This tag is for questions related to the formation, or answering of questions.
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Should I use a semicolon or a colon to introduce a question at the end of a sentence? [duplicate]
Which of the following is punctuated correctly?
My question for you is: how do I do that?
My question for you is; how do I do that?
Or should it be something different altogether?
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Negative question; what's the affirmative answer here? [duplicate]
My wife and I communicate in English. She's Japanese, I'm Norwegian and we're both language enthusiasts; this makes for a lot of interesting language discussions.
This is something that surfaced ...
2
votes
0answers
22 views
“A question in a question” [duplicate]
I've got two questions for you.
Number one: I've always been confused about what I call "a question in a question" (maybe there is a technical term for that but I don't know it). What I mean is... ...
4
votes
1answer
77 views
Is “who did what” grammatically correct?
Sometimes I wish to know what each person in a group of people did, or where each person went, or which book goes where. Is it correct to say,
Who went where?
Who did what?
Who told whom?
...
-3
votes
0answers
22 views
“what are some xyz” [closed]
I visit this site called "quora" , where users post questions and fellow users try to answer them.
Many of the questions are of the form "what are some __" .
For example "what are some of the best ...
1
vote
1answer
70 views
asking a question with “have”
The context is that a doctor is asking about somebody's child's symptoms of influenza.
Is this question correct: What symptoms has Anne? If it's incorrect, then why?
It looks strange to me, I would ...
-1
votes
0answers
40 views
Another word for “downgrade”? [closed]
I am trying to think of a word (it's on the tip of my tongue), I'll talk around it and maybe someone can give me some brain joggers? Here goes.
I am trying to ask a question on Stack Overflow - I ...
0
votes
1answer
75 views
What's the English version of the German “oder?” [closed]
In German, you often add the question word oder after a statement (", oder?") to ask whether the statement's correct. What is the equivalent of oder in English?
I always begin sentences with this ...
-1
votes
0answers
46 views
“Is someone below?” vs “Is there someone below?” [closed]
I know the second option is correct, but I'd also like to know whether the first is. I'm in the process of rooting out my bad grammatical habits, and I can't shake the feeling that I've seen the first ...
2
votes
2answers
96 views
Past Perfect question forms with 'before' etc
A part of an entry about Past Perfect (424.1) in Swan's Practical English Usage 3rd Ed states that the past perfect is not necessary in the cases where we use conjunctions (e.g. after, as soon as) and ...
-2
votes
1answer
69 views
Is the answer to this question “neither” or “either”?
She doesn't think so or you don't think so?
Is it grammatically correct to respond with
Either.
or
Neither.
to this question?
Or does this depend on the meaning intended to be ...
-2
votes
3answers
73 views
“What keeps him going?” vs. “What does him keep going?” [duplicate]
Why is the grammatical structure of "What keeps him going?" right? I got a bit confused over this, when I realized that this structure fundamentally contradicts the basic rule I teach my students: ...
-1
votes
1answer
50 views
Colon usage after an imperative sentence in survey instructions
Consider a survey question that asks a question and then gives instruction about how to respond. For example,
Is this a sample survey question? Check all that apply:
__ yes
__ no
Is it ...
1
vote
1answer
45 views
“Why not” and double negatives
This popped up during a conversation. My friend said (roughly):
Some vegetarians don't eat meat. Why not fish?
To me, this felt somewhat weird. Her intent was to ask, if some vegetarians refuse ...
3
votes
2answers
98 views
“Can I do X” vs. “Can't I do X”
Consider this scenarios:
A: Can I do X?
A: Can't I do X?
In both the cases, the B replies with "Yes" to indicate A can do X and with "No" to indicate he cannot.
The 1st one seems to ask for ...
-4
votes
1answer
104 views
Grammar: did + past simple, is it correct? [closed]
I’ve noticed a few times where someone says something like “Did you made...” or “Did you worked...” when asking questions.
