home-Ramps-Expressing the future in English. The Simple Future Tense in English (The Future Simple Tense)

Expressing the future in English. The Simple Future Tense in English (The Future Simple Tense)

( "proleed_data_link" : "https://www.proleed.ru/loadads.jsp?partner=naweb808a5&adscount=3&mainfilter=ENGLISH&secfilter=", "proleed_block_type" : "horizontal", "proleed_title_size" : 16, "proleed_title_color" : "# 0000cb", "proleed_message_size" : 14, "proleed_message_color": "#000000", "proleed_partner_size" : 14, "proleed_partner_color": "#006500" )

Exercise 1.

Put general questions to the sentences:

1. There is a tea-pot on the table.

2. I work from nine to ten.

3. We are leaving for Hamburg next Saturday.

4. I have been busy the whole evening.

5. My friend studied at the Sorbonne when he was young.

6. It's winter.

7. I can swim in cold water.

8. I had to go there in the daytime.

9. I will show you how to do it.

10. You must work hard.

11. She didn’t play well that evening.

12. I can’t read English authors in the original.

13. I wasn’t prepared to this sort of questions.

Answers:

2.Do I work fromnine to ten?

Saturday?

10. Must you work hard?

1. Is there a tea-pot on the table?

2.Do I work fromnine to ten?

3. Are we leaving for Hamburg nextSaturday?

4. Have I been busy the whole evening?

5. Did my friend study at the Sorbonne when he was young?

6. Is it winter? 7. Can I swim in cold water?

8. Did I have to go there in the daytime?

9. Will I show you how to do it?

10. Must you work hard?

11. Didn’t she play well that evening?

12. Can’t I read English authors in the original?

13. Wasn’t I prepared to this sort of questions?

Exercise 2.

Based on these sentences, construct general questions according to the sample.

She likes classical music. -> Does she like classical music?

1. The weather is fine.

2. Her new dress is green.

3. He won’t come because he’s ill.

4. The church is 200 yards away.

5. She prefers red.

6. He comes every week.

7. The tall one is my boss.

8. She’ll come at 5 p.m.

9. He'll wait for 10 minutes.

10. Ray took the thick book.

Answers:

1. Is the weather fine?

2. Is her new dress green?

3. Won’t he come?

5. Does she prefer red?

6. Does he come every week?

7. Is the tall one my boss?

8. Will she come at 5 p.m?

1. Is the weather fine?

2. Is her new dress green?

3. Won’t he come?

4. Is the church 200 yards away?

5. Does she prefer red?

6. Does he come every week?

7. Is the tall one my boss?

8. Will she come at 5 p.m?

9. Will he wait for 10 minutes?

10. Did Ray take the thick book?

1. Choose the appropriate answer for each question.

1. Who is the best? a) yesterday

2. Where does she live? b) two sons

3. What are you drinking? c) mine

4. When did you arrive? d) $30

5. Why did you cry? e) mineral water

6. How many kids do you have? f) a blue one

7. How much does it cost? g) by metro

8. How do you go to work? h) Jack

9. Whose mirror is this? i) because I bumped my head

10. Which hat would you like? j) in Paris

2. Ask specific questions about the following sentences, starting with the words in brackets. Pay attention to the form of the verb, as well as questions to the subject.

1. Robert’s sister likes black coffee in the morning. (What...? Whose...? What kind of...? Why...? When...?)

2. My dad went fishing to the lake with his brother twice a month. (Who...? Where...? Who...with? How often...?)

3. They will book a room at a hotel in Madrid during their honeymoon. (Who...? Where...? When...?)

4. I have just seen our neighbor in the supermarket. (Whom...? Whose...? Where...?)

5. There are five polar bears in the zoo. (Who...? How many...? What kind of...?)

6. Bob was a successful businessman because he owned 3 clothes stores in New York. (Who...? Why...? How many...? Where...?)

7. I can see hundreds of bright stars in the sky now. (Where...? When...? How many...?)

3. Express your doubt or surprise by creating disjunctive questions.

For example: Mark bought this souvenir in India. – Mark bought this souvenir in India, didn’t he? (Mark bought this souvenir in India, right?)

