Sunday 17 July 2016

How to frame questions in English?

Target Audience: Polytechnic Teachers and Students in Tamilnadu
Subject: English-1, II YEAR MOP, M SCHEME
Objective: Students should be able to frame questions in English in their day-to-day life.
Question Pattern in Exam: I.(i) Frame suitable question to the following: (3 marks) 
Three sentences will be given in the exam and students should frame a question to each sentence.
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What is a Question?
An interrogative sentence that seeks information or confirmation is called a question.

Two types of questions:
i) Yes/No type question:  A question for which the expected answer is yes or no is called 'yes or no' type question.  For example:  Have you seen her before?  Answer: Yes, I have seen her before. or No, I haven't seen her before.  So, here the answer is either yes or no.  Such questions are called yes or no type questions.

ii) WH questions: A question for which specific or detailed answer is expected is called WH question.  For instance: When did you return home?  Answer: I returned home yesterday.  WH questions start with the letter either 'W' or 'H' and so they are called 'wh' questions.

The 'wh' words which are generally used to form 'wh' questions are as follows:  What, Where, Why, When, Which, Who, Whom, How, How much, How many, How far and How long

Guidelines:
How to frame yes or no type question or 'wh' question?
(a) If the given answer in the exam starts with yes or no, you will have to frame yes or no type question, following the structure: "Aux.verb + subject + main verb+ key word?" (Remove key words such as yes, no, and not. Interchange the subject and verb. )
Example: (given sentence)
Yes,  he is going to hostel.
Your answer: Is he going to hostel?

b) If the given sentence does not begin with "yes or no" or explains something, then you should frame a "wh" question following the structure: "wh-word"+ aux.verb+ subect+ main verb(optional)?

Don't forget:
* The key word or phrase in the given sentence should be removed.
* The main verb in the question should always be in the present form.
*The pronouns  I and we should be changed into you, and "my" into "your".
* If the given sentence has aux.verb, same aux.verb should be used. If there is only a main verb, then you should use the aux.verb "do" or "does" in present tense and "did" in the past tense.
* If subject is the key word  in the given sentence, then just remove the key word and apply "who" in that place.

Example 1: I go to Chennai.
Answer: Where do you go?

Example 2: I went to Chennai yesterday.
Answer: Where did you go yesterday? Or
 When did you go to Chennai?

Example 3: Pooja is in Chennai.
Answer: Where is Pooja?

Example 4: Tagore received the Noble prize.
Answer: Who received the Nobel prize?

More examples with answers:
1. His name is Sivakumar.
Ans: What is his name?

2. Uma ran fast to catch the last bus?
Ans: Why did Uma run fast?

3. I generally watch dance programs.
Ans: Which programs do you generally watch?

4. She meets her friend at the weekend.
Ans: Whom does she meet at the weekend? (Or) When does she meet her friend?

5. They lived luxuriously.
Ans: How did they live?

6. This book is Rs. 450/-
How much is this book?

7.  I sent two messages.
Ans: How many messages did you send?

8. We have been waiting here for the last one hour.
Ans: How long have you been waiting here?

9. LIC office is two miles away from here.
How far is LIC office from here?

10. This is Latha's bag?
Whose bag is this?

Exercises for you to practice:
Frame suitable question to the following:
1. Semester exam starts in October.
2. I get up early in the morning.
3. She completed her record note work last week itself.
4. Priya secured Centum in Maths.
5. She is working at Infosys.
6. This is Ranjith's idea.
7. My friends were dog tired.
8. Due to power cut, I didn't finish the work.
9. They will come back by six in the morning.
10. Yes, I can meet the boss on your behalf.

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