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Questions, Orders, Commands and Requests

The document discusses various aspects of using language for seeking information and giving instructions, emphasizing the psychological states that influence questioning. It outlines different types of questions, including open-ended and closed questions, and provides guidance on effective question formation for surveys and academic purposes. Additionally, it covers the structure of interrogative and imperative sentences, as well as the importance of clarity and specificity in communication.

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sumayanaz321
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3 views

Questions, Orders, Commands and Requests

The document discusses various aspects of using language for seeking information and giving instructions, emphasizing the psychological states that influence questioning. It outlines different types of questions, including open-ended and closed questions, and provides guidance on effective question formation for surveys and academic purposes. Additionally, it covers the structure of interrogative and imperative sentences, as well as the importance of clarity and specificity in communication.

Uploaded by

sumayanaz321
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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USING LANGUAGE TO SEEK

INFORMATION & GIVE


INSTRUCTIONS
PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE AND
QUESTIONING

• Curiosity and Interest • Mood


• Confidence • Cognitive Function
• Anxiety and Fear • Social Factors
• Emotional Intelligence • Cultural Influences
• Motivation
• Stress and Overwhelm
SEVERAL WAYS OF ASKING QUESTIONS

Yes/No Questions: Polar/Close Ended Questions

Wh-Questions: Open Ended Questions

Tag Questions

Alternative Questions (Using Auxiliary or Modal Verbs)

Indirect Questions

Rhetorical Questions

Embedded Questions
INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES
■ QUESTIONS? INQUIRES?
– Eg. Do you wish to come with me?
– OR What do want to do?
– OR Have you made a decision on accompanying me for the event?

▪ OPEN ENDED : that have to be answered with a specific piece of information or a


sentence such as I don’t know
▪ CLOSE ENDED (POLAR QUESTIONS) : that can be answered yes or no
OPEN ENDED
■ USE QUESTION WORDS
■ who, whom, whose, what, which, when, where, why, and how
■ seek INFORMATION
– Eg.; Who was that man? – He’s my geography teacher.
– What did he say when you told him the news? – He was too surprised to say
anything.
– When did you see Ali? – Last Wednesday.
– Where is Peter going? – To work.
– When did they arrive? – Yesterday.
– Why have you stopped going running? – The doctor told me to.
CLOSE ENDED (Polar Questions)
■ USE AUXILIARY/MODAL VERBS
■ Be/Do/Have/Can/Could/Shall/Should/May/Might/Must
■ Seek OPINION
– Doesn’t he like talking about his childhood?
– Can’t Peter have one too?
– Don’t you speak French?
– Wouldn’t you like to know a bit more about this?
▪ Negative Interrogative
– Does he not like talking about his childhood?
– Do you not want to know what it was about?
– Can Peter not have one too?
WORD ORDER IN INTERROGATIVE
■ The normal sentence order for the interrogative is:
– modal/auxiliary verb + subject + base form of the main verb?
■ The normal sentence order for the negative interrogative is:
– modal/auxiliary verb (in combination with not) + subject + base form of the main
verb?
■ The normal sentence order for the interrogative (Open ended) is:
– Question words + Verb+ subject + Adverbial?

– Eg.
– Can I visit you this weekend?
– Couldn’t you tell me earlier?
– Who are you taking for the party?
IMPREATIVE SENTENCES
■ COMMAND/ORDER/REQUEST

■ form of the verb used for the imperative is the base form of the main verb, which is used without a subject.
– Walk to the corner, turn right, and cross the road.
– Open your mouth and say ‘Aaaah’.

▪ they do have an understood subject, ‘you’.


■ The basic form of the imperative remains the same whether it is addressed to one or more people.
– Come on, Mary; I’m waiting.
– Come on, girls; you’re late.

■ The word order of a sentence in the imperative is: verb + object (if needed).
■ The uses of the imperative are as follows:
■ to give an order.
– Go away.
– Stop that.
– Keep quiet.
■ to give instructions.
– Don’t use this spray near a naked flame.
– Apply the glue thinly and leave it for ten minutes.
■ to give advice or warnings.
– Don’t forget to take your passport with you.
– Be careful!
– Don’t go on the ice.
■ to make an offer or an invitation.
– Have a piece of cake.
– Come round and see me some time.
Making suggestions
■ There is also a special type of imperative, using let’s, that is used when you need to include the
speaker.
■ Let’s (let + us) + main verb is used in the 1st person plural only, especially when you are trying to
encourage someone to do something. It includes both the speaker and the hearer, so the subject
that is understood is represented by the plural we.
– Let’s visit Malcolm this weekend.
– Please let’s go to the cinema tonight.
– Do let’s have a look at your new computer, Chris.
– Let’s pool our resources.
■ Suggestions which start with let’s often end with the sentence tag shall we?
– Let’s phone her now, shall we?
■ In ordinary English the negative is let’s not + main verb or sometimes don’t let’s + main verb.
– Let’s not worry about that now.
– Don’t let’s worry about that now.
■ In formal English, the negative is let us not + main verb.Let us not lose sight of our aims.
Another possibility for a SENTENCE
■ QUESTION TAGS
– It isn’t raining again, is it?
– You’ve seen the programme, haven’t you?
– Well, we can’t jump over it, can we?
– You will come, won’t you?
■ the auxiliary verb be or have or a modal verb is part of the verb phrase in the sentence
■ Can be used as statement OR questions OR command
– Make me a cup of tea, will you?
– She’s gone out, hasn’t she? (falling tone)
– You saw him in town, did you?
UNDERSTANDING THE SKILL OF
QUESTION FORMATION
•Identify the Purpose •Avoid Leading Questions
•Start with Question Words •Sequence Matters
•Use Clear Language •Listen Actively
•Be Specific •Practice and Feedback
•Open-Ended vs. Closed Questions •Adapt and Reframe
•Consider the Audience •Reflect on the Context
•Critical Thinking
Preparing questions for a survey is a critical step in gathering
valuable data and insights

Step 1: Define Your Survey's Purpose and Step 8: Use Rating Scales Effectively
Goals
Step 9: Pilot Test Your Questions
Step 2: Identify Your Target Audience
Step 10: Consider Confidentiality and
Step 3: Choose the Survey Format Anonymity

Step 4: Consider Question Types Step 11: Pretest the Entire Survey

Step 5: Write Clear and Concise Questions Step 12: Analyze and Interpret Results

Step 6: Avoid Biased or Leading Questions Step 13: Share and Act on Findings

Step 7: Sequence Questions Thoughtfully


Using Questions Constructively for
Academic Purposes
• Research and Inquiry • Thesis and Dissertation
Development
• Participation in Discussions
• Peer Review and Feedback
• Clarification and
Comprehension • Teaching and Learning
• Peer Interaction • Academic Presentation
• Interviews and Surveys • Academic Writing
• Critical Thinking and Analysis
Practice!
a). Are you planning to have dinner with us? (change to open-ended question)
b). After using the product for three years, do let us know how can improve our
product design. (change to close-ended question)
c). I am your next leader, ______? (write a question using the question tag)
d). Dogs do like o swim, _________? (write a question using the question tag)
e). Who would you like to be present at your convocation, your mother or me?
(change to close-ended question)
f). Why are you never happy with my ideas? (change to close-ended question)
g). I am excited to see the next batch of students. (write a question)
h). The child hates to go to school. (write a question)

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