Is this some kind of unofficial talk or is it completely incorrect ...
0
votes
1answer
145 views
What is the proper way to ask two questions in one sentence?
Every now and again I find myself writing a sentence like this:
INPUT in LPINPUT is some data structure I can identify — what does LP mean, array?
I don't know what to call this type of ...
2
votes
2answers
78 views
“What questions are there?” vs. “What are the questions there?”
Imagine this scene: "a non-native student asking another student about the questions in a paper on the table of the teacher". Which is the correct way for asking this between the two questions below:
...
-2
votes
2answers
62 views
why use a 'statistics' at the end of this sentence? is it correct? [closed]
You lock your car, you put valuables in the trunk and you even leave the empty glove box open.
Is this sufficient to keep your vehicle off the car thefts statistics?
5
votes
2answers
126 views
Why do positive and negative variants of the same question elicit the same answer? [duplicate]
In common American English usage, these two questions elicit the same response:
Do you have a ticket?
Don't you have a ticket?
These are the usual answers (I was going to say "possible answers" ...
-1
votes
1answer
105 views
How can I increase my focus and pleasure in reading English? [closed]
After working on my oral skills in English for a couple of years, I know more interested in learning written English, specially by reading. I have been reading a couple of books over the last months ...
-1
votes
1answer
126 views
Is it ok to end a sentence with a preposition? [duplicate]
I have a sentence:
It can be derived from either A or B.
But I’m not sure how to ask the following question:
Which one of them can it be derived from?
Is that ok, or would it be better if ...
-1
votes
1answer
106 views
Do you say two baskets of apples?
Plural of basket is baskets.
Plural of apple is apples.
Assuming there is more than one apple in each basket.
There are two baskets of apples.
Is this sentence grammatically correct?
-3
votes
1answer
547 views
“How many kids does he have?” or “How many kids does he has?” [closed]
"How many kids does he have?"
or
"How many kids does he has?"
Which one is correct and why it's correct?
0
votes
3answers
150 views
Can a semicolon be used to separate questions? [closed]
Did you see Survivor last night; it was crazy, right?
Did you see Survivor last night? It was crazy, right?
Can a semicolon separate questions? Which one is correct?
-1
votes
2answers
44 views
Post Question To
If Craig wrote a question on an online forum and the question was intended for Larry:
Craig posted a question to Larry.
Should the part "to Larry" modify "a question", or "posted"? In ...
1
vote
1answer
176 views
How manieth as an ordinal number question [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How should I phrase a question that must be answered with an ordinal number (e.g., the third prime)?
In my native tongue, Malayalam, there is a question word - ...
1
vote
3answers
145 views
“Have you no shame?”
Are these questions grammatically correct?
Have you no shame?
Have you no money?
Has he a friend?
or it is not allowed to use have and has (in this situation) to make a question?
1
vote
2answers
148 views
Is a question beginning with “How to” grammatically correct?
How to fix my computer?
How to save money?
Are these grammatically correct questions?
1
vote
3answers
148 views
The use of question formation in non-question phrases?
I have read the following text some time ago:
[...]
Only here can you enjoy dazzling entertainment, get the thrill
of your life on the exciting rides, and be face-to-face with some of
the ...
-1
votes
2answers
76 views
Why didn't someone… or Why someone didn't [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“Where am I?” vs. “Where I am?”
What is the correct form of such a grammar construction?
I'd like to ask why someone didn't do something and I don't know which form is ...
3
votes
2answers
142 views
“Does he go bowling?” or “Doesn't he go bowling?”
Let's say we know a boy called Jonny and he goes bowling twice a week. My daughter has asked me which of the following questions are correct.
Does Jonny go bowling?
Doesn't Jonny go ...
1
vote
2answers
196 views
Grammaticality of linking two questions like “how often” and “why” together
I would like to ask the postage department the questions like "how often the packages got lost in the mail" and "why the packages got lost in the mail".
