oxford_guide_to_english_grammar

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Questions and answers
21 Summary
The use of questions • 22
We use questions to ask for information and also for requests, suggestions,
offers etc.
Inversion in questions • 23
In most questions there is inversion of the subject and auxiliary.
Statement: You have written a letter.
Question: Have you written a letter?
Yes/no questions and wh-questions • 24
These are the two main kinds of question.
yes/no: Have you written a letter?
wh: What have you written?
Wh-questions: more details • 25
A question word can be subject, object, complement or adverbial. Who can be
subject or object.
Who told you? (subject)
Who did you tell? (object)
Question words: more details • 26
A question word can also be a determiner.
What/Which day are they coming?
The choice of what or which depends on the number of possible answers.
We can use how on its own or before an adjective or adverb.
How did you find out?
How far is it to Newcastle?
We can modify a question word.
Why exactly do you need this information ?
OVERVIEW: question words • 27
Question phrases • 28
We can form question phrases with what and how.
What time is your train?
How much does it cost?