We ask questions to get information. In one case, we expect completely new information, in the other we are already partially aware of what is happening and ask for confirmation or refutation of what we know. Also in the latter case, we can express surprise or doubt, that is, these questions are often rhetorical. To obtain new information, we usually use two types of questions:
- general;
- special.
Dividing, alternative questions allow you to build a query using a ready-made assumption. But the alternative, unlike the dividing one, offers several answers to choose from. This article provides general principles of construction and examples of disjunctive questions in English.
When are tag questions used
In a disjunctive question, an assumption is formulated that is either affirmative or negative, it forms the basis. Depending on the words used and intonation, the sentence can take on different colors. Examples of tag questions in English:
- You are certain of a fact and want to sort of recap it. /She is beautiful, isn't she?/She is beautiful, isn't she?/.
- You're sure of a fact the moment you say it, but then doubts suddenly arise that prompt you to miscalculate. /Today is Monday, isn't it?/Today is Monday, right?
- You know that there are two possible scenarios for the course of events, and first you specify the most probable one, and then you state the second one. /He is in the garden now, isn’t he?/He is in the garden now, or not?/.
- You know how you could or should have acted, and you expect help in making a decision (sometimes this happens, including in a dialogue with yourself). /I should be careful, shouldn't I?/.
- You suspect that the facts do not match your assumption, but express hope for a favorable scenario. /You have the key, have’t you?/You have the keys, I hope?/.
- You suspect the worst-case scenario, but don't lose hope. /You have no keys, have you?/You have no keys, do you?/.
- You are sure of a fact and voice your assumption, but then notice that the interlocutor does not express unanimous agreement with you. /But you wasn't there, was you?/But you weren't there … or were you there?/.
- You are observant and check if what you think is real. /You need some rest, aren't you?/You need some rest, am I right?/.
An analogy in Russian
In Russian and English there are similar principles for the formation of phrases and the construction of affirmative and negative sentences. Of course, a smooth and direct logic is not always traced here, nevertheless, most of the constructions have an analogy, including dividing questions. The Russian analogue can be expressed in interrogative phrases /Really?/, /Or not?/, /Or did?/, /Really?/. How is a disjunctive question constructed in English? Exercises with a step-by-step construction scheme and cross-association clearly show the mechanism of forming an ending from a pronoun and an opposed non-sense verb.
Differences from the Russian language
Russian language is much more flexible, and interrogative phrases here are not necessarily isolated at the end of the sentence. They can be harmoniously woven into the fabric of the issue, taking any position. They are also less likely to become bipolar. Often such turns open the sentence, so we do not need to listen to the speaker or read the text to the very end before realizing that the statement is not really a statement at all. The reason for the difficulty in comprehending sentences is mainly the often illogical and cellular grammar of the English language. Separating questions, of course, can also be predicted - it all depends on the specific case of use and the intonal policy of the interlocutor.
Verbs that can be used
Russianthe language allows the expression of such phrases in different phrases, including through the use of any verbs. How does English allow you to build disjunctive questions? The examples of interrogative endings shown in the table at the end of the article cover the main possible spellings. In the second part of the disjunctive question, only the following verbs can be used:
- /to be/;
- /do/;
- actually modal verbs.
True modality
Modality must be true, that is, it is incorrect to use improperly modal (quasimodal) verbs, even if they perform such a function in the sentence. Modal verbs proper include /can/, /have/, /must/, /may/, /ought to/.
Pronouns in the second part
In order not to clutter up speech with repeated words and avoid tautology, pronouns corresponding to the subject are used in the interrogative part, non-sense verbs are put into the appropriate conjugation, provided that they have a personal form. There is an exception here - together with /I/ in the negative interrogative ending, /am/ is always used /aren't/. Examples of tag questions in English with /I/ in the affirmative part of the sentence: /I'm not so bad, am I?/I'm not so bad/, /I am on the path, aren't I?/I'm on the path, isn't it?/.
Construction rules
Such constructions are built from the opposite - if at first you do a positivestatement, then the interrogative ending must be with a negative particle, and vice versa. In the first part, some assumption is voiced, in the second part, you put a non-sense verb in front of the corresponding pronoun. Thus, the basic scheme for constructing a disjunctive question is bipolar. 10 tag questions in English, shown in the table below, clearly illustrate the principle of constructing endings. This happens regardless of whether you confirm a positive statement or refute a negative one. Only in cases where words are used in the first part of the sentence that initially contain negation in their definition, the ending will not line up along the pole.
For example: /They will never refuse it, will they?/, /Now nowhere we go, are we?/.
Difficult use cases
Sometimes it can be difficult to determine which pronoun should end. Such situations arise when the subject is omitted, or when an indefinite pronoun is used instead.
With the subject omitted, we need to logically assume from which person (persons) the action comes, and in accordance with this, use the pronoun and non-sense verb. There are a number of constructions that are traditionally used with omitted object members, and the meaning of the omitted words is interpreted by default. Such cases should be remembered and used automatically, using the followingexamples of tag questions in English:
/Let's go to the forest this night, shall we?/Let's go to the forest this night, shall we?/
/Let us go to the forest this night, will you?
With an indefinite pronoun, a chain of reasoning is triggered, excluding the possibility of identifying a person. We cannot assume anyone specific (neither /he/, nor /she/, nor /it/ nor /you/, nor /I/) in this place, which means we equate the unknown member to the set. Therefore, they are placed at the end.
/Everyone called him by name, didn't they?/Everyone called him by name, didn't they?/.
