Odd questions-45

                       Odd questions in English - 45                                                                                                                                                                                                             

I. Questions in Statement/sentence/declaration form

Statements can be converted into questions by rising the intonation. The question can have
positive or negative bias. These type of questions are called Declarative question

Note: Intonation = The rise or fall of the  Pitch of the Voice (of Speech)

Model declarative questions.

You haven’t paid the tax? (The Implied meaning  is - Why haven’t you paid the tax?)

She is in the office? (The implied meaning  is – Why is she still in the office?)

They are Germans? (= Are they Germans?.)

Joe isn’t in the town?( = Isn't Joe in the town?)

The schools open tomorrow? (= Do schools Open tomorrow?)

NOTE: The positive or negative bias depends on the tone, intonation and body language of the speaker.

II. Echo question

In this type the key words of the sentence spoken by the  speaker are repeated (Echoed) as a question.

A. They left for Berlin – Statement

     They left for Berlin? (or) Left for Berlin? (or) Left? (or)  Berlin? - Echo question

B. He Speaks Five Languages – Statement

     He Speaks five languages? (or) speaks five languages? (or) five languages? - Echo question

C. She visits office once in a month?

    She visits office once in  a month? (or) Once in a month? (or) a month etc. - Echo question 

III.  Formulaic Utterance

A. In an informal chat the following statements serve as questions.

When you are busy with your friend in a café the waiter may ask you,

One more drink?/  more fries?/ another cigarette?

B. In college campus a group of students  may ask another group,

Joining us now?   

Coming tomorrow at Butlers? etc.

IV Multiple ‘wh’ question

In a casual talk sometimes we may utter multiple ‘wh’ question type question words, out of anxiety.

A. The children escaped. – Statement

When? How? Whose children? Where? etc.

B. Bill got married.

Who with? When? Where? etc.

V. What is a Tag Question? 

Tag questions are added at the end of a statement In a tag question if the statement is positive the tag is negative and if the statement is negative the tag is positive

e.g. She is a teacher –  Statement à Positive

        Isn’t She – Tag question à negative

        They aren’t Americans  - Statement à negative

        Are they – Tag question  à positive

Tag question with positive Statement and Positive tag question

They are Musicians. – Statement

Oh, they are, are they? – Positive Tag question

She is in Moscow – Statement 

She is, Is she? – Positive Tag question

NOTE: Some times this type of questions are used as Sarcastic Comments.