1. Ella misses her mother. (Ella misses her mother.)

2. Our receptionist isn’t friendly. (Our receptionist is not friendly.)

3. These skyscrapers were built before the war. (These skyscrapers were built before the war.)

4. He will run a private hospital. (He will run a private clinic.)

5. You don’t respect your boss. (You don't respect your boss.)

6. She has made a final decision. (She made her final decision.)

7. Your dog can crawl under a chair. (Your dog can crawl under a chair.)

8. Sam and Kate are going to become vegetarians. (Sam and Kate are planning to become vegetarians.)

4. For each sentence, ask one general question and several alternative ones, using the options suggested in brackets.

For example: Alice annoys me by her bright make-up. (Alice annoys me with her bright makeup.) (Ann - clothes) – Does Alice annoy you? (Alice annoys you?) Does Alice or Ann annoy you? (Alice or Anya annoys you?) Does Alice annoy you by her bright make-up or clothes? (Alice irritates you with bright makeup or clothes?)

1. They heard a noise in the living room. (They heard a noise in the living room.) (music – in the kitchen)

2. He has found two black kittens near the shop. (He found two black kittens near the store.) (three – near the office)

3. Every morning I give my son some pocket money. (Every morning I give my son some pocket money.) (daughter – every evening)

4. The cargo will be delivered next Friday by ship. (The cargo will be delivered next Friday by ship.) (Sunday – by plane)

5. The photos are in a drawer of the wardrobe. (The photographs are in the wardrobe drawer.) (the cupboard – the passports)

6. We can stay in Moscow for another week. (We can stay in Moscow for one more week.) (in Minsk – month)

Answers:

1.
1. h (Who is the best? – Jack.)
2. j (Where does she live? - In Paris)
3. e (What do you drink? – Mineral water)
4. a (When did you arrive? – Yesterday)
5. i (Why were you crying? – Because I hit my head)
6. b (How many children do you have? – Two sons)
7. d (How much does it cost? – $30)
8. g (How do you get to work? - By metro)
9. c (Whose mirror is this? – Mine)
10. f (Which hat would you like? – Blue)

2.
1. What does Robert’s sister like? (What does Robert's sister like?) Whose sister likes black coffee? (Whose sister likes black coffee?) What kind of coffee does she like? (What kind of coffee does she like?) Why does she like black coffee in the morning? (Why does she like black coffee in the morning?) When does she like black coffee? (When does she like her coffee black?)
2. Who went fishing to the lake? (Who went fishing on the lake?) Where did he go fishing? (Where did he go fishing?) Who did he go fishing with? (Who did he go fishing with?) How often did he go fishing? (How often did he go fishing?)
3. Who will book a room at a hotel? (Who will book a hotel room?) Where will they book a room? (Where will they book a room?) When will they book a room? (When will they book the room?)
4. Whom have you just seen? (Who did you just see?) Whose neighbor have you seen? (Whose neighbor did you see?) Where have you seen our neighbor? (Where did you see our neighbor?)
5. Who are there in the zoo? (Who is in the zoo?) How many polar bears are there in the zoo? (How many polar bears are there in the zoo?) What kind of bears are there in the zoo? (What kind of bears are in the zoo?)
6. Who was a successful businessman? (Who was a successful businessman?) Why was he a successful businessman? (Why was he a successful businessman?) How many clothes stores did he own? (How many clothing stores did he own?) Where did he own 3 clothes stores? (Where did he have 3 clothing stores?)
7. Where can you see hundreds of bright stars? (Where can you see hundreds of bright stars?) When can you see stars? (When can you see the stars?) How many stars can you see now? (How many stars can you see now?)
8. Who is cooking Mexican food? (Who cooks Mexican food?) What kind of food is she cooking? (What kind of food does she cook?) Where is she cooking Mexican food? (Where does she cook Mexican food?)

