Here is my handout with a summary of the English Question System.
NOTES:
1. What is important for students to notice with regard to the form dimension
of the Form/Meaning/Use framework?
- Uninverted questions can have a variety of functions.
o One of these, for Wh- questions, is to ‘echo’ the question in order to be sure that one heard what was said by the original speaker.
- Negative questions assume the form of the answer will be positive.
o The word ‘not’ can either be contracted and added to the auxiliary verb before the subject, or left uncontracted and placed after the subject. (e.g. Isn’t he coming? vs. Is he not coming?)
o Note for students: In these negative sentences, “amn’t I” is incorrect; “aren’t I” should be used. (Apparently "ain't" is related to this non-form.)
- Inversion is the major challenge for students. It should be emphasized with new learners, but the other forms should be dealt with in detail with more advanced learners.
2. What should students know with regard to the way questions are used and how people answer YES/NO questions and tag questions in particular?
- Learners need to know that there are short answers to yes / no questions and how to form them in different circumstances. (Larsen-Freeman and Celce-Marie, The Grammar Book, 212)
- Uninverted questions can have a variety of functions.
o One of these, for Wh- questions, is to ‘echo’ the question in order to be sure that one heard what was said by the original speaker.
- Negative questions assume the form of the answer will be positive.
o The word ‘not’ can either be contracted and added to the auxiliary verb before the subject, or left uncontracted and placed after the subject. (e.g. Isn’t he coming? vs. Is he not coming?)
o Note for students: In these negative sentences, “amn’t I” is incorrect; “aren’t I” should be used. (Apparently "ain't" is related to this non-form.)
- Inversion is the major challenge for students. It should be emphasized with new learners, but the other forms should be dealt with in detail with more advanced learners.
2. What should students know with regard to the way questions are used and how people answer YES/NO questions and tag questions in particular?
- Learners need to know that there are short answers to yes / no questions and how to form them in different circumstances. (Larsen-Freeman and Celce-Marie, The Grammar Book, 212)
*The information in the black box is partially incorrect; tag questions and alternative questions are actually asking a question though the degree of uncertainty seems lower.
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