This tag is for questions related to the formation, or answering of questions.
2
votes
2answers
567 views
“You have nothing to do” - “Yes I do” / “Yes I don't” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When a negative question is asked, what is the grammatically correct way to answer?
How to answer a negative question without ambiguity?
If someone says "You have ...
2
votes
3answers
12k views
“What about you?” versus “How about you?”
E.g.
I'm going straight home after work. How about you?
I'm going straight home after work. What about you?
They both seem to work interchangeably, but there feels like a subtle ...
2
votes
2answers
203 views
Is this correct grammar — “which feature in C/C++ don't you like?”
The question in question is this:
Which feature in C/C++ don't you like?
Just wanted to know if that is proper way of asking. Not sure if "don't you like" is the right way there.
2
votes
1answer
447 views
How to answer “The applicant’s overall rank is ? out of ? ”
I am filling a reference form and I met 2 questions that I am not sure how to answer :
The applicant’s overall rank is __ out of ___
Please describe the comparison group: __
If the ...
2
votes
4answers
2k views
Difference between “can” and “may” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Can/May/Will you help me with this?
Which is correct if I want to request for a pen?
Can I have your pen please?
May I have your pen please?
2
votes
4answers
836 views
Question phrases to make sure that everything is understood correctly
I am looking for the best question phrases to make sure that everything is understood correctly.
– Trains to London leave on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and ...
2
votes
1answer
524 views
“For how long have you been…” vs. “how long have you been…”
Ante-scriptum: The question should be quite a frequently arising one, so this might be a duplicate. If it is, I haven't found it previously asked here
I don't know if the title is meaningful, but ...
2
votes
1answer
174 views
A single word for this type of question
What is a single word used to describe the following question in the following scenario:
John comes in from the supermarket having not brought the jam and his brother says to him:
'Why didn't ...
2
votes
2answers
186 views
What is this kind of question known as?
A question that's not exactly rhetorical but the answer IS implied.
for example; "am I annoying you?"
you're meant to say no, and they are aware that they are indeed annoying you.
2
votes
1answer
612 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
2answers
1k views
“What/When is the best time to call back?”
Which is better, and what is the difference?
What is the best time to call back?
When is the best time to call back?
2
votes
2answers
76 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
3answers
336 views
Using abbreviations incorrectly?
In English it's considered correct to ask
I do it like this, don't I?
or
Why can't I go?
whereas "don't" is an abbreviation of "do not" and "can't" is an abbreviation of "cannot". ...
2
votes
0answers
82 views
How to frame a question to get answer about the turn that somebody has taken in doing something? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How should I phrase a question that must be answered with an ordinal number (e.g., the third prime)?
How to ask a question to get a cardinal number answer
I want to ...
2
votes
0answers
37 views
No and double inversion within question tags [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to reply to question tags
I'm a Dutch native speaker so forgive my English mistakes (that's why I am here).
In Dutch it is normal to have a following example ...
2
votes
0answers
58 views
“You went there?” in English [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it OK to add a question mark to show inflection?
Can we say in a conversation "You went there", and by stressing the statement, mean "Did you go?"
I know one ...
2
votes
0answers
281 views
How do you say this in English? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicates:
Framing a question to which the answer is an ordinal number
How to phrase an asking sentence that must be answered with an ordinal number (e.g., the third prime) ?
It ...
2
votes
2answers
94 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
243 views
Is it possible to describe something with a question?
On the of chance this being possible examples please.
1
vote
1answer
461 views
How to unambiguously ask a question with “OR”
I want to ask a question about a piece of text.
Is the text about McDonalds Corporation or McDonalds Products?
I want the answer to be "Yes"/"No", rather than "McDonalds Corporation"/"McDonalds ...
1
vote
3answers
143 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
194 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 ...
1
vote
3answers
355 views
What is another way of saying “how” in a question context? [closed]
For example, in the situation "How does a affect b?" I've come up with "In what way does a affect b?" and "What aspects of a make it affect b?" (although that has a slightly different connotation). ...
1
vote
4answers
367 views
The meaning of “how” in questions
Some of my colleagues have argued that when a statement/question uses the work "how", the reader expects to get a list of solutions.
Examples:
"How could world hunger be solved?"
"How can a ...
1
vote
3answers
318 views
Position of linking verb “are” in a question
EDITED:
Are the following sentences correct in correctly positioning the linking verb are?
What different devices are used in this type of setting?
What are the different devices that are used in ...
1
vote
4answers
568 views
What is the appropriate question tag for sentences such as “Neither of you is…”?
Neither of you is going to the show tonight, ____?
Should it be isn't he/she? I think the fact that neither of you takes the third-person singular verb is means that a third-person question tag ought ...
1
vote
1answer
217 views
How can I form a question for “It recurs every n days”?
It recurs every n days.
I want to form a question to which the answer is 'n'. How can I form the question?
1
vote
3answers
2k views
Why is it “how come” and not “why come”?
When someone asks "How come?", the person answering actually answers the question "why?". "Why?" and "How?" are very different questions. I was wondering how "how come?" came to be an alternative way ...
1
vote
1answer
109 views
Answering the question “All going ok with something so far?” [closed]
Please help me with useful answer the question:
All going ok with something so far?
1
vote
2answers
146 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
4answers
403 views
What conjunction to use in a question sentence, if use any at all?
Consider these sentences for example.
Did anyone check they're working?
Did anyone check that they're working?
Did anyone check if they're working?
What conjunction is right to use ...
1
vote
2answers
423 views
Using 'would' to form reasons
In the following examples:
Why would anyone want to eat something so horrible?
Who would live for forever?
Why would I ever lie to you?
Is 'would' being used to refer to time in future or past Or ...
1
vote
1answer
204 views
Meaning of “How do I get featured?” in context of software development
This is my first question at English Language & Usage and I'm glad! My English is not so good and sometimes I feel myself very helpless when facing phrases like
How do I get featured?
What ...
1
vote
2answers
98 views
Question that needs a selection
What do you call a question that needs a selection? For example:
Is an argument true until proven false or vice-versa?
1
vote
3answers
176 views
Asking about the university courses
What is the correct way to ask another person about the course he is doing/pursuing at a college or university?
What course are you doing?
1
vote
3answers
147 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
vote
2answers
1k views
Wh-questions: auxiliary verbs or not?
What's the difference between these two questions:
Why they chose football?
and
Why did they choose football?
1
vote
2answers
2k views
How to ask questions with “how many” in them?
I would like some guidance on how to ask questions with "how many" in them. For example, does one say
From how many minutes is the train late?
or simply
How many minutes is the train late?
...
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
436 views
Did you ever hear(see, do, anything else) vs. Have you ever(seen, done, and so on) heard? [closed]
What's correct? If both, what is the difference between these questions?
An example from The Valley of Fear by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle:
MacDonald turned over the letter which Holmes had handed ...
1
vote
2answers
1k views
Position of prepositions in questions and clauses
I would like to know if there is any rule to know where prepositions should be placed in questions or clauses.
For example, I have heard many sentences and some of them put the preposition in the ...
1
vote
2answers
315 views
Why do we use “to” after “how”? [closed]
For example:
How to makes this?
Why do I use the to after how?
1
vote
2answers
1k views
Question? or Question? sentence structure
I'm not exactly sure on how this should be structured. I have a question, or, question that reflects first question.
Does the media change the way we
think? or Does it have no effect on
us?
1
vote
4answers
597 views
Comma in a sentence just before the start of a list
If I am asking a complex question, I would write it like this:
Do you have, by chance, three
pennies on you?
Should I write a complex question that turns into a list without the comma?
Do ...
1
vote
2answers
438 views
What is the correct way to answer a general question?
Is it considered rude to answer a question with a question? For instance: Q. Did you eat those cookies? A. Why?
Would the correct response be "Yes I did (or no I did not), why do you ask?"
1
vote
1answer
44 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
167 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
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 ...
1
vote
2answers
318 views
Which tense do I use when I talk about direct speech in texts?
I want to ask questions about a text. The text is written in past tense. When I talk about the text, do I only use simple present or also present progressive? Please, look at the following examples.
...
1
vote
0answers
21 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... ...