3.
1. Ella misses her mother, doesn’t she?
2. Our receptionist isn’t friendly, is she/he?
3. These skyscrapers were built before the war, weren’t they?
4. He will run a private hospital, won’t he?
5. You don’t respect your boss, do you?
6. She has made a final decision, hasn’t she?
7. Your dog can crawl under a chair, can’t it?
8. Sam and Kate are going to become vegetarians, aren’t they?

4.
1. Did they hear a noise in the living room? Did they hear a noise or music? Did they hear a noise in the living room or in the kitchen?
2. Has he found two black kittens near the shop? Has he found two or three black kittens? Has he found two kittens near the shop or near the office?
3. Do you give your son some pocket money? Do you give your son or your daughter some pocket money? Do you give your son some pocket money every morning or evening?
4. Will the cargo be delivered next Friday by ship? Will the cargo be delivered next Friday or Sunday? Will the cargo be delivered by ship or by plane?
5. Are the photos in a drawer of the wardrobe? Are the photos in a drawer of the wardrobe or the cupboard? Are the photos or the passports in a drawer of the wardrobe?
6. Can we stay in Moscow for another week? Can we stay in Moscow or in Minsk for another week? Can we stay in Moscow for another week or month?

The main types of interrogative sentences in modern English are considered.

Using the example of simple sentences with the verb to be, you can learn how to correctly ask questions with this verb and answer such questions.

  1. In English there are the following types of interrogative sentences:
  2. General questions.
  3. Special questions.
  4. Questions to the subject.
  5. Alternative questions.

Disjunctive questions.

General questions require an answer “yes” – “yes” or “no” – “no”. When asking a general question, the verb to be is placed before the subject. (See Lecture 2 for the section on interrogative forms of the verb to be.) In English, general questions are pronounced with rising intonation, just as in Russian.

Compare:

Is Anna ill? Is Anna sick?

A general question can be answered with a short affirmative or negative answer consisting only of the words “Yes” or “No”.

– Are you tired? - Are you tired?

– Yes. - Yes.

-Are you hungry? - Are you hungry?

– No. - No.

A more detailed answer can be given to a general question. In this case, the words “yes” or “no” are followed by a pronoun related to the subject of the interrogative sentence, and then the verb to be in the appropriate form.

– Are Anna and Nick students? – Anna and Nick are students?

– Yes, they are. - Yes.

– Are Pete and Alex workers? – Are Pete and Alex workers?

– No, they are not./ No, they aren’t. – No.

The general question can be fully answered.

– Is it cold in the room? - It's cold in the room?

– Yes, it is cold in the room. - Yes, it’s cold in the room.

– Is the room dark? – Is the room dark?

– No, it is not dark. / No, it isn’t dark. - No, she’s not dark.

–Are the flowers beautiful? - Beautiful flowers?

– Yes, they are beautiful. - Yes, they are beautiful.

– Are the shoes old? – Are the shoes old?

– No, they are not old. / No, they aren't old. - No, they are not old.

The form of the verb in the answers (short or long) agrees with the form of the verb in the question. In the examples above, the verb to be is used in the present indefinite tense in both questions and answers. If in a question the verb to be is used in the past indefinite tense or in the future indefinite tense, then the answer must use the verb to be either in the past indefinite tense or in the future indefinite tense.

Examples of short answers:

-Are you busy? – Yes, I am. / No, I am not. / No, I"m not.

– Were they angry? – Yes, they were. / No, they weren't. / No, they weren't.

– Was Nick ill last week? – Yes, he was. / No, he was not. / No, he wasn't.

– Will Ann be happy? – Yes, she will. / No, she will not. / No, she won't.

– Will you be at home tomorrow? – Yes, we will. / No, we will not. / No, we won't.

- Yes, we shall. / No, we shall not. / No we shan"t.

Special questions

Special questions begin with question words. Then the word order in special questions is the same as in general questions, i.e. After the question word, the verb to be is placed first in the appropriate form, and then the subject.

Learn the question words that are used in special questions:

What?- What? Which?

Which?- Which?

When?- When?

Where?- Where? Where?