While it is absolutely correct in Russian to ...
0
votes
0answers
47 views
How would you phrase questions that require an “interrogative ordinal” which is absent in English? [duplicate]
Duplicate of:
How should I phrase a question that must be answered with an ordinal number (e.g., the third prime)?
How to phrase an asking sentence that must be answered with an ordinal number?
...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
What is the better form to ask with 'when'? [closed]
There are a few options here:
When is the end of the world?
When the end of the world happens?
When is the end of the world going?
When does the end of the world happen?
Any wrong options here? ...
-1
votes
1answer
415 views
What is the correct way to ask: Where are you from? [closed]
What is the correct way to ask
Where are you from?
without changing the meaning of the question. For example, not:
Where did you live before moving here?
1
vote
1answer
99 views
Answering a negatively-expressed question [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to answer a negative question without ambiguity?
2). Didn't we park on the C level?
(A) Yes, I sure thought we did.
(B) No, we'll park on the D level.
(C) ...
1
vote
1answer
73 views
“What/when is the right time for doing this?”
Which one of the following sounds more natural?
What is the right time for doing this?
When is the right time for doing this?
It seems like these both mean the same thing. If they convey ...
-2
votes
2answers
135 views
Where to place the word “easily”? [closed]
Where should I place the word easily — before or after edit and share your bookmarks?
Do you want to edit and share your bookmarks easily?
or
Do you want to easily edit and share your ...
0
votes
2answers
275 views
What is the courteous alternative of “Do you understand what I say?”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“Does it make sense?” or “Do you understand me?”?
"Do you get me?", "Do you get my point?", etc?
What is the courteous alternative of "Do you understand what I say?"?
7
votes
3answers
345 views
When to use nah or right in a sentence
When I was chatting with my friend, as a part of our conversation I used a phrase. "You have laptop nah." He replied, first try to change your English, it sounds ridiculous, using words nah, right.
...
0
votes
2answers
235 views
“Where am I?” vs. “Where I am?” [closed]
Which is more correct to say in a question? (For example a guy that wakes up in a train)
"Where am I?"
or
"Where I am?"
-3
votes
3answers
177 views
“Why you no…?” or “What that no…?” — are those grammatically correct? [closed]
Why you no come?
Why you no talk English?
Why you no have a girlfriend?
What kind of English are these sentences? Are these types of sentences grammatically correct?
22
votes
1answer
536 views
Is “Did you it?” a valid question?
My English teacher always asks “Did you it?” when she wants to know whether some student has done an exercise.
I think her question sounds horrible, and I believe it is wrong. In my opinion, she ...
1
vote
0answers
19 views
Interrogative sentences without auxiliary verbs and declarative sentences with auxiliary verbs [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it OK to add a question mark to show inflection?
Sometimes, auxiliary verbs or helping verbs are not present in some interrogative sentences in some specific contexts ...
1
vote
1answer
129 views
What will be the question for “he is my second son” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How should I phrase a question that must be answered with an ordinal number (e.g., the third prime)?
How do you convert the sentence “George Washington was the first ...
6
votes
4answers
158 views
How do teachers ask to calculate expressions?
How do American/British primary school teachers ask their pupils to calculate an expression? E.g.
What is 2+3 equal to?
What is the value of 2+3?
...
In particular, I'm interested whether the ...
0
votes
3answers
608 views
Which is more correct, “Which one do you want?” or “What one do you want?” [closed]
Which of the following is correct?
Which one do you want?
What one do you want?
2
votes
1answer
614 views
What are questions like “why did the chicken cross the road” called?
What are questions like
Why did the chicken cross the road?
called? I want to know if there is a particular term given to these type of questions.
2
votes
9answers
336 views
How do I ask “when” without implying past or future?
"When did or will the event happen?" — This sounds silly to me.
To make matters worse, I would like to use passive voice because the question is in reference to a statement that uses passive voice.
...
