EXTENSIVE

LISTENING
Alternative Question, Embedded Question,
& Tag Question

2C/Group 7:
1 Akbar Arandi Pasha
2. Sonia Cahya Nandani
3. Syakira Khaerunnisa
1. Alternative Questions
Alternative questions are questions that offer two or
more options for the respondent to choose from,
facilitating decision-making and prompting further
discussion in conversations. (Julia T. Wood, 2018)
 Functions & Benefit
Functions:
Helps know what someone likes or thinks by giving them a choice
between different things.
Making easier to pick something by offering options and guiding people
towards a specific decision.
Used to make sure we understand correctly or to double-check by
giving different choices.
BENEFIT:
give clear choices, so people can easily understand and
pick the answer they like best. This makes communication
clearer and reduces any confusion.
 Formula
[Question word/auxiliary verb] + [subject] + [main verb] + [option 1] +
[conjunction] + [option 2]

For example:
- Do you prefer more sugar or less sugar?
- Would you like tea or milk?
- Can you go shopping today or tomorrow?
 Intonation
Alternative Question is spoken with a rising intonation in the first
partand a falling intonation in the second part. Where the speaker
gives options, the intonation often rises at the end.

example:
Original Sentence: "Do you want coffee or tea?"

- Rising intonation on "tea" indicating it's a question.

 Problem and problem
solving
Problem: Sometimes, alternative
questions can be a hassle if the choices
don't cover everything or aren't clear.
This can make people confused or
annoyed.

Problem Solving: To fix this, make sure the options in alternative questions fit
the situation and cover all possibilities. If there's any confusion, clarify the
choices. Pay attention to the person's feedback and adjust the options
accordingly to make sure everyone's on the same page and can make a good
decision.
 Exercise
Make an Alternative Questions!

1. Black or White
2. Mall or Park
 Embedded Question
Embedded questions are used when you want to ask a more
polite question or talk about something the speaker doesn't
know, which is generally after the following phrase. And can
be defined as a form of question that is delivered
by inserting it into a statement or it can also be inserted
into a question that is difficult to answer.
 Benefit
can make communication more engaging
3 and dynamic.

can sometimes provide more context or

clarity, making it easier for the listener or
3
reader to understand the intended
meaning.

can be perceived as more polite or indirect

3 than direct questions. This can be particularly
useful in formal or sensitive situations.
 Function
Embedded questions are often used to ask for
specific information in a less direct or more polite
manner. For example: "Could you tell me where
the nearest grocery store is?"

Embedded questions can also be used to express

uncertainty or doubt. For example: "I wonder
whether he will come to the party."
Formula
3 S+V (or Aux verb)
Example:
Question: "Why is she crying?"

Embedded question (in a statement sentence): "I wonder why she is crying."

Embedded question (in a statement sentence): "Do you know why she is crying?"

If, whether, or whether or not are used if there are no question words (where, why,
who, what, when, how).
for example:
- Do you know whether he can drive an automatic car?
- Do you know whether or not he can drive an automatic car?
 Intonation
in g em b e d d ed q u e s tio n s
r ea d , th e
h e n r ds th e e n d. T h is ris e - an d to ne
W towa g in n in g o f th e e
- f a ll p
fa lls th e b e m b e d d at te
nd e s a t e y th e q u e s tio n 's e d q r n
a ris s c o n v s tr u c t u e s
t en h e lp s it f ro m t he m a i n u re a t io
f
o an d g u is h e s t a te m n d n
d is tin e nt.

example:
Original Sentence: "I wonder if they'll ever find out the truth."

- The tone rises on "wonder" to signal the start of the

embedded question: "I **wonder** if they'll ever find out the
truth."
- It falls towards the end of the embedded question,
emphasizing the completion of the question: "I wonder if
they'll ever find out the **truth**."
 Problem Solving
The problem of embedded questions arises when a question is
embedded within another question or statement, often leading to
confusion or ambiguity in communication. It can make it difficult to
interpret the intended meaning or to provide a clear response. And
Clarifying the structure or rephrasing the sentence can help resolve
the problem
Exercise
change the sentence below into an embedded question :
1 Who won the singing competition?

