb. • appeal to sb against sth. • apply sth to</p><p>sth. • apply to sth for sth. • apply to sb/sth. • apply yourself to</p><p>(doing) sth. • appoint sb to sth. • ask sb to sth. • attend to sb/</p><p>sth. • attract sb/sth to sth. • attract sb to sb/sth. • beat sb down</p><p>to sth. • belong to sb/sth. • bind sb to sb/sth. • break sth to sb.</p><p>• bring sth to/for sb/sth. • bring sth to sw. • bring sb/sth with</p><p>you (to sw). • bring sth to sb. • bring sth to sth (= an end/a</p><p>stop). • carry sb/sth to/into sth. • change from sth to/into sth.</p><p>• channel sth into/to sth. • close sth to sth. • come down to sth.</p><p>• come round to sth. • come to Rs.5,000, etc. • come to sw. •</p><p>come to sb/sth. • come to/into sth. • come to/onto sth. • come</p><p>up to sth. • commit sth to sth. • commit yourself to sth. • commit</p><p>sb to (doing) sth. • commit sb to sth. • compare sb to/with sb. •</p><p>compare sth to/with sth. • complain to sb (about sth). • connect</p><p>sb to/with sb/sth. • connect sth to/with sb/sth. • contrast sth</p><p>with/to sth. • contribute (sth) to/towards sth. • contribute (sth)</p><p>to sth. • contribute to sth. • copy sth to/onto sth. • count to/up</p><p>to sth. • count to/up to sth. • credit sth to sb. • dance to sth. •</p><p>deliver sth to sb/sth. • deliver sth (up/over) to sb. • deliver sb</p><p>115VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS - PART 2</p><p>(up/over) to sb. • deny sth to sb. • describe sb/sth to/for sb. •</p><p>develop from sth to/into sth. • direct sb to sw. • direct sth at/to/</p><p>towards sth. • drink to sb/sth. • drive sb to/into sth. • drive sb</p><p>to/from sth. • elect sb to sth. • entitle sb to sth. • escape from sw</p><p>to sw. • explain sth to sb. • export sth from x (= one country) to</p><p>y (= another). • export sth to/from x (= a country). • extend</p><p>sth to sb. • extend to sth. • face up to sth. • fall from x to y. • fall</p><p>to sb. • feed sth to sth (= an animal). • fit sth to sth. • follow sb</p><p>to/into/through sth. • get down to sth. • get on to sth. • get on to</p><p>sb. • get round to doing sth. • get through to sb. • get to sb. • get</p><p>up to sth. • give in to sb/sth. • give sth over to sb. • give sth to</p><p>sb/sth. • give sth up to sth. • grant sth to sb. • hand sth on/over</p><p>to sb. • hand sth to sb. • hand sth back to sb. • happen to sb/sth.</p><p>• help sb to sth. • hold on to sth. • hold to sth. • indicate sb/sth</p><p>to sb. • indicate sth to sb. • introduce sb to sth. • introduce sth to</p><p>sb. • introduce sb/yourself to sb. • introduce sth into/to sw/sth.</p><p>• invite sb to/for sth. • issue sth to sb. • join x to y. • keep to sth.</p><p>• kick sth to/towards sth. • lead to sth. • lead to/into sth. • lead</p><p>up to sth. • leave sb to it. • leave sth to sb (in your will). • leave</p><p>sth with/to sb (for them to do sth). • lie to sb about sth. • lift</p><p>sth to sth. • limit yourself/sth to sth. • link sb/sth to sth. • link</p><p>sth with/to sth. • listen to sb/to sth. • listen to sb/sth. • live up</p><p>to sth. • look forward to sth. • look to sb for sth. • look up to sb.</p><p>• lose (sth) to sb. • lose sth to sb. • make sth (= a bill/cheque)</p><p>out to sb. • make sth over to sb. • marry sb to sb. • marry sth to/</p><p>with sth. • match sth with/to sth. • match up to sth. • mean sth</p><p>to sb. • measure up to sth. • mention sth to sb. • move from sw</p><p>to sw. • move on to sth. • name sb to sth. • narrow sth down to</p><p>sth. • nod to sb/at sb. • object to sth. • occur to sb. • offer sth to</p><p>sb. • open sth to sb. • owe sth to sb. • owe sth to sb (for sth). •</p><p>owe sth to sb/sth. • own up to doing sth. • pass sth on to sb. •</p><p>pass sth to sb. • point at/to sb/sth. • point to sb/sth. • prefer sb/</p><p>sth to sb/sth. • present sth to sb. • present sb to sb. • press sth to</p><p>sth. • progress to sth. • promote sb (from sth) to sth. • promote</p><p>sb from sth (to sth). • prove sth to sb. • prove yourself to sb. •</p><p>116 VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS - PART 2</p><p>provide sth to sb. • put sb up to doing sth. • put sth down to sth.</p><p>• put sth to sb. • range from x to y. • read (sth) to sb. • recall</p><p>sb to sth. • recommend sb/sth to sb. • reduce sth (from sth) to</p><p>sth. • reduce sth to sth. • refer sb to sb. • refer to sb/sth. • refer</p><p>to sb/sth as sth. • relate sth to sth. • relate to sb. • relate to sth.</p><p>• remember sb to sb. • reply to sb/to sth. • reply to sb/to sth. •</p><p>report back to sb. • report sb/sth to sb. • report to sb. • resign</p><p>yourself to sth. • respond to sb (by doing sth). • respond to sb</p><p>(with sth). • respond (to sth) with (doing) sth. • respond to sth.</p><p>• restore sth to sb. • restore sth to sth. • return sb to sth. • return</p><p>sth to sb. • return sth to sw. • return to sw/sth. • reveal sth to sb.</p><p>• rise from x to y. • run to sb for sth. • run sb to/into sw. • say</p><p>sth to sb about sth. • see to sth. • seem to sb (to be) sth. • sell out</p><p>to sb/sth. • sell sth to sb. • send sth to sb. • send sb to/into sth. •</p><p>sentence sb to sth. • set sth for sb to do. • settle down to/for sth.</p><p>• show sb to sth (= a room, etc.). • show sth to sb. • show sth to/</p><p>towards sb. • show sb/sth to be sth. • signal to sb. • sign sb to/</p><p>for sth. • speak to/with sb (about sb/sth). • speed sb across/to/</p><p>up sth. • square up to sb/sth. • stand up to sb. • stand up to sth.</p><p>• stick to sth. • subject sb to sth. • suggest sth to sb. • supply sth</p><p>to sb. • switch from sth to sth. • take to sb/sth. • talk down to sb.</p><p>• talk to sb. • teach sth to sb. • tell sth to sb. • think back to sth.</p><p>• throw sth to sb. • transfer from sw/sth to sw/sth. • transfer sth</p><p>to sth. • transport sb to/from sth. • treat sb to sth. • turn from sth</p><p>to sth. • turn into/to sth. • turn to sb for sth. • turn sb on to sth.</p><p>• turn sb/sth over to sb. • turn sth over to sth. • turn sth to sth. •</p><p>vary from sth to sth. • wake up to sth. • warm to sb/sth. • wave</p><p>to sb/at sb. • work up to sth. • work yourself up to doing sth. •</p><p>write off to sb/sth. • write to sb. • write sth to sb.</p><p>towards</p><p>• advance on/towards sb/sth. • contribute (sth) to/towards</p><p>sth. • count towards sth. • direct sth at/to/towards sth. • do sth</p><p>towards sth. • go towards sth. • guide sth into/towards sth. •</p><p>hurry towards sb. • kick sth to/towards sth. • lean towards sth.</p><p>117VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS - PART 2</p><p>• point sth at/towards sb/sth. • show sth to/towards sb. • speed</p><p>towards sw. • tend towards sth. • work for/towards sth.</p><p>under</p><p>• bury sth under sth. • collapse under sth. • come under sb/</p><p>sth. • come under sth. • complete sth under sth. • drive under sth.</p><p>• feel under sth. • go under sth. • hide under sth. • labour under</p><p>sth. • lie under sth. • look under sth. • place sth under sth.• put</p><p>sth under sth. • roll under sth. • run sth behind/through/under</p><p>sth. • slide under sth. • squeeze under sth. • stand under sth. •</p><p>work under sb.</p><p>up</p><p>• back sth up sth. • climb up sth. • disappear up sth. • follow</p><p>sb up/down sth. • go up sth. • live (just) up sth. • run up (and</p><p>down) sth. • sail</p><p>up sth. • walk up sth.</p><p>upon</p><p>• build sth on/upon sth. • come on/upon sb/sth. • comment</p><p>on/upon sth. • concentrate on/upon sth. • count on/upon sb/sth.</p><p>• decide on/upon sth. • depend on/upon sb/sth. • draw on/upon</p><p>sth. • expand on/upon sth. • fix sth on/upon sb/sth. • force sth</p><p>on/upon sb. • impose on/upon sb. • impose sth on/upon sb. •</p><p>impose yourself on/upon sb/sth. • improve on/upon sth. • insist</p><p>on/upon doing sth. • insist on/upon having sth. • lay sth on/</p><p>upon sb. • lay sth on/upon sth. • light upon sth. • look on/upon</p><p>sb/sth as sth. • place sth on/upon sb. • play on/upon sth. • press</p><p>sth on/upon sb. • push sth on/onto/upon sb. • reckon on/upon</p><p>sth. • reflect on/over/upon sth. • rely on/upon sb/sth. • report</p><p>on/upon sth. • rest on/upon sb/sth. • set sb/sth on/upon sb. •</p><p>stake sth on/upon sth. • take sth upon yourself.</p><p>with</p><p>• agree with sb on/about sth. • agree with sth. • answer</p><p>(sth) with sth. • argue with sb about/over sth. • arm sb with sth.</p><p>118 VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS - PART 2</p><p>• arrange sth with sb. • assist sb in/with sth. • associate with</p><p>sb. • associate sth with sb/sth. • attack sb with sth. • balance</p><p>sth with/against sth. • bother sb about/with sth. • bother with/</p><p>about sth. • break with sb/sth. • bring sb/sth with you (to sw).</p><p>• catch up with sb (a thief, etc.). • catch up with sb. • charge</p><p>sb with sth. • check with sb (that…). • combine sth with sth. •</p><p>combine with sth. • combine sth and/with sth. • come out with</p><p>sth. • come up with sth. • compare sb to/with sb. • compare</p><p>sth to/with sth. • compete against/with sb. • concern yourself</p><p>with/about sth. • conclude with sth. • conclude sth with sth. •</p><p>conclude sth with sb. • connect sb to/with sb/sth. • connect sth</p><p>to/with sb/sth. • connect with sth. • connect with sb. • continue</p><p>with sth. • contrast sth with/to sth. • cope with sth. • cover sth</p><p>with sth. • cover sb/sth with sth. • credit sb/sth with sth. • cross</p><p>sth with sth. • dance with sb. • deal with sth. • debate with sb.