Whom?- To whom? Whom?

Whose?- Whose? Whose? Whose? Whose?

Why?- Why? For what?

Special questions may begin with the word how:

How?- How?

How long?- How long? How much time?

How old?- How many years? (question about age)

How many?- How many? (used with countable nouns).

How much?- How many? (used with uncountable nouns).

You can ask about the price: How much is it? (How much does it cost?)

How far?- How far? (about distance)

Special questions require a complete, logically formulated answer, but in colloquial speech the answer may consist of only a few words, which are an abbreviated answer to the question, for example:

– Where were you yesterday? - Where were you yesterday?

– I was at the cinema. (At the cinema.) - I was at the cinema. (To the cinema.)

If there is a preposition with a question word, it is usually placed at the end of the sentence, for example:

– Where are you from? - Where are you from?

– I am from Russia. - I'm from Russia.

– What is the book about? – What is this book about?

– The book is about animals. – This book is about animals.

Questions to the subject

Questions to the subject, strictly speaking, relate to special issues. They begin with the question word Who? (Who?), if the subject is animate, or What? (What?) if the subject is inanimate.

When asking a question to the subject, you need to pay attention to agreement of the verb to be with the following noun in number.

For example:

Anna is a secretary. Who is a secretary?

Emma and Mary are economists. Who are economists?

But compare the following sentences:

  1. The table is white. What is white?
  2. The shoes are new. What is new?
  3. We were late for classes yesterday. Who was late for classes yesterday?
  4. Nick and Mike are ill today. Who is ill today?
  5. We will be in Paris tomorrow. Who will be in Paris tomorrow?
  6. The vase is on the What is on the table?
  7. The cups are on the What is on the table?

In the examples above (1-7), the verb to be is used in the form 3rd person singular appropriate time. In everyday speech, when asking a question to a subject after a question word, the verb is usually used in the third person singular.

Alternative questions

Alternative questions always include the word or.

The interlocutor is offered an alternative, he must make a choice. Alternative questions are structured like general questions but contain the word “or.” They begin with the verb to be in the appropriate form, followed by a subject, then a choice. It should be noted that the first part of the question before the conjunction or is pronounced with a raised voice, and after the conjunction - with a lowered voice. Alternative questions cannot be answered with “Yes” or “No”; you must make a choice. Alternative questions are usually fully answered. Compare offers:

– Is your father at home or at work? – Is your father at home or at work?

– He is at home now. - He is at home now.

– Were the children at the Zoo or at the cinema yesterday? – The children were at the zoo or

cinema yesterday?

– They were at the Zoo. - They were at the zoo.

– Will it be rainy or sunny tomorrow? – Will it be rainy or sunny tomorrow?

- It will be sunny. - It will be sunny.

Disjunctive questions consist of two parts. The first part of the question is an affirmative or negative sentence, and the second part (the “tail”) is formed as a short general question consisting of a verb in the appropriate form and the appropriate pronoun. It should be remembered that if the first part of the sentence is constructed as an affirmative sentence, then in the “tail” the verb is used in a negative form, and vice versa, if in the first part of the question something is denied, then the “tail” is constructed as a statement. Note that the first part of a partition question is pronounced with falling intonation, and the second part of a partition question is usually pronounced with rising intonation, as in a general question. The second part of the dividing question is translated into Russian words, isn’t it? is not it? Dividing questions are asked in order to obtain confirmation of the statement contained in the first part of the question. Thus, if the verb to be is used in the first part of the question, then the “tail” consists of the verb to be in the appropriate form and the corresponding pronoun. Consider the following examples:

Max is twenty isn't he? Max is twenty years old, isn't he?

Max isn't twenty is he? Max isn't twenty years old, is he?

Anna was at work on Saturday, wasn't she? Anna was at work on Saturday, wasn't she?

Anna wasn't at work on Saturday, was she? Anna wasn't at work on Saturday, was she?

The weather will be rainy tomorrow, won't it? Tomorrow it will be rainy weather

is not it?

The weather won't be rainy tomorrow, will it? Tomorrow there will be no rainy weather,

is not it?