2 Where she hide the key?

# Embedded question:
______ Who won the singing
1
competition? a. can you tell me
2 ______ Where she hide the key?
b. i wonder
 Tag Question
Tag Questions are some brief question that are
placed at the end of a statement to change it from a
statement to a question as to whether the statement
is true or not. Tag question is a declarative or
imperative clause that has an interrogative element
added to it. It is typically used to show doubt, seek
agreement, or confirm something.
 Benefit
Question tags are a great way to add more depth and
context to your conversations in English. it can help you
extract more information from your conversations, Building
better relationships and makes communication smoother.
 Function

1. To confirm the truth of a statement

2. To encourage a reply from the listener
3. To ask some questions and gwet right responses
 Formula
3 Positive statement:
Example:
(S + to be / aux + verb)
You are coming, aren't + negative tag
you?
Negative statements
He doesn’t catch a (S + to be / aux + not +
cold, does he?
O) + Positive tag
Intonation
When we confirm or check information with someone using a
question tag, our intonation rises and then falls at the end of
the tag.

“You’re going to the beach today,

1 aren’t you?” = I know you are going to
the beach.

“You’ve already tried the chef’s

2 special, haven’t you? = I know you
have eaten the chef’s special.

It’s very important to make your intonation fall at the end of the
tag to sound natural.
 Problem & Solving
Problem
The film fantastic, wasn't it?'
Is the sentence correct with the right question tag formula?

Solving
The sentence is incorrect because it doesn't have a complete
formula, it should have to be as a past tense.
Correct : The film Was fantastic, isn't it?
Exercises
1. They weren't waiting for you,....?
2. The moon it's beatiful....?
3. They won't be able to come to the party,....?
4. They aren't going to be at the meeting, are they?

A. Isn’t it?
B. Will they?
C.Are they?
D. Were they?
 CONCLUSION
Alternative questions provide multiple choices for someone to pick
from, aiding decision-making and encouraging further discussion.
Embedded questions, which are beneficial for daily conversations,
enhance reading comprehension and learning, help grasp questions
quickly, and contribute to polite and clear communication. Tag
questions, on the other hand, are brief questions tacked onto the end
of a sentence to turn it into a query about the truthfulness of what
was stated. They're a simple way to confirm information, seek
agreement, or ensure clarity in communication.
 DISCUSSION
It's important to choose the right options for alternative questions that fit the situation
and cover all possibilities. If things get confusing, make sure to explain the choices clearly.
Listen to what others say and adjust the options as needed, so everyone understands and can
make a good decision.
Wrong tag questions can confuse if they don't match the tone or what's confirmed.
Match the tone, clarify, consider the conversation, and cultural differences. Use tag questions
well by understanding why, adjusting, and keeping things clear.
Embedded questions can cause trouble when one question is hidden inside another
question or statement. This often leads to confusion or uncertainty in communication. It can
be hard to understand what's meant or to give a clear answer. Fixing the sentence structure or
rephrasing it can help solve this problem.
Overall, embedded, alternative, and tag questions are super important for everyday talk
because they help us have conversations and find out specific details more easily.
 REFERENCES
- Alternatuve Question
- ALTERNATIVE QUESTION definition and meaning - Collins Dictionary
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/alternative-question
- Julia T.Wood. (2018). Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters.

- Embedded Question
- https://id.scribd.com/presentation/457232834/Embedded-questions-and-Intonation-of-Tag-Questions
- https://www.englishclass101.com/lesson/english-grammar-made-easy-230-how-to-make-embedded-
questions?lp=172
- https://languagelearningrepository.wordpress.com/2016/12/01/advanced-mistakes-1-embedded-questions-
in-english/
- H Van Der Meij (2021) - https://shorturl.at/lnxHJ

- Tag Questions
- https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/tag-questions.php
- https://www.eslbase.com/grammar/tag-question
- Learn Laugh Speak. (2022). The importance of Question Tags!
- https://www.thegrammargoat.com/news/maintaining-a-conversation-with-question-tags/
THANK YOU