</p><p>• discuss sth with sb. • dispute with sb over sth. • end with sth.</p><p>• end with/in sth. • establish sth with sb/sth. • exchange sth</p><p>with sb. • experiment with sth. • experiment with/on sth. • fall</p><p>behind with sth. • fall in with sb. • fall in with sth. • fall out with</p><p>sb. • feed sth (= an animal) on/with sth. • feed sb with sth. •</p><p>feed sth with sth. • fight with/against sb. • fight with sb. • fill sb</p><p>with sth. • fill sth with sth. • fill sw with sth. • finish with sb/sth.</p><p>• finish with/by doing sth. • fit in with sth. • fit sb out with sth.</p><p>• fit sb with sth. • fit sth into/with sth. • fit sth out with sth. • fix</p><p>sb up with sth. • follow x (up) with y. • get along with sb. • get</p><p>away with sth. • get in with sb. • get on with sb. • get on with</p><p>sth. • go ahead with sth. • go along with sb/sth. • go down with</p><p>sth. • go on with sth. • go out with sb. • go through with sth. •</p><p>go with sth. • hang around with sb. • have sb with you. • help</p><p>sb with sth. • hit sb with sth. • hit sth with sth. • identify sb/sth</p><p>with sb/sth. • identify with sb. • illustrate sth with sth. • invest</p><p>sb/sth with sth. • issue sb with sth. • join up with sb/sth. • keep</p><p>in with sb. • keep up with sb/sth. • land sb with sth. • lead sth</p><p>off with sth. • leave sb with sth. • leave sth (= a document, etc.)</p><p>with sb. • leave sth with/to sb (for them to do sth). • level with</p><p>119VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS - PART 2</p><p>sb. • lie with sb. • link up with sb. • link sth with/to sth. • live</p><p>with sth. • make off with sth. • manage with/without sb/sth. •</p><p>marry sth to/with sth. • match sth up with sth. • match sth with/</p><p>to sth. • meet up with sb. • mix sth with sth. • move in with sb.</p><p>• negotiate with sb (for sth). • not hold with sth. • occupy sb/</p><p>yourself with sb/sth. • part with sb/sth. • plant sth with sth. •</p><p>play along with sb/sth. • play around with sb/sth. • play with sb/</p><p>sth. • present sb with sth. • press ahead/on with sth. • provide</p><p>sb with sth. • push ahead/on with sth. • put up with sth. • raise</p><p>sth with sb. • receive sb with sth. • receive sth with sth. • reckon</p><p>with sth. • regard sb/sth with sth. • relax with sth. • replace sb</p><p>with sb. • replace sth with sth. • reply with sth. • respond to sb</p><p>(with sth). • respond (to sth) with (doing) sth. • rest with sb. •</p><p>ring with sth. • row with sb about/over sth. • run away with sb.</p><p>• serve sb with sth. • settle (up) with sb. • share sth with sb. •</p><p>sign sth with sb. • speak to/with sb (about sb/sth). • speak with</p><p>sth ( = American accent, etc.). • spend sth with sb. • split up</p><p>with sb. • square up with sb. • square with sth. • start (off) with</p><p>sth. • stick with sb/sth. • stuff sth with sth. • supply sb with sth.</p><p>• support sth with sth. • surround sb/sth with sth. • surround</p><p>yourself with sth. • switch with sb. • tax sb with sth. • threaten</p><p>sb with sth. • tie up with sth. • tie with sb in sth. • top sth off with</p><p>sth. • top sth with sth. • trade with sb. • treat sb with sth. • treat</p><p>sth with sth. • trust sb with sth. • vary with/according to sth. •</p><p>visit with sb. • walk away with sth. • walk off with sth. • work</p><p>with sb/sth. • work with/in sth.</p><p>within</p><p>• act within sth. • come within sth. • consume within sth. •</p><p>complete sth within sth. • do sth within sth.• happen within sth.</p><p>• keep sth within sth. • land within sth. • lie within sth. • live</p><p>within sth.</p><p>without</p><p>• close/shut/open sth without doing sth. • come out without</p><p>120 VERB-AND-PREPOSITION CluSTERS - PART 2</p><p>sth. • do sth without sb. • do sth without sth. • go (sw) without</p><p>sb. • go without sth. • go out without sth. • leave sb without</p><p>sth. • live without sb. • manage with/without sb/sth. • reckon</p><p>without sth. • see without sth.</p><p>That’s it. Bye for now.</p><p>* * *</p><p>121</p><p>Are you talking to me? • Are you there, Julia? • Aren’t they</p><p>rather expensive? • Aren’t you going to do anything? • Is</p><p>there anything I can get you? • Is there anything I can help</p><p>you find today? • Is your birthday on the fourth? • Isn’t she</p><p>very bright? • Isn’t that special? • Were you talking to me?</p><p>• Were you waiting long?</p><p>• Do you really think you ought to have another one? • Do</p><p>you understand what I am saying? • Do my eyes deceive</p><p>me? • Do the eggs or the flour go in first? • Do the others</p><p>like it? • Don’t you have anything smaller? • Don’t you like</p><p>it? • Does the journey take that long? • Does this (drug)</p><p>have any side effects? • Didn’t you have your usual swim?</p><p>• Didn’t you hear any strange noises? • Didn’t you say you</p><p>couldn’t play? • Didn’t you see Olaf?</p><p>• Have you seen a doctor? • Have you seen my gold watch?</p><p>• Have you seen my pen? • Haven’t you been introduced?</p><p>• Haven’t you brought the car? • Has he left already? • Has</p><p>the meeting started?</p><p>• Can you see that? • Can you drive? • Can you get me</p><p>a good deal on a loan? • Can you get this stain out? •</p><p>Can you gift wrap that? • Could you please repeat that? •</p><p>Could you please repeat yourself? • Could you please speak</p><p>louder? • Could you please speak slower?</p><p>• May I see some identification? • May I see the wine</p><p>17HOW TO MAKE QuESTIONS</p><p>list? • May I see your boarding pass? • May I see your ID</p><p>(=identification)?</p><p>• Must you leave so soon?</p><p>• Shall we go out for a walk, Mummy? • Shall we go</p><p>swimming? • Shall we go today? • Shall we have a game of</p><p>bridge?</p><p>• Will you hold it for me? • Will you join us? • Will you</p><p>lend a hand, Tom? • Will you lend me your pen? • Would</p><p>you like to schedule your next appointment? • Would you</p><p>like to see a menu? • Would you like to sit over here?</p><p>* * *</p><p>18 STATEMENTS INTO yES-NO QuESTIONS</p><p>CHAPTER 2</p><p>Statements</p><p>into Yes-No questions</p><p>Grammatically, there are five types of statements. you can form</p><p>Yes-No questions by converting the grammatical structures of</p><p>these statements into the corresponding question structures.</p><p>Here’s how you’ll be able to do this:</p><p>Five types of statements</p><p>1) Statements containing one or more auxiliaries</p><p>Take a close look at yes-no questions containing one or more</p><p>auxiliaries. you can then find one thing: They can all be made</p><p>by reversing the order of the Subject element and the first (or</p><p>the only) auxiliary in the Verb element in the corresponding</p><p>‘statements’ — and by placing the first auxiliary before the subject.</p><p>In other words, all yes-no questions begin with the first (or the</p><p>only) auxiliary in the Verb element of a statement.</p><p>In modern grammar, the first (or the only) auxiliary in the</p><p>Verb element is known as the operator.</p><p>Here are a few examples:</p><p>• He is leaving tomorrow.  Is he leaving tomorrow? •</p><p>you are making things difficult for them.  Are you making</p><p>things difficult for them? • He can start his work now. </p><p>Can he start his work now? • you will forget it.  Will</p><p>you forget it? • He has been waiting long.  Has he been</p><p>waiting long? • He is able to read and write French.  Is</p><p>he able to read and write French. • The water could have</p><p>boiled by now.  Could the water have boiled by now?</p><p>19STATEMENTS INTO yES-NO QuESTIONS</p><p>2) Statements NOT containing any auxiliary</p><p>In simple tense statements, there are no auxiliaries, and so there</p><p>won’t be any item in the verb phrase that can function as the</p><p>operator. Now if a statement doesn’t contain an auxiliary, how do</p><p>we frame a yes-no question from it? We can do this by supposing</p><p>that it contains a dummy operator ‘do’, and by using that dummy</p><p>operator to introduce the question.</p><p>The following examples would make the technique clear:</p><p>• He looks nice.  Does he look nice? • They work here. </p><p>Do they work here? • She cried a lot.  Did she cry a lot? •</p><p>He knows the answer?  Does he know the answer? • She</p><p>loves cartoons.  Does she love cartoons? • They hate him.</p><p> Do they hate him?</p><p>3) Statements containing ‘be’ as a main verb</p><p>In many statements, be (= am, is, are, was & were) functions</p><p>not as an auxiliary, but as a main (non-auxiliary) verb. But in</p><p>these statements also, you can treat be as an auxiliary, and you</p><p>can convert these statements also into questions in the same</p><p>way — that is, by reversing the order of the Subject and the</p><p>(deemed) operator.</p><p>E.g. • I am wrong.  Am I wrong? • He is a computer programmer.</p><p> Is he a computer programmer? • She is his sister.  Is she</p><p>his sister? • He is very tall .  Is he very tall? • They are very</p><p>excited.  Are they very excited? • The hall was quiet.  Was the</p><p>hall quiet? • They were afraid.  Were they afraid? • She is in the</p><p>kitchen.  Is she in the kitchen? • He is on a diet.  