Yes-No Questions Formation

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Questions and Answers

Yes-no questions are formed by placing the operator before the subject and giving the sentence a rising intonation.

True (A)

What is the purpose of introducing 'do' in a yes-no question when there is no item in the verb phrase that can function as an operator?

To create a grammatically correct structure. (correct)
To indicate a negative question.
To provide emphasis on the subject.
To make the question more polite.
To avoid ambiguity in the question.

In British English, ______ is often treated as an operator in yes-no questions, similar to lexical 'be'.

have

Explain how placing nuclear stress in a yes-no question can focus the interrogation on a specific item of information.

Placing nuclear stress on different parts of the question highlights the element being inquired about, while assuming the rest of the sentence is known. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following examples with the highlighted parts that indicate focus:

Was he a famous actor in THOSE days? = Time period Was he a FAmous actor in those days? = Level of fame Does he like Mary? = Subject of liking Did he go to the store? = Action of going to store Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a yes-no question as described in the text?

Presence of a wh-word (B) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Yes-no questions

Questions expecting a 'yes' or 'no' answer, often constructed by placing the operator before the subject.

Operator in questions

The verb that helps form questions; typically precedes the subject in yes-no questions.

Using 'do' as an operator

'Do' is introduced when there's no other operator in the verb phrase, as in 'Does he like Mary?'.

Lexical be as operator

The verb 'be' can function as an operator in yes-no questions, e.g., 'Was John late?'.

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Focus in yes-no questions

Placing stress on certain words to highlight the unknown information in a question.

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Identical questions with different focuses

Same question structure can mean different things based on which word is emphasized.

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Study Notes

Yes-No Questions Formation

Yes-no questions typically place the operator before the subject and end with rising intonation.
If a verb phrase lacks an operator, "do" is used.
Lexical "be" acts as an operator and "have" may also operate in this way; informally,"got" takes this role.

Operator Placement in Yes-No Questions

The operator ("was," "has," "does") precedes the subject in the question.
The stress placement in the yes-no question determines the focus of the interrogation (e.g., specific time period, characteristic of a person).