Short affirmative or negative answers are given to dividing questions, but you should pay attention to what the first part of the question was - an affirmative or negative sentence. If the first part of the separating question contains a negative sentence, then the expression of agreement and disagreement (i.e. “yes” and “no”) in English and Russian is not the same.

Thus, when answering a dividing question, you need to focus on the real situation, and not try to translate your answer from Russian into English.

If today is not Monday, then you say:

No, it isn't Monday.

If today is Monday, then you say:

Yes, it is Monday.

In English, you cannot say “Yes” and then give a negative answer. You cannot say “No” and then give an affirmative answer. If you say "No", then further must give a negative answer. If you say "Yes", then further must give an affirmative answer.

Below are examples of staging different types questions (general, question to the subject, alternative, dividing).

Is Max or Alex ill?

Max is ill, isn't he?

Max isn't ill, is he?

Anna and Emma are lazy.

Are Anna and Emma lazy?

Are Anna and Emma or Nick and Pete lazy?

Anna and Emma are lazy, aren't they?

Anna and Emma are not lazy, are they?

Questions for self-control

  1. What types of questions exist in English?
  2. What two answers can always be given to a common question?
  3. Which word must be present in an alternative question?
  4. How is the “tail” constructed in a dividing question?
  5. Why can we say that a question to the subject is a type of special question?
  6. How does the word order in a general question differ from the word order in a special question?

Exercises

Construct general questions and give short affirmative answers.

Example: Tom is a driver.

Is Tom a driver? - Yes, he is.

  1. The teacher was busy yesterday.
  2. The child is ill today.
  3. It will be hot tomorrow.
  4. Our friends are in France.
  5. The cake will be nice.

Construct general questions and give short negative answers.

Sample: Ann is a teacher.

Is Ann a teacher? - No, she is not. / No, she isn't.

  1. The boy is five.
  2. The girls are lazy.
  3. My friends were right.
  4. The song was sad.
  5. The party will be nice.
  6. The films will be bad.

Ask questions to the following sentences.

  1. The boys are interested in sports. (Ask anyone interested in sports.)
  2. Nick's sisters will be in Paris tomorrow. (Ask whether Nick's sisters will be in Paris or London tomorrow.)
  3. Henry's brother is 20. (Ask a question to confirm the information that Henry's brother is 20 years old.)
  4. Anna's favorite color is white. (Ask Anna's favorite color is white or red.)
  5. Mary was afraid of mice. (Ask what Mary was afraid of.)
  6. His books are on the shelf. (Ask where his books are.)
  7. Kate is twenty years old. (Ask how old Kate is.)

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the verb to be.

  1. – Where... are you from? – I... from Tomsk.
  2. – Why... are you so happy today? – Because I... at the concert of my favorite pop group tomorrow.
  3. – Where... my favorite music CDs? Can you see them? – One disc...on the table and three discs...on the bookshelf.
  4. – This... your new mobile phone,... it? – Yes, it... . – ... your phone number new or old? – It... old.
  5. – What color... your new coat? – It... green and brown.
  6. – What... are your favorite colors? – My favorite color... grey.
  7. Yesterday it... cold. Today it...warm. Tomorrow it... cold again,... it?

Translate the questions into English and answer them.

1. What is your name? 2. How old are you? 3. Are you married? 4. Are you married or single? 5. Where are you from? 6. What is your address? 7. What is your mobile phone number? 8. You are a student, aren't you? 9. Are you a first or second year student? 10. What are your favorite subjects? 11. What subjects are you good at (to be good at)? 12. You like the English language, don’t you (to be fond of)? 13. What are your hobbies? 14. Do you like sports? 15. Do you like sports played outdoors (outdoor sports) or indoors (indoor sports)? 16. What are your favorite sports? 17. What are your favorite books? 18. Do you like classical or popular music? 19. Who is your favorite singer? 20. Who are your favorite actors? 21. Do you like summer or winter? 22. Which one is yours? favorite time of the year? 23. Why is summer your favorite time of year? 24. You are not afraid of mice, are you?