Is he on a</p><p>diet?</p><p>4) Statements containing ‘do’ as a main verb</p><p>In many simple tense statements, do (= does, do & did) functions</p><p>not as an auxiliary, but as a main (non-auxiliary) verb.</p><p>As these are simple-tense statements, there won’t be any</p><p>auxiliary in them, and so there won’t be any item in the verb</p><p>20 STATEMENTS INTO yES-NO QuESTIONS</p><p>phrase that can function as the operator. So these statements</p><p>would be covered by the 2nd sub-head above, and you must</p><p>treat the main verb do as you would treat any other verb in such</p><p>a simple tense statement, and not as an auxiliary. That is, in</p><p>order to convert these statements into questions, you’ll have to</p><p>introduce another do as a dummy operator.</p><p>E.g. • Her father does the accounts for them.  Does her father do</p><p>the accounts for them? • They never do anything like this. </p><p>Do they ever do anything like this? • He always does strange</p><p>things  Does he always do strange things? • He did some work</p><p>yesterday.  Did he do any work yesterday? • He does his job</p><p>well.  Does he do his job well?• They do a lot of business with</p><p>his company.  Do they do a lot of business with his company?</p><p>5) Statements containing ‘have’ as a main verb</p><p>Just as do, have (= have, has & had) also often functions as</p><p>a main (non-auxiliary) verb, and not as an auxiliary, in many</p><p>simple tense statements.</p><p>And as these are simple tense statements, there won’t be any</p><p>auxiliary in them, and so there won’t be any item in the verb</p><p>phrase that can function as the operator in those statements.</p><p>So these statements would be covered by the 2nd sub-head</p><p>above, and you must treat the main verb have as you would</p><p>treat any other verb in such a simple tense statement, and not</p><p>as an auxiliary. That is, in order to convert these statements into</p><p>questions, you’ll have to introduce the dummy operator do (just</p><p>as you do with all other simple tense statements).</p><p>Here you should keep one thing in mind: The word have has</p><p>a special feature. you see, when it functions as a main verb, it can</p><p>function either as an action verb or as a state verb. That is, —</p><p>(a) you can use have as a main verb to express an action</p><p>— indicating that something is happening or changing.</p><p>E.g. eat something, drink something, take a bath/rest, meet with</p><p>difficulties, experience problems, enjoy a good holiday, receive</p><p>something from somebody, take care of somebody or something in</p><p>21STATEMENTS INTO yES-NO QuESTIONS</p><p>your house etc.</p><p>Or</p><p>(b) you can use have as a main verb to express a state</p><p>(= temporary or permanent possession and possession-</p><p>like meanings, such as, relationships, health & illnesses,</p><p>characteristics of people & things etc. — indicating that</p><p>something stays the same).</p><p>When you’re using have in its dynamic meaning as at (a),</p><p>you can use it in the simple tense or in the continuous. But when</p><p>you’re using it in its stative meaning as at (b), you can use it only</p><p>in the simple tense, and not in the continuous.</p><p>Now when you’re using have as a main verb in a simple tense</p><p>statement, whether you’re using it in its dynamic meaning or</p><p>in its stative meaning, you can take support from the dummy</p><p>operator do to convert that statement into a yes-no question.</p><p>And when you’re using have as a main verb in its stative</p><p>meaning, you have</p><p>another option, especially when you’re</p><p>speaking informally. you see, you can then use have got (= ’ve</p><p>got) instead of have alone. And if you’re using have got instead of</p><p>have alone, have acts as an auxiliary, and the operator would be</p><p>have itself, and not do — and the statement containing have got</p><p>would be covered by the 1st sub-head above. This usage is more</p><p>common in British English than in uS English. (But in formal</p><p>British English, the operator can be have as well, but this usage</p><p>has become far less common than it used to be). Here are some</p><p>examples:</p><p>As a state verb: do-forms</p><p>• He has a new car.  Does he have a new car? • She</p><p>has long hair.  Does she have long hair? • He has a</p><p>headache.  Does he have a headache? • They have a lot</p><p>of influence.  Do they have a lot of influence? • We have</p><p>no option.  Do we have any option? • He had a lot of</p><p>work to do.  Did he have a lot of work to do?</p><p>22 STATEMENTS INTO yES-NO QuESTIONS</p><p>• He doesn’t have any change for the phone. (Avoid: He</p><p>hasn’t any change for the phone).  Doesn’t he have any</p><p>change for the phone? • They don’t have any children.</p><p>(Avoid: They haven’t any children).  Don’t they have</p><p>any children? • They don’t have any regrets at all. (Avoid:</p><p>They haven’t any regrets at all).  Don’t they have any</p><p>regrets at all? • They don’t have any time to wait. (Avoid:</p><p>They haven’t any time to wait).  Don’t they have any</p><p>time to wait? • you didn’t have any idea about it. (Avoid:</p><p>you haven’t any idea about it).  Didn’t you have any idea</p><p>about it?</p><p>As a state verb: ‘have got’ forms</p><p>• She’s got a car.  Has she got a car? • She’s got long hair.</p><p> Has she got long hair? • He’s got a terrible headache or</p><p>something.  Has he got a terrible headache or something?</p><p>• They’ve got a lot of influence.  Have they got a lot</p><p>of influence? • We’ve got no option.  Have we got any</p><p>option?</p><p>• He hasn’t got any change.  Hasn’t he got any change?</p><p>• They haven’t got any children.  Haven’t they got any</p><p>children? • They haven’t got any regrets at all.  Haven’t</p><p>they got any regrets at all? • They haven’t got any time to</p><p>wait.  Haven’t they got any time to wait?</p><p>Note: you see, have got and haven’t got are quite common in speech. But</p><p>had got (= the past tense form of have got) and hadn’t got (= the past</p><p>tense form of have got) are not. Mind you, had got and hadn’t got do</p><p>not occur in uS English, and are rare even in British English. So avoid</p><p>them. Make questions with the do-forms instead.</p><p>So don’t say: “He’d got a lot of work to do”. Say: “He had a</p><p>lot of work to do.” Don’t ask: “Had he got a lot of work to</p><p>do?”. Ask: “Did he have a lot of work to do?”. In the same</p><p>way, don’t say: “you hadn’t got any idea about it”. Say:</p><p>“you didn’t have any idea about it”. And don’t ask: “Hadn’t</p><p>you got any idea about it?”. Ask: “Didn’t you have any idea</p><p>23STATEMENTS INTO yES-NO QuESTIONS</p><p>about it?”</p><p>As an action verb</p><p>• He has lunch at 12 noon every day.  Does he have lunch</p><p>at 12 noon every day? • They have tea together in the</p><p>evening on most days.  Do they have tea together in the</p><p>evening on most days? • They have a swim in the sea every</p><p>evening.  Do they have a swim in the sea every evening?</p><p>• He had an operation last week.  Did he have an</p><p>operation last week? • They had a quarrel yesterday.  Did</p><p>they have a quarrel yesterday? • She didn’t have breakfast</p><p>today.  Didn’t she have breakfast today?</p><p>Note: Mind you, “have got” is not possible when you use have as an ac-</p><p>tion verb. No. you have the “have got” option only when you use have</p><p>as a state verb.</p><p>Responses to yes-no questions</p><p>Don’t be under the impression that only ‘yes’ and ‘No’ can</p><p>occur as responses to yes-no questions. And don’t be under the</p><p>impression that only ‘yes’ can express affirmation or that only</p><p>‘No’ can express negation. In fact, there are several other terms</p><p>also that can express affirmation and negation, and these other</p><p>terms can also answer yes-no questions.</p><p>Here are some of the other terms that can express affirmation,</p><p>and so can answer a yes-no question:</p><p>• Can I use your bathroom? ~ All right/OK. • Can I ask</p><p>them to come in? ~ By all means. • Can I read your</p><p>newspaper? ~ Certainly. • Are you telling the truth? ~</p><p>Honest to God (informal). • Is that true? ~ Of course. • Is</p><p>it safe? ~ Sure (informal).</p><p>And here are some of the other terms that can express</p><p>negation, and so can answer a yes-no question:</p><p>• Did they blame you? ~ Absolutely not. • Do you expect</p><p>them to come to your help? ~ Certainly not. • Can I show</p><p>24 STATEMENTS INTO yES-NO QuESTIONS</p><p>you another model? ~ Forget it. • Is he going to come? ~ I</p><p>think not. • Have you ever heard him shouting at anybody?</p><p>~ Never. • Do you mind if I have a look? ~ Not at all. •</p><p>Can I borrow your car? ~ Nothing doing. • Do you think</p><p>they’ll support this proposal? ~ Out of the question. • Is he</p><p>going to get married to her? ~ Over my dead body.</p><p>Actually, you can also express affirmation and negation even</p><p>without using these conventional expressions. Here are some</p><p>examples:</p><p>• Is this what you’re looking for? ~ Thank you. • Can I</p><p>have a look at it? ~ If you like. • Is this as good as his</p><p>last book? ~ Better, actually. • Did you enjoy yourself? ~</p><p>Tremendously. • Is she as beautiful as her mother? ~ More</p><p>beautiful, even. • Was she really so rude? ~ I could hardly</p><p>believe it.</p><p>Then there are several terms that can express an intermediate</p><p>meaning (on a gradient from yes to no), and these terms can also</p><p>answer yes-no questions. Here are some of these terms:</p><p>• Do you watch TV often? ~ Hardly ever. • Is he happy</p><p>there? ~ Maybe. • Is he satisfied with your work? ~ It</p><p>appears so. • Did you like it? ~ Not very much. • Do you</p><p>eat out often? ~ Occasionally. • Does she love him? ~</p><p>Perhaps. • Have the police been watching him all these</p><p>days? ~ Probably. • Is he aware of all this? ~ Probably not.</p><p>• Is that true? ~ To some extent. • Is she often late? ~ Very</p><p>often.</p><p>Negative yes-no questions</p><p>As you must have noticed by now, yes-no questions can be positive</p><p>or negative. you see, you can make a negative yes-no question by</p><p>adding an “n’t” after most of the operators in a positive yes-no</p><p>question.</p><p>But there are 3 auxiliaries that cannot be made negative by</p><p>25STATEMENTS INTO yES-NO QuESTIONS</p><p>adding “n’t”. These are am, can and will. Conventionally, their</p><p>negatives are aren’t, can’t and won’t respectively. yes, listen to</p><p>this with attention: The shortened negative of am is aren’t, and</p><p>not amn’t. No. So “am I not…?” is usually reduced to “aren’t</p><p>I…?”.</p><p>Here are some examples of negative yes-no questions:</p><p>• Aren’t I right? (= Am I not right?) • Isn’t he waiting for</p><p>a bus? • Isn’t he her boss? • Aren’t you expecting them? •</p><p>Aren’t they happy? • Wasn’t he a minister? • Weren’t you</p><p>working there then? • Weren’t they against the scheme?</p><p>• Haven’t they replied yet? • Doesn’t he like detective</p><p>stories? • Don’t you want to get this job? • Didn’t you find</p><p>all this a bit strange? • Wouldn’t you like to see our plan</p><p>succeeding?</p><p>Sometimes you can also construct a negative yes-no question</p><p>by using a negative vocabulary item like never in a positive yes-</p><p>no question, instead of adding an “n’t” after the operator. Here’s a</p><p>list of some of the vocabulary items that make a yes-no question</p><p>negative:</p><p>in no way, neither of, never, no, no longer, no more, no one,</p><p>none of, nobody, nothing, nowhere.</p><p>E.g. • Are they in no way concerned with what is going on? • Is</p><p>neither of them interested in the offer? • Have you never heard</p><p>of these things in your life? • Are there no sales assistants here?</p><p>• Do they no longer live here? • Does he no more work for that</p><p>company? • Has no one got back from there yet? • Did none of</p><p>the boxes contain anything? • Did nobody complain about it? •</p><p>Does nothing affect that man? • Is there nowhere for me to park</p><p>the car?</p><p>* * *</p><p>26 EVERyDAy yES-NO QuESTIONS FOR PRACTICE</p><p>CHAPTER 3</p><p>Everyday Yes-No Questions</p><p>for practice</p><p>Here’s a collection</p><p>of everyday yes-no questions for practice.</p><p>Read each question several times — AlOuD. you may feel</p><p>that you already know how to frame these questions. And you</p><p>could be right, too. But the aim here is not to teach you, but to</p><p>teach your organs of speech. let the framework — the syntactic</p><p>structure — of the questions get firmly fixed in your mind. let</p><p>your organs of speech become used to moving according to the</p><p>patterns of these questions.</p><p>Therefore, even if you think you’re very good at framing</p><p>questions of these types, keep uttering the questions AlOuD —</p><p>several times. And you’ll soon find that your organs of speech</p><p>have begun to get control over the question patterns. Here we go</p><p>for the questions:</p><p>Yes-No Questions</p><p>Be-questions</p><p>• Am I going north? • Am I headed towards town? • Am I</p><p>making myself heard? • Anything else I can do for you? •</p><p>Are children allowed? • Are laundry machines available?</p><p>• Are my photos developed yet? • Are pets allowed? •</p><p>Are pets OK? • Are the kids ready? • Are there any nails</p><p>in the box? • Are there seats still available? • Are there</p><p>tickets available on standby? • Are there vending machines</p><p>available? • Are these shop cakes? • Are they any good? •</p><p>Are they going to be OK? • Are things getting you down? •</p><p>Are cameras permitted? • Are we almost there? • Are we</p><p>27EVERyDAy yES-NO QuESTIONS FOR PRACTICE</p><p>having fun yet? • Are we ready to leave?</p><p>• Is there anything I can do (to make it up to you)? •</p><p>Is a gratuity included? • Is a meal served? • Is a paper</p><p>required for this course? • Is a washer and dryer available?</p><p>• Is anyone sitting here? • Is attendance required in this</p><p>course? • Is everything all right? • Is everything OK? •</p><p>Is he angry with me? • Is he breathing? • Is he getting</p><p>fatter? • Is he nuts (= crazy)? • Is he tall and dark? • Is it</p><p>a big house? • Is it a fair proposition? • Is it cancer? • Is</p><p>it catching? • Is it causal or formal? • Is it close to public</p><p>transportation? • Is it closing time already? • Is it curable?</p><p>• Is it difficult?</p><p>• Was he very late? • Was it a good game? • Was it a good</p><p>show? • Was it expensive? • Was it rough crossing them? •</p><p>Was it twins or triplets? • Was it well acted? • Was the car</p><p>damaged? • Was the play good?</p><p>Do-questions</p><p>• D’you agree with him? • D’you agree, Jim? • D’you</p><p>and Mary like ice cream? • D’you both play basketball? •</p><p>D’you change your book every week? • D’you come here</p><p>often? • D’you ever go to the club? • D’you ever go to the</p><p>theatre? • D’you follow? • D’you have his phone number?</p><p>• D’you have my prescription on file? • D’you have proof of</p><p>insurance? • D’you have reservations? • D’you have senior</p><p>citizen discounts? • D’you have smaller bills? • D’you have</p><p>something a bit less expensive? • D’you have something</p><p>specific in mind? • D’you have student rates? • D’you have</p><p>the correct time? • D’you have the directions? • D’you have</p><p>the time? • D’you have this in a larger size? • D’you have</p><p>this in a smaller size? • D’you have this in blue? • D’you</p><p>have this in stock? • D’you have this in suede? • D’you</p><p>have this in wool? • D’you have time for coffee? • D’you</p><p>have to be there? • D’you have to drive this fast? • D’you</p><p>28 EVERyDAy yES-NO QuESTIONS FOR PRACTICE</p><p>have to leave us? • D’you have vegetarian dishes? • D’you</p><p>have your bank ID card? • D’you have your keys? • D’you</p><p>have your receipt? • D’you have your visa? • D’you hear?</p><p>• D’you hear me? • D’you hear what I’m saying? • D’you</p><p>know any French? • D’you know Abdul Zakir? • D’you</p><p>know how much this was? • D’you know how to apply a</p><p>tourniquet? • D’you know how to find 501, Winston street?</p><p>• D’you know if it’s a boy or a girl? • D’you know the time?</p><p>• D’you know what I’m talking about? • D’you know what</p><p>size you are? • D’you know what the problem is? • D’you</p><p>know what time it is? • D’you know what you want? •</p><p>D’you know where 327, Bristow Street is?</p><p>• Do you accept cheques? • Do you get the picture? • Do</p><p>you accept credit cards? • Do you agree? • Do you bake</p><p>birthday cakes to order? • Do you care if I join you? • Do</p><p>you carry diet root beer? • Do you carry the Times of India?</p><p>• Do you check out video cassettes? • Do you come here</p><p>often? • Do you deliver? • Do you do alterations on men’s</p><p>clothing? • Do you do alterations on women’s clothing?</p><p>• Do I have to change buses? • Do I have to change planes?</p><p>• Do I have to change trains? • Do I have to feed them? •</p><p>Do I have to stay over Saturday night? • Do I have to stay</p><p>overnight?</p><p>• Does a bus go there? • Does a train go there? • Does</p><p>anyone know CPR? • Does Arthur really need it? • Does</p><p>he ever lend a hand? • Does he know? • Does he sleep</p><p>through the night yet?</p><p>• Doesn’t anyone want to do the crossword? • Don’t I know</p><p>you from somewhere? • Don’t you get a bit lonely? • Don’t</p><p>you go by underground? • Don’t you have a light in your</p><p>garage? • Don’t you have anything better to do?</p><p>• Did any of the parents turn up? • Did Bob talk to you ? •</p><p>Did everything go OK? • Did I say you could touch that? •</p><p>Did Olaf like it? • Did Mary post that letter? • Did someone</p><p>29EVERyDAy yES-NO QuESTIONS FOR PRACTICE</p><p>mix your plans? • Did the children behave? • Did the</p><p>job take long? • Did they have any luck? • Did we forget</p><p>anything? • Did you bring me anything? • Did you bring</p><p>the map? • Did you buy anything? • Did you call at the</p><p>bank? • Did you call him a liar? • Did you call, Frank? •</p><p>Did you catch the last train?</p><p>have-questions</p><p>• Hadn’t we better ring him now? • Has he been sleeping</p><p>well? • Has Michael arrived yet? • Has she told them?</p><p>• Has this been a problem before? • Hasn’t this coupon</p><p>expired? • Have Bob and Jane arrived? • Have I made</p><p>myself clear? • Have I met him before? • Have some? •</p><p>Have they figured out what’s wrong? • Have we forgotten</p><p>anything? • Have you any cigarette left? • Have you any</p><p>doubt about it? • Have you any objection? • Have you any</p><p>sealing wax? • Have you been keeping busy?</p><p>can-questions</p><p>• Can anyone lend me a copy? • Can David borrow your</p><p>penknife? • Can he play the piano? • Can I apply for a</p><p>credit card? • Can I ask you a question? • Can I borrow</p><p>it ? • Can I borrow some matches? • Can I borrow your</p><p>rubber? • Can I bring my kids? • Can I bring pets? • Can I</p><p>bring something? • Can I bring two guests? • Can I bum a</p><p>light? • Can I buy a money order here? • Can I buy you a</p><p>drink? • Can I call you a taxi? • Can I call you back? • Can</p><p>I change my flight schedule? • Can I change my itinerary?</p><p>• Can I check my baggage through? • Can I check your oil?</p><p>• Can I check your tyres? • Can I come again on Monday?</p><p>• Can I come home by myself, Mummy? • Can I come</p><p>over? • Can I get you something to drink? • Can I get you</p><p>something to drink with that? • Can I go standby?</p><p>• Could I bother you for the time? • Could I buy you a</p><p>30 EVERyDAy yES-NO QuESTIONS FOR PRACTICE</p><p>drink? • Could I come over later today? • Could I get by,</p><p>please? • Could I get you something to drink? • Could</p><p>I give you a lift? • Could I have a soda? • Could I have</p><p>a word with you? • Could I have more coffee, please? •</p><p>Could I have seconds, please? • Could I have some more</p><p>bread, please? • Could I have some more butter? • Could</p><p>I have some more water, please? • Could I have some</p><p>quarters, please? • Could I have someone call you? • Could</p><p>I have the bill?</p><p>may-questions</p><p>• May I ask why you wish to cancel? • May I be excused?</p><p>• May I be frank? • May I borrow this a moment? • May</p><p>I borrow this book for a while? • May I borrow this pen?</p><p>• May I borrow your pen? • May I bring a friend? • May</p><p>I come to your lecture? • May I come too? • May I get it</p><p>gift wrapped? • May I have a receipt, please? • May I have</p><p>another bun?</p><p>must-questions</p><p>• Must I eat it now? • Must I go by train? • Must she type</p><p>it out again? • Must we be very quiet? • Must you do that?</p><p>• Must you beat a dead horse?</p><p>shall-questions</p><p>• Shall I buy you a replacement? • Shall I check your oil?</p><p>• Shall I come in by the front door? • Shall I get rid of it? •</p><p>Shall I</p><p>get you some more? • Shall I go back for it now? •</p><p>Shall I go or shan’t I? • Shall I go to the meeting? • Shall I</p><p>lend him mine?</p><p>• Should I bring anything? • Should I call a doctor? •</p><p>Should I call for the nurse? • Should I send them directly to</p><p>the funeral home?</p><p>31EVERyDAy yES-NO QuESTIONS FOR PRACTICE</p><p>will-questions</p><p>• Will I be able to make my connection? • Will he be all</p><p>right? • Will he buy another one? • Will he come back? •</p><p>Will he say yes, d’you think? • Will he turn up, d’you think?</p><p>• Will it be on sale soon? • Will it help, d’you think? • Will</p><p>my insurance cover this? • Will someone be joining you? •</p><p>Will that be a large soft drink? • Will that be all?</p><p>• Won’t you be cold if you don’t come inside? • Won’t you</p><p>come for a walk? • Won’t you have some grapes? • Won’t</p><p>he get irritated?</p><p>• Would a glass of water help? • Would anyone be</p><p>interested in giving up their seat in exchange for a</p><p>free ticket? • Would anyone like coffee? • Would Julia</p><p>subscribe, d’you suppose? • Would he lend me his new</p><p>dictionary? • Would I lie? • Would I lie to you? • Would I</p><p>like it, d’you think? • Would it be a problem if I dropped</p><p>by for a few minutes? • Would it be all right if I dropped</p><p>by for a few minutes? • Would it be cheaper if I left on</p><p>Thursday, instead? • Would it be possible to deliver this to</p><p>the hospital today? • Would Raju take it, d’you think? •</p><p>Would Pablo have a game? • Would you please gift wrap</p><p>that? • Would you accept a cigar? • Would you care for</p><p>dessert? • Would you care for some nuts? • Would you care</p><p>for some tea? • Would you care for the butter? • Would</p><p>you care to make a reservation for another night? • Would</p><p>you care to see the wine list? • Would you care to stay for</p><p>dinner? • Would you check my tyres? • Would you check</p><p>the battery? • Would you check the oil? • Would you check</p><p>the shocks? • Would you excuse me? • Would you give</p><p>me the Zip code for los Angeles? • Would you have a look</p><p>under the hood? • Would you keep or sell it? • Would you</p><p>like a baked potato, fries, or rice? • Would you like a bite?</p><p>• Would you like a black one or a blue one?</p><p>* * *</p><p>32 WH-QuESTIONS</p><p>CHAPTER 4</p><p>Wh-Questions</p><p>Wh-questions are questions that start with one of the following</p><p>eight wh-words:</p><p>What, When, Where, Which, Who, Whose, Why and How.</p><p>Note: ‘Whom’ is also a wh-word. But in modern English, ‘Whom’ is not</p><p>normally used to frame questions. No. The word ‘Who’ is used instead.</p><p>These words are also called question-words, and so wh-</p><p>questions are also called question-word questions.</p><p>you see, unlike yes-no questions, wh-questions cannot be</p><p>replied by a ‘yes’ or a ‘No’ or by any other term of affirmation or</p><p>negation. These questions need some other kind of a reply from</p><p>an open range of replies — a reply specifying a person, thing,</p><p>place, direction, reason, manner, amount and circumstances.</p><p>Here are a few examples of wh-questions:</p><p>• What is his name? • What will she get? • What do they</p><p>want? • What did she paint? • What were they talking</p><p>about? • What is he interested in? • What was that noise?</p><p>• What will the test cover? • What will they think of me? •</p><p>What would you advise, Allen?</p><p>• When did she see him? • When will Tom be back? •</p><p>When’s the concert? • When’s their bedtime? • When will</p><p>you ask him then?</p><p>• Where has she gone? • Where does he come from? •</p><p>Where shall we keep it? • Where would you like to go? •</p><p>Where’s Arthur?</p><p>• Which of these two do you like? • Which would you</p><p>choose if you were me? • Which will you take, Henry?</p><p>• Who opened the door? • Who can do it? • Who’s next? •</p><p>Who’s on the line? • Who’s got it, then?</p><p>33WH-QuESTIONS</p><p>• Whose is this purse? • Whose is the new bike?</p><p>• Why did she refuse the offer? • Why were you so cross</p><p>with Sharon? • Why was he so rude to you? • Why would</p><p>you ask such a thing?</p><p>• How did you do it? • How does it work? • How do you</p><p>plan to organize it? • How are you? • How is your mother</p><p>now? • How were the children? • How will you pay for</p><p>this? • How would you like that?</p><p>Conversion of statements into</p><p>wh-questions</p><p>In general, you can frame a wh-question in 2 ways:</p><p>(a) wh-element as the S-element: Simply substitute an</p><p>appropriate wh-element for the Subject element. (Here, the</p><p>conversion of a statement into a question does not bring about</p><p>a change in the word order, and there’s no subject-operator</p><p>inversion).</p><p>• Someone opened the door.  Who opened the door? •</p><p>He can do it.  Who can do it? • That is my bag.  Which</p><p>is your bag?</p><p>(b) wh-element as the S/O/C-element: Substitute an</p><p>appropriate wh-element for one of the other elements (the Object</p><p>element, the Describer Complement or the Adverbial). Then</p><p>place the wh-element before the Subject element. Then reverse</p><p>the subject-operator order and place the operator between the</p><p>wh-element and the subject.</p><p>wh-element as the Object</p><p>• She will get a certificate.  What will she get? • They</p><p>want something.  What do they want? • She painted a</p><p>picture.  What did she paint?</p><p>34 WH-QuESTIONS</p><p>wh-element as the Complement</p><p>• This purse is Mary’s.  Whose is this purse?</p><p>wh-element as the Adverbial</p><p>• She saw him yesterday.  When did she see him? • He</p><p>has gone home.  Where has he gone? • She refused the</p><p>offer for some reason.  Why did she refuse the offer?</p><p>If there’s no operator in the corresponding statement, use do</p><p>as a dummy operator.</p><p>• She told him something.  What did she tell him? •</p><p>He knows something.  What does he know? • I like that one</p><p>better.  Which do you like better?</p><p>Advanced wh-questions</p><p>what/which/whose + noun:</p><p>Now go back for a moment to the wh-question examples</p><p>beginning with what, which and whose. If you pay close attention</p><p>to them, you can notice one thing: The words what, which and</p><p>whose stand alone (as pronouns), and are not followed by a noun.</p><p>But in wh-questions beginning with these 3 wh-words, these wh-</p><p>words can also be followed by a noun. In these questions, what,</p><p>which and whose act as determiners, and not as pronouns. Here</p><p>are some examples:</p><p>• What subject is he an authority on? • What idiot told you</p><p>all this? • What university did you go to? • What time did</p><p>it happen? • What stop are we at? • What station is this?</p><p>• What sort of mileage does this car get? • What colour</p><p>are those flowers? • What colour is her new dress? • What</p><p>kind of music do you like? • What make is his car? • What</p><p>language did she speak in? • What size shirt do you take?</p><p>• Whose bag is that? • Whose idea was it? • Whose turn</p><p>is it to do the dishes? • Whose fault was it, then? • Whose</p><p>35WH-QuESTIONS</p><p>mother are you? • Whose side are you on?</p><p>• Which side of the street? • Which subject do you prefer?</p><p>• Which train is she coming on? • Which route did you</p><p>travel by? • Which novelist do you like best?</p><p>which + of:</p><p>• Which of the two dresses do you like better? • Which of</p><p>the two boys is more intelligent?</p><p>how + adverb/adjective:</p><p>• How soon do you expect it to happen? • How often has</p><p>he visited you? • How fast was he driving? • How long</p><p>have you known him?</p><p>• How old is he? • How wide is that road? • How far is</p><p>that place from here? • How difficult was it to deal with</p><p>those people?</p><p>how + many/much:</p><p>• How many years have you worked with this company? •</p><p>How many people? • How many of his books have you read? •</p><p>How many pages?</p><p>• How much money have you got? • How much do I owe</p><p>you? • How much did he lend you? • How much did you</p><p>tell him, then? • How much are these potatoes? • How</p><p>much does this cost?</p><p>why + verb/noun:</p><p>• Why get upset over such a small matter? • Why ask him?</p><p>let’s leave. • Why not meet him personally? • Why argue</p><p>with him? • Why wait? He isn’t going to come. • Why pay</p><p>more when you can buy it for less?</p><p>• Why the hurry? • Why all the secrecy? • Why the panic?</p><p>• He wants you to come with me ~ Why me? Why not</p><p>Ashish? • She blames you for what happened ~ Why me? •</p><p>36 WH-QuESTIONS</p><p>Why me? Why can’t someone else do it?</p><p>why + so + adjective:</p><p>• Why so serious, Ahmed? • Why so angry, Priya?</p><p>Questions with modified wh-word</p><p>wh-word + else:</p><p>• What else did she say? • Where else can we go? • Who</p><p>else was there? • He wants some kind of a favour from you.</p><p>Why else would he say all those things? • How else can we</p><p>fix this problem?</p><p>wh-word + ever:</p><p>• What ever do you mean? • When ever are you going to</p><p>be careful? • Where ever have you put it? • Who ever was</p><p>that tall man standing there? • Why ever did you invite</p><p>them? • How ever did you manage to get it?</p><p>Note: “wh-word + ever” questions occur more often in British English</p><p>than in uS English. These questions express surprise and indicate that</p><p>the speaker has no idea at all what the reply could be.</p><p>wh-word + on earth:</p><p>• What on earth is that black thing? • Why on earth did</p><p>you do it? • When on earth did all this happen? • Where</p><p>on earth are my slippers? • Who on earth gave you</p><p>permission to do all this? • Why on earth did you do that?</p><p>• How on earth did you manage?</p><p>Note: “on earth” questions express surprise, anger or despair, or indicate</p><p>that the speaker is not able to think of an obvious answer.</p><p>wh-word modified in other ways:</p><p>• What exactly do you mean? • What specifically did he</p><p>say? • When precisely did it happen? • Where exactly did</p><p>you find it lying? • Who really discovered the problem? •</p><p>37WH-QuESTIONS</p><p>How clearly could you hear it?</p><p>• About how big was that elephant? • Just what do you</p><p>think are they planning to do?</p><p>Negative wh-questions</p><p>like yes-no questions, wh-questions can also be negative. you</p><p>can construct a negative yes-no question by adding an “n’t” after</p><p>the operator in a positive wh-question.</p><p>E.g. • Who hasn’t signed the register? • Why don’t you tell them</p><p>what actually happened?</p><p>Sometimes you can also construct a negative yes-no question</p><p>by using the word no (or another negative word) in a positive</p><p>wh-question, instead of adding an “n’t” after the operator.</p><p>E.g. • Why do they take no interest in these matters? • Why did she</p><p>say nothing at all?</p><p>A negative wh-question indicates surprise or complaint.</p><p>E.g. • Why haven’t they come yet? • Why can’t you do it</p><p>yourself?</p><p>Negative wh-questions introduced by who, what and which</p><p>ask for information.</p><p>E.g. • What isn’t in the right place? • When wouldn’t it</p><p>be convenient for you? • Where shouldn’t I touch? • Who</p><p>isn’t interested? • Why didn’t you meet him? • Why aren’t</p><p>they helping us? • Which of these isn’t yours? • How long</p><p>haven’t you been feeling very well?</p><p>“Why don’t you/Why not” questions</p><p>Wh-questions starting with “Why don’t you...?” as well as with</p><p>“Why not...?” can be used for invitations, suggestions and</p><p>instructions.</p><p>E.g. • If you don’t like the way he behaves, why not tell him? • Why</p><p>don’t you do some walking/swimming everyday? • Why don’t we</p><p>38 WH-QuESTIONS</p><p>go out for dinner tonight? • Why not start now? • Why not wait</p><p>for a few more days?</p><p>“Why don’t you...?” can be used to give advice (especially, in</p><p>a critical, irritable tone).</p><p>E.g. • Why don’t you try again? • Why don’t you consult a lawyer?</p><p>“Why don’t you...?” can also be used as an enquiry.</p><p>E.g. Why don’t you discuss these things with your family?</p><p>“Why not...?” questions can be used to express agreement.</p><p>E.g. Shall we go for a walk? ~ Why not?</p><p>Instead of “Why don’t you…?”, you can also use “Why don’t</p><p>we…?” for making suggestions.</p><p>E.g. Why don’t we discuss this some other time?</p><p>you can use “Why didn’t…?” to express criticism.</p><p>E.g. Why didn’t you do it yesterday?</p><p>* * *</p><p>39EVERyDAy WH-QuESTIONS FOR PRACTICE</p><p>CHAPTER 5</p><p>Everyday Wh-Questions</p><p>for practice</p><p>Here’s a collection of everyday wh-questions for practice. Read</p><p>each word group (wh-question) several times — AlOuD:</p><p>what-questions</p><p>• What sort of salary do you expect? • What are the</p><p>requirements? • Tell me exactly what happened? • What’s</p><p>the matter? • What’s the ZIP code there? • What’s to go</p><p>wrong? • Well, what d’you say to my offer? • What about</p><p>a game of billiards? • What about Sasha? • What about</p><p>asking Hamid? • What about their offer? • What about</p><p>giving it to Frank? • What about his cabbages? • What</p><p>about liver and onions? • What about Sheila? • What</p><p>about mileage? • What about Jose? • What about Smiths?</p><p>• What about some brandy? • What about something to</p><p>drink? • What about the pills? • What about the washing</p><p>up? • What about this material? • What about this money?</p><p>• What about this old deed? • What about this waste paper</p><p>basket? • What about Thursday? • What got into you? •</p><p>What kind of flowers did you have in mind? • What makes</p><p>you think I care? • What time is it? • What’s your deal?</p><p>• What’s your point? • What’s your sign (= star sign)?</p><p>• What star sign are you? • What’s happening? • What’s</p><p>his name? • What do you want to hear? • What about</p><p>vegetables? • What aisle is the canned salmon in? • What</p><p>am I charged with? • What am I supposed to do about it?</p><p>• What are my monthly principal and interest payments? •</p><p>What are the alternatives?</p><p>40 EVERyDAy WH-QuESTIONS FOR PRACTICE</p><p>when-questions</p><p>• When are we to expect you? • When are you being</p><p>released? • When are you coming to stay with us? • When</p><p>are you due? • When are you free? • When are you going</p><p>home? • When are you going to Brazil again? • When are</p><p>you open? • When are your office hours? • When can I</p><p>borrow it? • When can I move in? • When can I see you</p><p>alone? • When can I take occupancy? • When can you</p><p>come? • When can you do it? • When can you give me an</p><p>estimate? • When can you let me have them? • When can</p><p>you start? • When d’you want me? • When do I have to be</p><p>out of the room by?</p><p>where-questions</p><p>• Where do you come off saying that? • Where are the best</p><p>seats you have left? • Where are the children’s clothes?</p><p>• Where are the napkins? • Where are the periodicals?</p><p>• Where are the public rest rooms? • Where are the rest</p><p>rooms? • Where are their bags? • Where are we? • Where</p><p>are you going? • Where are you going for your holidays? •</p><p>Where are you located? • Where are you off to? • Where</p><p>are you off to now? • Where are you staying? • Where can</p><p>I find children’s clothes? • Where can I get a library card? •</p><p>Where can I get Italian food?</p><p>which-questions</p><p>• Which ships call at Barbados? • Which airport? • Which</p><p>are our places? • Which building is your office in? • Which</p><p>car shall I use? • Which corner? • Which credit cards</p><p>do you take? • Which d’you recommend? • Which day’s</p><p>best, d’you think? • Which do you prefer? • Which do you</p><p>prefer, Tom?</p><p>41EVERyDAy WH-QuESTIONS FOR PRACTICE</p><p>who-questions</p><p>• Who are you? • Who asked you? • Who can say that?</p><p>• Who can we ask? • Who can we get to stand in? • Who</p><p>d’you think will contribute? • Who do I call in case of</p><p>emergency? • Who do you think you are? • Who do you</p><p>think you’re kidding? • Who do you want to speak with? •</p><p>Who do you want to talk to? • Who do you wish to speak</p><p>to? • Who do you wish to speak with? • Who asked your</p><p>opinion? • Who do you think you’re talking to? • Who gave</p><p>you the right? • Who gave him the book? • Who gave it to</p><p>you? • Who got the goal?</p><p>why-questions</p><p>• Why are they so cross with me? • Why are you looking</p><p>so miserable? • Why are you so blue (= sad)? • Why are</p><p>you so bullheaded? • Why are you so late? • Why are you</p><p>so miserable? • Why be so rude to him? • Why bring an</p><p>umbrella? • Why bring me that book? • Why bring me</p><p>that file? • Why can’t you behave? • Why d’you ask about</p><p>that book ? • Why d’you give me extra home work? • Why</p><p>d’you put up with it? • Why d’you want more money? •</p><p>Why did he refuse? • Why did he run away? • Why did</p><p>you go there? • Why did you leave your last job? • Why</p><p>did you lock the door? • Why did you pay in cash? • Why</p><p>didn’t Zahid come? • Why didn’t he ask me? • Why didn’t</p><p>your brother mention it to her? • Why didn’t they ignore it?</p><p>• Why didn’t you phone me, then? • Why didn’t you play?</p><p>• Why didn’t you talk them out of it? • Why didn’t you tell</p><p>me?</p><p>how-questions</p><p>• How many weeks in advance do I have to buy to get a</p><p>discount? • How much postage do I need for this? • How</p><p>close to the Town hall is it? • How much are my monthly</p><p>42 EVERyDAy WH-QuESTIONS FOR PRACTICE</p><p>principal and interest payments? • How goes it with you?</p><p>• How you doing? • How would I know? • How are you</p><p>this morning? • And how about your sister? • And how are</p><p>you today? • And how was your Christmas? • And how’s</p><p>the skirt? • And what is your name? • How do I get back to</p><p>the disc operating system? • Which line goes downtown?</p><p>• How about a bite? • How about a cup of coffee? • How</p><p>about a game of bridge? • How about a rubber, Tony? •</p><p>How about a theatre tonight? • How about asking Ajith? •</p><p>How about asking Pedro and Keshav? • How about asking</p><p>Priya to join us? • How about asking the Menons? • How</p><p>about asking Tim? • How about cleaning up a little around</p><p>here? • How about going in the spring? • How about</p><p>Jane? • How about me going to fetch them? • How about</p><p>phoning them? • How about postponing the game? • How</p><p>about Saturday? • How about six o’clock? • How about</p><p>some new heels? • How about the jacket? • How about</p><p>visiting the museum? • How am I doing? • How are you?</p><p>• How are you doing? • How are you doing today? • How</p><p>are you feeling? • How are you feeling now?</p><p>Alternative questions</p><p>Sometimes, a question itself offers two or more options, and</p><p>expects one only of them as the reply. The last of the options</p><p>would be introduced by the word or. This kind of a question is</p><p>known as an alternative question.</p><p>There are two types of alternative questions:</p><p>• A yes-no question type</p><p>E.g. Would you like coffee, tea or milk?</p><p>• A wh-type yes-no question.</p><p>E.g. Which is your favourite season? Spring, summer, autumn or</p><p>winter?</p><p>43EVERyDAy WH-QuESTIONS FOR PRACTICE</p><p>The options that the question gives may be in the form of</p><p>phrases (including one-word phrases) or in the form of clauses.</p><p>Here are a few examples:</p><p>(a) Phrases as options</p><p>E.g. • Would you like tea or coffee? • Is it a boy or a girl? • Did you</p><p>come by bus or train? • Was he sitting or standing? • When did</p><p>you come, yesterday or today? • Who gave it to you, Ann or her</p><p>father?</p><p>(b) Clauses as options</p><p>E.g. Did you call him or did you write to him? • Will you bring it with</p><p>you or will you send it across through somebody? • Are you in</p><p>favour of it or are you against it?</p><p>The second alternative (clause) can be the negative of the</p><p>first, and then the alternative question can be expressed in one</p><p>of the 2 ways:</p><p>Are you in favour of it or aren’t you?</p><p>Are you in favour of it or not?</p><p>This type of yes-no questions sound impatient and has a</p><p>petulant tone and are not common.</p><p>* * *</p><p>44 QuESTION-INITIATOR WORD GROuPS</p><p>CHAPTER 6</p><p>Question-initiator word groups</p><p>you’ll find below a number of question-initiator word groups.</p><p>These word groups cover both Yes-No questions and Wh-word</p><p>questions.</p><p>I’ve called these word groups question-initiators, because</p><p>they’re the beginning parts of questions. And they’re ready-to-use</p><p>parts too, because each of them is very commonly used by every</p><p>fluent speaker to make a large number of everyday questions.</p><p>And so they save you from the agony and trouble of having to</p><p>think of putting together an acceptable initiator combination</p><p>every time you have to utter a question. And soon it becomes</p><p>easy and convenient to use them.</p><p>Once these initiators start occurring easily and naturally to</p><p>you, a major part of your difficulty in (making questions) would</p><p>be over. They lead you effortlessly into your thoughts and into</p><p>the syntactic framework needed to express those thoughts — and</p><p>even into a choice of lexical items needed to fill that framework.</p><p>you should practise saying these question word groups in this</p><p>way: Say each word group as you’d say a single word, without</p><p>any pause in the middle. Say each word group in this way again</p><p>and again — as many times as possible. And every time, say each</p><p>word group AlOuD. let your ears hear each word group every</p><p>time you utter it. This sort of practice will give plenty of training</p><p>to your organs of speech, and they’ll soon stop hesitating to let</p><p>you use the word groups in speech.</p><p>So, here we go for the question-initiator word groups:</p><p>Am-initiators</p><p>• Am I right in thinking...? • Am I not right in supposing…?</p><p>• Am I the only...? • Am I going to be...? • Am I a little...?</p><p>45QuESTION-INITIATOR WORD GROuPS</p><p>Are-initiators</p><p>• Are short people…? • Are there any letters for…? •</p><p>Are there any…? • Are they all…? • Are you a …? •</p><p>Are you afraid of …? • Are you doing anything…? • Are</p><p>you enjoying…? • Are you going to let me…? • Are you</p><p>going to pay for…? • Are you going to visit…? • Are you</p><p>going to…? • Are you having a...? • Are you having…? •</p><p>Are you learning any…? • Are you nearly…? • Are your</p><p>neighbours…? • Are you sorry for what…? • Are you</p><p>sure…? • Are your friends…? • Aren’t you tired of…? •</p><p>Aren’t you...?</p><p>Can-initiators</p><p>• Can Dad…? • Can I borrow your...? • Can I help...? •</p><p>Can I leave the washing up till…? • Can we…? • Can they</p><p>be...? • Can Rao…? • Can you be ready at…? • Can you</p><p>carry the…? • Can you drink…? • Can you imagine…? •</p><p>Can you read the notice…? • Can you read the…? • Can</p><p>you remember when…? • Can you remember where…? •</p><p>Can you see the…? • Can you tell me how…? • Can you</p><p>tell me the…? • Can you tell me what…? • Can you tell me</p><p>where…? • Can you tell me who…? • Can you tell me why</p><p>you…? • Can you tell me why…? • Can you tell me…? •</p><p>Can they...? • Could he have prevented…? • Could I have</p><p>a cup of…? • Could I have a new…? • Could I have a look</p><p>at…? • Could I have some more…? • Could I have your…?</p><p>• Could I see your…? • Could I speak to…? • Could you</p><p>live entirely on your…? • Could they be…? • Could we</p><p>speak to the…? • Could you change a…? • Could you do</p><p>without…? • Could you help me with…? • Could you keep</p><p>it in your…? • Could you lend it to…? • Could you please</p><p>ring back in…? • Could you possibly do it…? • Could you</p><p>possibly give me a…? • Could you read the…? • Could you</p><p>ring up the…? • Could you show me your…? • Could you</p><p>46 QuESTION-INITIATOR WORD GROuPS</p><p>sign the…? • Could you spare…? • Could you wait a…? •</p><p>Couldn’t he be…? • Couldn’t you leave some for…?</p><p>Do-initiators</p><p>• Did any of you actually see the…? • Did anyone ask</p><p>any…? • Did he have to…? • Did he help…? • Did they...?</p><p>• Did it take him long to…? • Did she have to…? • Did</p><p>Sita have to…? • Did the idea interest any of…? • Did</p><p>the workers…? • Did they tell you to be…? • Did they</p><p>understand what…? • Did you buy…? • Did you do…?</p><p>• Did you drink it…? • Did you ever have time…? • Did</p><p>you get a chance to…? • Did you go to Japan for…? • Did</p><p>you have a …? • Did you have a good journey…? • Did</p><p>you have any difficulty in…? • Did you have any money</p><p>when…? • Did you have to write…? • Did you have</p><p>trouble…? • Did you hear a…? • Did you know she hadn’t</p><p>anything to…? • Did you know what…? • Did you like</p><p>the…? • Did you meet him…? • Did you notice whether…?</p><p>• Did you post the letter…? • Did you read…? • Did you</p><p>remember to…? • Did you reserve seats on…? • Did you</p><p>see…? • Did you understand my…? • Did you use to…?</p><p>• Did you visit the…? • Did your brother…? • Did your</p><p>mother say…? • Did your uncle agree to…? • Didn’t I give</p><p>you…? • Didn’t I…? • Didn’t you do any work…? • Didn’t</p><p>you do some work…? • Didn’t you use to…? • Do I have</p><p>to come at…? • Do I have to eat all this…? • Do Mary and</p><p>Molly have…? • Do most men…? • Do they all speak…?</p><p>• Do they ever…? • Do they have to…? • Do we have</p><p>time to…? • Do you always have a…? • Do you come here</p><p>by…? • Do you ever sleep in…? • Do you feel that…? •</p><p>Do you find it…? • Do you find that…? • Do you give it</p><p>back without…? • Do you grow your own vegetables…?</p><p>• Do you have time to …? • Do you have to…? • Do</p><p>you have…? • Do you hear that noise…? • Do you know</p><p>47QuESTION-INITIATOR WORD GROuPS</p><p>anybody in…? • Do you know how far it is to…? • Do you</p><p>know if any…? • Do you know that…? • Do you know the</p><p>…? • Do you know the way to…? • Do you know what…?</p><p>• Do you know where…? • Do you know which</p><p>is…? •</p><p>Do you know why…? • Do you know…? • Do you like…?</p><p>• Do you live...? • Do you mind if I…? • Do you mind</p><p>working on…? • Do you need …? • Do you object to…? •</p><p>Do you often eat...? • Do you often…? • Do you play…? •</p><p>Do you prefer…? • Do you really think he used to…? • Do</p><p>you remember me asking for…? • Do you require…? • Do</p><p>you see any…? • Do you see that…? • Do you see what…?</p><p>• Do you suffer from…? • Do you think hard when…? • Do</p><p>you think he would come if…? • Do you think he…? • Do</p><p>you think I should…? • Do you think it will…? • Do you</p><p>think we’ll have to…? • Do you think we should…? • Do</p><p>you think you could…? • Do you understand what …? •</p><p>Do you want? • Do you want any more…? • Do you want</p><p>to see the…? • Do they…? • Does a number of people…?</p><p>• Does anyone want tickets for…? • Does he always…? •</p><p>Does he drink…? • Does he ever…? • Does he have to…?</p><p>• Does he know…? • Does he love...? • Does he play…?</p><p>• Does Mario…? • Does it cost very much to…? • Does it</p><p>ever…? • Does Raju usually…? • Does she always wear…?</p><p>• Does she have to…? • Does your sister like…? • Doesn’t</p><p>Mary…? • Doesn’t Mr. Sharma know…? • Don’t you wish</p><p>you…?</p><p>Have-initiators</p><p>• Had he realized…? • Hadn’t we better…? • Has anyone</p><p>cleaned the…? • Has Dad ever…? • Has he been…? •</p><p>Has he missed his…? • Has he some other thing to…? •</p><p>Has he spoken to…? • Has he written to the…? • Has his</p><p>temperature…? • Has Nazia…? • Has Rahman been…? •</p><p>Has she fed the…? • Has she paid the…? • Has Sheila...?</p><p>48 QuESTION-INITIATOR WORD GROuPS</p><p>• Has somebody mended that…? • Has your dog ever</p><p>bitten…? • Has your friend gone…? • Hasn’t he been...?</p><p>• Hasn’t she…? • Have I asked you to…? • Have they...?</p><p>• Have they been through…? • Have they done their…? •</p><p>Have they repaired the…? • Have you and your friends…?</p><p>• Have you any idea when…? • Have you any other thing</p><p>to…? • Have you any...? • Have you anything else to…?</p><p>• Have you been here…? • Have you been to a…? •</p><p>Have you been to the…? • Have they been to…? • Have</p><p>you decided on…? • Have you done any…? • Have you</p><p>done this sort of…? • Have you eaten…? • Have you ever</p><p>been to…? • Have you ever driven…? • Have you ever</p><p>drunk…? • Have you ever eaten…? • Have you ever seen</p><p>a…? • Have you ever seen…? • Have you ever tried to…?</p><p>• Have you ever watched…? • Have they ever…? • Have</p><p>we ever…? • Have you ever…? • Have you found the…?</p><p>• Have you got a ticket for…? • Have you got…? • Have</p><p>you had anything to…? • Have you had enough of…? •</p><p>Have you had your…? • Have you had…? • Have you</p><p>heard what…? • Have you lived here…? • Have you lost</p><p>anything…? • Have you made the…? • Have you met</p><p>my…? • Have you paid the…? • Have you planted your…?</p><p>• Have you put the car in…? • Have you seen a…? • Have</p><p>you seen him…? • Have you seen his…? • Have you seen</p><p>my…? • Have you seen that...? • Have you sewn on my…?</p><p>• Have you spent all your…? • Have you wound the…?</p><p>• Have you…? • Have your father and mother been…? •</p><p>Haven’t I given you…? • Haven’t you been…? • Haven’t</p><p>you got a…? • Haven’t you heard…?</p><p>How-initiators</p><p>• How can I possibly…? • How can I see when…? • How</p><p>can they…? • How can one tell if…? • How can we get</p><p>there in…? • How can you bear to…? • How can you talk</p><p>to a…? • How could you be so…? • How did he…? • How</p><p>49QuESTION-INITIATOR WORD GROuPS</p><p>did you come to…? • How did you do in the…? • How</p><p>did you get into…? • How did you get your…? • How did</p><p>you go to…? • How do I get from here to…? • How do</p><p>you get on with…? • How do you know that…? • How do</p><p>you know…? • How do you like my…? • How do you like</p><p>this…? • How does it...? • How far can you …? • How far</p><p>is it to…? • How far is…? • How far will...? • How large</p><p>is…? • How long ago did…? • How long did you spend…?</p><p>• How long does it take to…? • How long have you been</p><p>learning…? • How long have they been…? • How long</p><p>is…? • How long will you go on…? • How long will your</p><p>friends be…? • How many cakes can you get into…? •</p><p>How many have I…? • How many letters did you…? •</p><p>How many of these are…? • How many of you can…? •</p><p>How many of you have…? • How many of you must…?</p><p>• How many people know the…? • How many pieces</p><p>of…? • How many times have I told you not to…? • How</p><p>many…? • How much are you going to give me for…? •</p><p>How much are…? • How much did it…? • How much did</p><p>these…? • How much did you pay for…? • How much did</p><p>he…? • How much did…? • How much do you think…? •</p><p>How much does it cost to…? • How much have you…? •</p><p>How much must…? • How much will…? • How often are</p><p>there…? • How often did he…? • How old are…? • How</p><p>old is…? • How soon will…?</p><p>Is-initiators</p><p>• Is it cold...? • Is it less expensive…? • Is it more</p><p>expensive to…? • Is it true that they…? • Is it very painful</p><p>to…? • Is it worth…? • Is she interested in…? • Is that a</p><p>personal…? • Is the lift…? • Is there a …? • Is there time</p><p>for…? • Is this the spot where…? • Is your friend…? • Is</p><p>your name…? • Isn’t he…? • Isn’t it wonderful to have…?</p><p>• Isn’t she…?</p><p>50 QuESTION-INITIATOR WORD GROuPS</p><p>May-initiators</p><p>• May I borrow your…? • May I take…?</p><p>Must-initiators</p><p>• Must you always ask me what…? • Must you do it all…?</p><p>• Must you make such a…? • Mustn’t you eat…?</p><p>Shall-initiators</p><p>• Shall I ask her to…? • Shall I ask the little boy how to…?</p><p>• Shall I carry some of…? • Shall I do it before…? • Shall</p><p>I ever see…? • Shall I go and get a…? • Shall I have to</p><p>do the…? • Shall I lend you some…? • Shall I start…? •</p><p>Shall I tell him what…? • Shall I wait for…? • Shall we be</p><p>in time…? • Shall we be…? • Shall we ever…? • Shall we</p><p>go for…? • Shall we meet here in…? • Should he be…? •</p><p>Should I be…? • Should I tell the …? • Should she be…?</p><p>• Should the man be…? • Should we cut the...? • Should</p><p>you say…?</p><p>Was-initiators</p><p>• Was it very…? • Was the driver...? • Was there a lot</p><p>to…? • Wasn’t Mozart a famous…? • Wasn’t she…? • Were</p><p>father and mother…? • Were there many people at the…?</p><p>• Were there…? • Were they surprised…? • Were we…? •</p><p>Were you able to…? • Were you at the cinema…? • Were</p><p>you trying to…? • Were you very busy…? • Were you very</p><p>late…? • Weren’t you supposed to…? • Weren’t you…?</p><p>What-initiators</p><p>• What about going for…? • What about going to…? •</p><p>What about just putting a…? • What about leaving this…?</p><p>• What are all these…? • What are they supposed to…?</p><p>• What are we going to have for…? • What are you doing</p><p>51QuESTION-INITIATOR WORD GROuPS</p><p>for…? • What are you doing next…? • What are you going</p><p>to do with…? • What are you going to…? • What are you</p><p>whispering to…? • What brand of…? • What can it…? •</p><p>What caused the…? • What changes would you…? • What</p><p>colour shirt did…? • What colour would you like…? •</p><p>What date…? • What did he…? • What did she…? • What</p><p>did you have for…? • What did you miss most when…?</p><p>• What did you see when…? • What did you...? • What</p><p>different colour polishes do…? • What different colours…?</p><p>• What different occasions…? • What different people…?</p><p>• What different places…? • What different types of…?</p><p>• What do I have to…? • What do they...? • What do you</p><p>expect me to…? • What do you mean by…? • What do</p><p>you plan to…? • What do you think it is…? • What do you</p><p>think you are…? • What does it...? • What else besides</p><p>medicines is…? • What else did you…? • What experience</p><p>do you…? • What famous places are there…? • What fell</p><p>on the…? • What fruits are there…? • What good books</p><p>have you read…? • What happened when…? • What has</p><p>he been…? • What has he just…? • What have I done with</p><p>my…? • What have people done about…? • What have</p><p>you done for…? • What have you done with…? • What</p><p>have you got in …? • What have you just…? • What have</p><p>they…? • What hotel is…? • What interest do you…? •</p><p>What is meant by…? • What is the best way to…? • What</p><p>is the name of …? • What is the strange...? • What is</p><p>wrong with…? • What is your new…? • What made you</p><p>do…? • What makes people believe…? • What makes you</p><p>think…? • What material is…? • What number did…? •</p><p>What other kinds of…? • What other person did…?</p>