Padd Solutions

The usual question words are WHEN, WHERE, HOW, WHY, WHAT, WHO and WHICH. Remember that the regular question pattern is : Auxiliary + Subject + Main Verb.

Do you understand?

Did he understand?

Will he understand?

When you use question words you use regular question word order after the question word.

When did he leave?

Where is he going?

How does he do it?

Why did he call you?

What is she studying?

Which book are you reading?

Place the correct question words in the blanks.

1........ does John study? At night.

2....... does Mary study? In her room.

3....... is your friend studying? English

4...... do they usually study? Three hours.

5...... does that boy study with? His friend.

6...... lesson did they study last night? The sixth lesson.

Notice the difference in intonation in the following sentences.

Are you reading? ---> What are you reading?

Did she finish? ---> When did she finish?

Is he going now? ---> When is he going now?

Did John study? ---> How long did John study?

Does she go to school everyday? ---> How does she go to school everyday?

Are they coming? ---> Why are they coming?

Did Peter read? ---> Whose book did Peter read?

Will he write often? ---> How often will he write?

Some important modals in English are: can, may, will, would, should and must.

Statements: Subjects {I} + MODAL {can} + Main Verb {go}

Questions: MODAL {can} + Subject {I} + Main Verb {go?}

Modals have no third person singular form. One form is used for all subjects: I, you, we, they, he, she, it + MODAL

can + not = can't {or cannot}

may + not = may not

will + not = won't

would + not = wouldn't

should + not = shouldn't

must + not = mustn't

CAN : MAY: Can- expresses ability. Can't or Cannot expresses inability. We can use can in making requests. However some people may prefer MAY and consider CAN inappropriate. We can also use MAY and CAN in giving permission. {EXAMPLE: You can leave your books here. You may leave your books here.} CANNOT, CAN'T and MAY NOT indicate permission is not given. MAY indicates possibility and probability. {EXAMPLE: She may be here. It may rain tonight}

WILL: Will indicates future time. {EXAMPLE: The class will start at 7:30 a.m.} WILL used with the first person often indicates a promise. {EXAMPLE: I will write often -means- I promise to wrote often}

WOULD: Sentences such as "She would come" or "Would she come?" suggest that fulfillment depends on some conditions. {EXAMPLE: She would come - if she had time} WOULD NOT or WOULDN'T indicates a negative attitude.

SHOULD: Should indicates obligations and necessity. {EXAMPLE: You should study more} SHOULD NOT or SHOULDN'T indicates an obligation not to do something when it is used in a negative statement. {EXAMPLE: You shouldn't drive so fast} Questions introduced by SHOULD ask for advice. Those introduced by SHOULDN'T offer suggestions. {EXAMPLE: Should I call this late? -means-Do you think I should call?}

MUST: Must indicates a strong sense of obligation. {EXAMPLE: You must report to headquarters.} MUST NOT or MUSTN'T indicates a strong sense of obligation not to do something. {EXAMPLE: You must not call after midnight}

A: Good morning. Alpha Airlines.

B: Reservations please.

A: That line is busy. Will you wait?

B: Yes.

A: I can ring for you now.

C: Reservations. May I help you?

A: Yes, I want to make reservations to Atlanta on June 2, on a flight after 5 o'clock if possible.

B: I can give you something on Flight 549 leaving at 4:45 p.m., or Flight 864 leaving at 5:53.

A: What time do they get in?

C: Flight 549 is due in Atlanta at 7:51 p.m., and Flight 864 at 8:50 p.m.

B: Do they serve dinner on both flights?

C: Yes, sir.

B: I'll take the earlier one, then.

C: Flight 549. All right, sir. Do you wish a return reservation?

B: No, one way.

C: That's a party of one?

B: Yes.

C: May I have your name, please?

B: Nicholes Bateman.

C: And the telephone where we can reach you during the day?

B: .....

C: Thank you. That's Mr. Nicholas Bateman, Flight 549 to Atlanta, June 2, leaving at 4:45 p.m. Can you pick up your ticket before 6 p.m. on May 31, please?

B: Yes, I'll do that.

C: Thanks very much, then, sir. And thank you for calling Alpha.

A: What places do you want to visit in the United States?

B: I want to visit New York. That sounds like an interesting city to me.

A: I want to see some national parks. The Grand Canyon first, then Yellowstone and...

B: Wait a minute. How much time do you think you'll have? Do you know how far apart those places are?

A: Aren't they all in the West?

B: Yes, but it's a big country. It's a thousands miles from the Grand Canyon to Yellowstone Park.

A: How far is it from San Francisco to New York?

B: It's about three thousands miles, I think. Why?

A: Well, I have a cousin in New York, and a friend in San Francisco. I want to visit both of them while I'm in the States.

B: Maybe you can, if you can go by plane. It takes just about a few hours to fly across the country.

A: How long do you think it will take us to go from here to the States?

B: It depends on how we go. It doesn't take very long by plane, but it takes a long time by ship.