The world of languages ​​or languages ​​of the world. Eastern and Western, European and Asian.

a lawyer or a waiter?

There are five

  1. He will study French
  2. They are football fans. (hockey - hockey)
  3. cards. (candles - candles)
  4. I have made an apple-pie
  5. Ann bought a nice dress yesterday. (a skirt - skirt)
  6. (Germany – Germany)
  7. She visited all the museums

Exercises "Types of interrogative sentences"

1. Ask general questions about the sentences.

For example: Mary grows beautiful flowers in the garden– Does Mary grow flowers in the garden?

The weather is cold today.– Is the weather cold today?

  1. John was tired after work. (John is tired after work.)
  2. We live in a small town. (We live in a small town.)
  3. Summer has started at last. (Summer has finally begun.)
  4. They have already left. (They have already left.)
  5. My parents got married in Paris. (My parents got married in Paris.)
  6. She can lose her temper easily. (She can lose her temper easily.)
  7. The party will start in time. (The party will start on time.)
  8. The dogs are sleeping. (The dogs are sleeping.)
  9. The umbrella was broken. (The umbrella was broken.)
  10. He always gives money to homeless children. (He always gives money to street children.)

2. Ask alternative questions to the sentences using the options given in brackets.

Example: Nick wants to become a lawyer . (a waiter - waiter) – Does Nick want to become a lawyer or a waiter?

There are five eggs in the fridge. (ten – ten) – Are there five or ten eggs in the fridge?

  1. He will study French in Canada. (German - German)
  2. They are football fans. (hockey - hockey)
  3. Her granny can tell fortunes from cards. (candles - candles)
  4. I have made an apple-pie . (a banana cake - banana cake)
  5. Ann bought a nice dress yesterday. (a skirt - skirt)
  6. This car was manufactured in Japan. (Germany – Germany)
  7. They must pay for the taxi. (the lunch - lunch)
  8. The post-office opens at 9. (at 8 - at eight)
  9. Fiona and John paint their house every five years. (their bedroom - their bedroom)
  10. She visited all the museums in Istanbul. (the shops – shops)

W hat (Than you are interested in?)

When When

  1. She isn't sociable, a. mustn't they?
  2. Let's dance, d. do you?
  3. Tom can dive well, e. is she?

3. Ask specific questions to the sentences, starting with question words in brackets.

Example: I am interested in psychology. ( W hat ...?) – What are you interested in?(How you are interested in?)

A strange man came here last night. ( When …?)– When did the strange man come here? ( When did a strange person come here?)

  1. The twins were born in June. (When...?)
  2. We had a great time in Disneyland. (Where...?)
  3. Mr. Black can play chess very well. (How...?)
  4. The salad is not fresh. (Why...?)
  5. My wife prefers juice to tea. (Who...?)
  6. Tom orders Japanese food every Friday. (What...?)
  7. I meet a lot of people at work. (Where...?)
  8. They will have lunch at home. (Where...?)
  9. The film has just started. (What film...?)
  10. I have been to the doctor. (Where...?)

4. Select the correct ending of the separating question from the right column. Translate the questions.

Nr: 1 – e (She’s not sociable, isn’t she?)

  1. She isn't sociable, a. mustn't they?
  2. Mark was satisfied, b. do they?
  3. Your kids never argue with you, c. didn't she?
  4. Let's dance, d. do you?
  5. Tom can dive well, e. is she?
  6. Our partners must keep their word, f. won't it?
  7. Helen has washed up, g. doesn't she?
  8. You don't trust me, h. wasn't he?
  9. Your mum works as an accountant, i. hasn't she?
  10. It will be cloudy tomorrow, j. did they?
  11. Betty found a new job, k. can't he?
  12. They didn't sell their car, l. shall we?

The most common are general and special questions in English. This article will be devoted to general questions and rules for their preparation.

What is a common question in English? General Question - a general question is a question to which the answer will be confirmation or denial. Such questions are also called yes/no questions - yes/no questions, since the answer to them will be “yes” or “no”.

