The English language has several ways to formulate a question. Practice turning declarative sentences into interrogatives in order to master each method.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Transform Compound Declarative Sentences with Auxiliary Verbs
Step 1. Search for auxiliary verbs
Auxiliary verbs are parts of speech that modify the meaning of the main verb. If they're within a sentence, you can easily turn it into a question. Here are some examples of compound declarative sentences with the auxiliary verb in bold:
- "The teachers have treated us kindly "(The teachers treated us well).
- "They had already eaten "(They had already eaten).
- "She will win the fight ".
- "My cat would climb that tree "(My cat would like to climb that tree).
- "A pie can feed eight people "(A cake can satisfy eight people).
- "We shall meet again ".
- "THE was standing "(I was standing).
Advise:
check the contracted forms of auxiliary verbs. For example, in the sentence "We'll go to school", "we'll" is the contraction of "we will". "Will" is an auxiliary verb. Similarly, "hasn't" is the contraction of "has not" and "has" is also an auxiliary verb.
Step 2. Move the auxiliary verb to the beginning of the sentence
Leave the rest of the sentence unchanged. Put the auxiliary at the beginning of the proposition and ask a question.
- "The teachers have treated us kindly. → Have the teachers treated us kindly? "(Did the teachers treat us well → Did the teachers treat us well?).
- "They had already eaten. → Had they already eaten? "(Had they already eaten → Had they already eaten?).
- "She will win the fight. → Will she win the fight? "(Will she win the fight → Will she win the fight?).
- "My cat would climb that tree. → Would my cat climb that tree? "(My cat would like to climb that tree → Would my cat want to climb that tree?).
- "That pie can feed eight people. → Can that pie feed eight people?"
- "We shall meet again. → Shall we meet again? "(Will we meet again → Will we meet again?).
- "THE was standing. → Was I standing? "(Was I standing → Was I standing?).
Step 3. Move only part of the compound auxiliary verbs
Some auxiliaries contain more than one verbal element. For example, has been, will have been, will be or would have been are all auxiliary verbs. Just put the first element at the beginning of the sentence and leave the rest where it is. Here are two examples:
- "Your brother has been growing quickly. → Has your brother been growing quickly? "(Is your brother growing fast → Is your brother growing fast?).
- "THE could have been studying. → Could THE have been studying? "(Could I" have studied → Could I have studied?).
Step 4. Look for auxiliary verbs in contracted form
Often the auxiliaries are contracted and, therefore, it is more difficult to identify them. Look at the following examples:
- " We'll be running all day. → We will be running all day. → Will we be running all day? "(Will we run all day → Will we run all day?).
- "Our boss hasn't arrived yet. → Hasn't our boss arrived yet? " Has our boss not arrived yet?"
Method 2 of 3: Turn Other Declarative Phrases into Interrogative
Step 1. Learn how to use "does"
If the subject is singular and the verb is conjugated in the simple present tense (ie in the present tense), add "does" at the beginning of the question. Use the base of the verb, ie the infinitive without the "to" particle. Here are some examples:
- "He cleans the bedroom. → Does he clean the bedroom? "(Does it clean the bedroom → Does it clean the bedroom?).
- "A year consists of four seasons. → Does a year consist of four seasons? "(A year consists of four seasons → A year consists of four seasons?).
- "My cat listens when I talk. → Does my cat listen when I talk? "(Does my cat listen to me when I talk → Does my cat listen to me when I talk?).
Step 2. Add "do" for plural subjects or for "you"
If the subject is a plural noun and the verb is in the simple present tense, insert "do" at the beginning of the interrogative. Also use it when the subject is "you".
- "They greet their teacher. → Do they greet their teacher?"
- "The protesters call for change. → Do the protesters call for change? "(Protesters call for change → Protesters call for change?).
- "You throw stones at my window. → Do you throw stones at my window?"
Step 3. Use "did" for verbs conjugated to the simple past tense (the past tense)
"Did" is also used when the verb is in the past tense, regardless of whether the subject is singular or plural. Even if the question is in the past tense, it uses its verbal basis, ie the infinitive without the "to" particle.
- "He saved the cat. → Did he save the cat? "(Did he save the cat → Did he save the cat?).
- "The sheep jumped over the fence. → Did the sheep jump over the fence? "(The sheep crossed the fence → Did the sheep cross the fence?).
- "He broke my oven. → Did he break my oven? "(Broke my oven → Broke my oven?).
- Remember that a verb in the simple past is not an auxiliary. If you find "was" or "has" in front of a verb, you have to use the first method.
Step 4. Move the verb "to be"
You do not need additional elements to transform sentences containing "to be" into interrogatives. Just put the verb in front of the subject.
- "THE am happy to see you. → Am I happy to see you? "(I am happy to see you → Am I happy to see you?).
- "You are going home. → Are you going home? ".
- "He is thirsty. → Is he thirsty? "(Are you thirsty → Are you thirsty?).
- "THE was tired. → Was I tired? "(Was I tired → Was I tired?).
- "You were happy. → Were you happy? "(Were you happy → Were you happy?).
- "My father will leave tomorrow. → Will my father leave tomorrow? "(Will my father leave tomorrow → Will my father leave tomorrow?).
- For other forms of the verb "to be", use the same rules as for auxiliary verbs: move only the first element. For example: "The horse has been angry. → Has the horse been angry? "(Horse got nervous → Horse got nervous?).
Method 3 of 3: Advanced Methods
Step 1. Add question words (conjunctions and interrogative pronouns)
They are parts of speech (such as "who, what, when, why, where" and "how") used to obtain more information. Using them, you don't just introduce a question, but also ask for more details. Use the above rules to transform a declarative sentence into an interrogative, then enter the question word at the beginning. You also have to move the subject and the verb.
- "You are going home. → When are you going home?"
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"The sheep jumped over the fence. → How did the sheep jump over the fence? "(The sheep crossed the fence → How did the sheep cross the fence?).
In this example, the introduction of the question word allows you to emphasize the verb jump (the sheep did jump). You could also use the simple present perfect (with have) or the past progressive (with were)
Step 2. Add question tags
These are questions that accompany the declarative sentence, which basically remains unchanged, except for a comma and a small question mark at the end. People often use question tags to confirm a fact. Here are some examples:
-
She eats fish. → She eats fish , right?
(Eat fish → Eat fish, right?).
-
James Joyce was Irish. → James Joyce was Irish , wasn't he?
(James Joyce was Irish → James Joyce was Irish, wasn't he?).
Step 3. Use the intonation
When you speak, the same sentence can become a question with a different tone of voice, with no other variations. Of course this method is not used in the written language.
Correct intonation changes according to regional variants. It is best to learn this technique from someone who is fluent with the cadence you would like to learn
Step 4. Add the question mark
When writing, use it at the end of questions, even when composing a dialogue.
- "You are going home. → You are going home?" (Are you going home → Are you going home?).
- "She's a scientist. → She's a scientist?" (Is she a scientist → Is she a scientist? - indicates a certain skepticism).
Advice
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There are slight differences between the questions in British English and American English. Any English speaker understands both variants, but it might be strange if you use one instead of the other. Here are some examples:
- The modal auxiliary verbs "must" and "might" are not often used in American English. British English speakers would say: "Must I pay for your dinner?" ("Do I have to pay the bill?"), While most American English speakers would say, "Do I have to pay for your dinner?" ("Do I have to pay the bill?").
- The verb "shall" is much more common in England than in the United States.
- Either way, Americans use the British English version when in more formal settings.
- The English definition of "auxiliary verbs" is auxiliary verbs, but helping verbs is also used.
