10 separative questions in English. Examples of separative questions in English

We ask questions to get information. In one case, we expect absolutely new information, in another 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 :

- are common;

- Special.

Separative, alternative questions allow you to build a query using an already-ready assumption. But the alternative, unlike the separative one, offers several options for answering a choice. This article presents general principles for constructing and examples of separative questions in the English language .

In what cases are the dividing questions used?

In the separative question, an assumption is formulated that is either affirmative or negative, it forms the basis. Depending on the words used and the intonation, the sentence may take a different color. Examples of separative questions in English:

- You are sure of any fact and want to sum up this once again. / She is beautiful, is not she?

- You are sure of any fact at the moment when you voice it, but then suddenly there are doubts that prompt you to make a reservation. / Today is Monday, is not it? / Today is Monday, right?

- You know that there are two possible variants of the course of events, and first you stipulate the most probable, and then state the assumption of the second. Is he in the garden now or not?

- You know how you could or should have acted, and expect help in making a decision (sometimes this happens, including in a dialogue with oneself). I should be careful, right?

- You suspect that the facts do not correspond to your assumption, but you express hope for a favorable variant of the situation development. Do you have the keys, I hope?

- You suspect that the least favorable scenario has occurred, but do not lose hope. You Do not Have Keys,.

- You are sure of any fact and sound your assumption, but then notice that the interlocutor does not express unanimous agreement with you. / But you were not there ... or were you there?

"You are observing and checking whether or not what you think is true." / You need some rest, are you not? /.

Analogy in Russian

In Russian and English there are similar principles for the formation of word combinations and the construction of affirmative and negative sentences. Of course, there is not always a smooth and direct logic here, nevertheless, most of the designs have an analogy, including separating questions. The Russian analogue can be expressed in interrogative turns / Is it so? /, / Or not? /, / Or did? /, / True? /. How is the separative issue of English structured? Exercises with a step-by-step construction scheme and cross-association clearly demonstrate the mechanism of formation of the ending from the pronoun and the opposing non-meaning verb.

Differences from the Russian language

Russian language is much more flexible, and interrogative turns are not necessarily separated at the end of the sentence. They can harmoniously interweave in the fabric of the matter, taking up any position. Also it is less characteristic of them to acquire a bipolar character. Often such turns open the sentence, so we do not need to listen to the speaker or read the text until the very end, before realizing that the statement is not really a statement at all. The reason for the difficult interpretation of sentences is often the illogical and cellular grammar of the English language. Separation issues, of course, can also be foreseen - it all depends on the specific case of use and intonational policy of the interlocutor.

Verbs that can be used

Russian language allows the expression of such phrases in different phrases, including through the use of any verbs. How does English language help to build dividing questions? Examples of interrogative endings, listed in the table at the end of the article, cover the main possible variants of writing. In the second part of the separative question, only the following verbs can be used:

- / to be /;

- / do /;

- Modal verbs themselves.

True modality

Modality must be true, that is, it is incorrect to use improperly modal (quasi-modal) verbs, even if they perform such a function in the sentence. The actual modal verbs include / can / is capable /, / have / commits /, / must / must /, / may / can / ought to / must /.

Pronouns in the second part

In order not to pile up the speech with repetitive words and avoid tautology, the corresponding pronouns are used in the interrogative part, non-meaning verbs are put in appropriate conjugation provided they have a personal form. Here there is an exception - together with / I / in the negative interrogative ending instead of / am / always / are not / is used. Examples of separative questions in English c / I / in the affirmative part of the sentence: / I'm not so bad, am I? / I'm not so bad / I'm on the trail , is not it so?/.

Building Rules

Such constructions are built from the reverse - if at the beginning you make a positive statement, then the interrogative ending should be with a negative particle, and vice versa. In the first part, some suggestion is made, in the second part you put before the corresponding pronoun an unthinkable verb. Thus, the basic scheme for constructing the separation problem is bipolar. 10 divisional 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 the first part of the sentence uses words that initially contain a negative in their definition, the ending will not line up along the pole.

For example: / They will never refuse it, will they? / They will never give up, right? /, / Now nowhere we go, are we? / Now we're not going anywhere, right? /.

Complicated cases of use

Sometimes it is difficult to determine which pronoun should be in the ending. Such situations arise when the subject is omitted, or when an indefinite pronoun is used instead .

When the subject is omitted, we need to logically assume from which person (persons) the action proceeds, and in accordance with this use a pronoun and a meaningless verb. There are a number of constructs that are traditionally used with omitted object members, and the value of omitted words is treated by default. Such cases need to be remembered and used automatically, using the following examples of separative questions in English:

/ Let's go to the forest this night, shall we? / Let's go to the forest this night, go? /

/ Let us go to the forest this night, will you? / You'll let us go to the forest tonight, right? /

With an indefinite pronoun, a chain of reasoning is triggered, excluding the possibility of identifying a person. We can not suppose anybody specific (neither / he / nor / she / nor / it / neither / you / nor / I /) at this place, which means we equate the unknown term with the set. Therefore, they end up in the ending.

Everyone called him by his name, did not he?