Rules for the formation of general questions

1. General question and auxiliary verbs

Auxiliary verbs are not translated, but only help determine the time and number of characters. Each tense has its own auxiliary verb.

  • Present tense () – does in the singular (he, she) and do in the plural (I, we, you, they)
  • Past tense () – did
  • Future tense () – will

To ask a question correctly, you must put the auxiliary verb first, then the subject and at the end the main verb and other members of the sentence.

Examples of questions:

Do you go to the cinema every week? – Do you go to the cinema every week?

Does he work at the factory? - He works at the factory?

Did she live in Kyiv? – Did she live in Kyiv?

Will we go to the zoo? - Shall we go to the zoo?

2. General questions and the verb to be

The verb to be is used when we want to say that someone is somewhere, is someone, or describes him. Also, each tense has its own verb form:

  • Present tense ( Present Simple) – am, are, is;
  • Past tense (Past Simple) – was, were;
  • Future tense (Future Simple) – will be.

The word order in this question is as follows:

The verb to be is placed first, then actor(subject) and minor members of the sentence.

For example, if the sentence She is an artist - She is an artist, to ask a question we put the word is in first place:

Is she an artist? – Is she an artist?

If we consider the questions in other tenses, we get:

We were at the theater. – We were at the theater.

Were we at the theater? - Were we in the theater?

She will go to school soon. - She will go to school soon.

Will she go to school soon? – Is she going to school soon?

This room is a very small. – This room is very small.

Is this room a very small? – Is this room very small?

3. General question and modal verb

In English, modal verbs are verbs that do not reflect a specific action or state, but only show an attitude towards them. Modal verbs: can (can), should (should), must (must), etc.

If a modal verb is used, then the auxiliary verb is no longer used. Thus, in a question, the first is the modal verb, then the actor and followed by the action.

You can open the window. -You can open the window.

Can you open the window? -Can you open the window?

I may take a dinner. - I can have lunch.

May I take a dinner? – Can I have lunch?

4. The verb have to in general questions

Although the verb have to belongs to modal verbs, we use it with auxiliary verbs.

I have to be at this lesson. - I have to be in this class.

Do I have to be at this lesson? – Should I be in this class?

We have to come there at three o’clock. - We must arrive there at three o'clock.

Do we have to come there at three o’clock? – Should we arrive there at three o’clock?

What is the answer to a common question in English

Among the answers to general questions in English, two types can be distinguished: positive and negative. Also, answers can be short and detailed, or contain additional words.

In the case of a short answer, the word yes/no is used - yes/no, subject, auxiliary verb or modal. For example,

Can I take this book? – Yes, you can. Can I borrow this book? - Yes you can.

Do you like milk? – No, I don’t. Do you like milk? - No.

In the case of a complete answer, the auxiliary verb and all related parts of the sentence are used.

Did you see this film? – Yes, I saw this film. (No, I didn’t see this film.)

Have you seen this movie? – Yes, I saw this film. (No, I haven't seen this movie.)

Complete answers are rarely used in conversation.

General questions and negative form

The negative form is formed with the help of the particle not, which is used before the verb. As a rule, not is combined with a verb and the shortened form is used - n’t.

For example, Doesn't he go home? - Isn't he going home?

General negative questions are used in the following cases:

- astonishment

Haven’t you met your sister at the park? – Didn’t you meet your sister in the park?

– to obtain consent from the interlocutor

Didn't you like this book? – Didn’t you like this book?

– Why? I liked it. - Why? I liked it.

- Delight

Isn’t that picture perfect? ​​- Isn’t this picture beautiful?

– irritation or dissatisfaction

Can't you stop screaming? -Can't you stop screaming?

General questions are the most common and important. Having learned how to form them correctly, you will also quickly learn how to form other types of questions (special, alternative or dividing). To get more practice with this, you can try composing questions by doing exercises that can be found on various online resources. And if you want to learn not only English grammar, but also improve your skills, come to English courses in Kyiv at the English Prime school.

Related publications: