ASKING FOR & GIVING

INFORMATION
MODULE 3

I . S . J AYA R AT H N E
F O R M E R S E N I O R C O N S U L TA N T / H E A D O F D E PA R T M E N T
(ENGLISH) SLIDA
P R O G R A M M E S P E C I A L I S T, M I L O D A
L E C T U R E R I N E N G L I S H , U N I V E R S I T Y O F K E L A N I YA
QUESTION FORMS
PRE TEST

Can you form 4 different questions to

get the following answer.

“ I like sunny days”

MAIN QUESTION FORMS
• YES/NO
• WH
• Tag
• Indirect
• Statement
• Double
 YES/NO Questions

We call them “Close Ended Questions”

because the answer is Yes or No. There is
no continuity expected of the conversation.
You may start a new topic after that.
YES/NO QUESTIONS WORDS
• Is, Am, Are
• Was, Were
• Will, Shall
• Have, Has, Had
• Do, Does, Did
• Can, Could, Would
• May, Might
• Should, Must
Question & Reply Forms-YES/NO
Are you Mr. Silva?
Yes, I’m.
Are you free now?
No, I’m not.
Aren’t you coming?
Yes, I’m not coming.

Aren’t you listening?

No, I’m listening.
Question & Reply Forms-YES/NO
Do you know the Secretary’s name?
Yes, I know. (Yes, I do.)
Does he come before 8.30 a.m.?
Yes, he comes. (yes, he does.)
Do you have an extra pen?
No, I don’t.
Does her daughter have a job?
No, she doesn’t have. ( Yes, she has)
Self Assessment-1
Ask YES/NO Questions

1. Do……………………………………………………………………………………?
2. Are…………………………………………………………………………………..?
3. Does ………………………………………………………………………………. ?
4. Did……………………………………………………………………………………?
5. Will………………………………………………………………………………… ?
6. Were……………………………………………………………………………… ?
7. Can……………………………………………………………………………………?

1…………………………………………………………………………………………….?
2…………………………………………………………………………………………….?
3…………………………………………………………………………………………….?
4…………………………………………………………………………………………….?
5…………………………………………………………………………………………….?
6…………………………………………………………………………………………….?
7…………………………………………………………………………………………… ?
8…………………………………………………………………………………………….?
9…………………………………………………………………………………………….?
10………………………………………………………………………………………… ?
WH Questions

WH Questions are called “Open

Ended Questions” or “Information
Questions”. You are required to give
a detailed answer for a WH Question.
There can be a continuity in the
conversation.
Question & Reply Forms-WH
What is your name?
I’m Silva. (My name is Silva.)

What do you do on weekends?

I don’t do anything. I’m free on weekends.

Who Whose
Where does Mr. Silva live? What Whom
He lives at Nawala. When How
Where With whom
Why To whom
which From whom
Self Assessment-2
Answer the WH questions given below.
Q: What is your name, please?
A: _____________________________________
Q: Where did you study?
A: _____________________________________
Q: When did you graduate?
A: _____________________________________
Q: Where do you work at the moment?
A: _____________________________________

Q: Why do you want to leave the present job?

A: __________________________________
Q: What is your present salary?
A: __________________________________
Q: How much do you expect?
A: __________________________________
Q: When can you join this job?
A: __________________________________
Q: Thank you for coming.
A: You are welcome.
Self Assessment-3
Write WH questions

Q: ___________________________________________?
A: My name is Nimal Perera.
Q: ___________________________________________?
A: I want to Speak to Mr. Gamini Silva.
Q: ___________________________________________?
A: I’m calling from ABC & Company.

Q: ________________________________________________?
A: My numbers is 077344487.
Q: ________________________________________________?
A: I’m the HR Manager at ABC & Company.
Q:________________________________________________ ?
A: I can come at 9.30 a.m. tomorrow.
Q: ________________________________________________?
A: My vehicle number is CAB 8755.
Q:________________________________________________ ?
A: Car park is in the basement. See you tomorrow at 9.30.
Tag Question
Sri Lankans have their own Tag, which is
nonstandard.
E.g.
You are late, no?
You are not going early, no?
You missed the bus, no?
They have lost the match, no?
CoVid is threatening again, no?
Question & Reply Forms-Tag
You are Mr. Silva, aren’t you?
Yes, I am Silva.

You are not free on weekends, are you?

No, I am free on weekends.

Mr. Silva is on leave next week, isn’t he?

Yes, he is on leave.
Self Assessment-4
Answer Tag Questions

Q: You are late, aren’t you?

A:________________________________________
Q: You didn’t wish me yesterday, did you?
A:________________________________________
Q: You were upset, weren’t you?
A: ________________________________________

Q: You are free today, aren't you?

A: _______________________________________________________
Q: You can go out for dinner, can’t you?
A: _______________________________________________________
Q: Farther will not object, will he?
A: _______________________________________________________
Q: You like Chinese food, don’t you?
A: _______________________________________________________
Q: You didn’t like Indian food last time, did you?
A: ________________________________________________________
Self Assessment-5
Ask & Answer Tag Questions
Q:___________________________________________
A:___________________________________________
Q:___________________________________________
A:___________________________________________
Q:___________________________________________
A:___________________________________________
Q:___________________________________________
A:___________________________________________

Q:___________________________________________________________________
A:___________________________________________________________________
Q:___________________________________________________________________
A:___________________________________________________________________
Q:___________________________________________________________________
A:___________________________________________________________________
Indirect Questions

Indirect Questions are rather polite and good

to use in conversation with strangers,
superiors, seniors, and religious dignitaries.

You need to pay attention to the Word Order in

the Indirect Question.
Question & Reply Forms-Indirect
Q: Can you tell me what your name is?
A: I’m Silva.

Q: Do you know whether the CEO is coming today?

A: Sorry, I don’t know whether he is coming today.
Common Phrases for Indirect
Questions

 Can you tell me when……………………?

 May I know how……………………………?
 Do you know……………………………… ?
 Could you tell me whether……………. ?
 Can I know if (whether) ……………….. ?
Indirect Questions - More Phrases

I was wondering ………………………………?

 Could you explain why …………………… ?
 Has he/she told you whether …………… ?
 Do you have any idea how long …… ?
I have no idea …………………………… ?
 Do you know if……………………………… ?
 I'd like to know ……………………………… ?
Indirect Questions - More Phrases

 Would it be possible to ask ………………………………?

 I’m sorry, could I ask you to …………………………… ?
 I wonder if/whether ………………........................... ?
 I can't remember if/whether ………....................... ?
 Would you mind telling me if ………………………… ?
 Would it be possible for you to …………………………?
 Is there any chance you could …………………………?
 I don't suppose you could ……………………………… ?
 I'd like to know if/whether ………………………………..?
Indirect Questions - More Phrases

I can't remember ……………………………… ?

 I'd be interested to know/hear ………………..?
 Do you happen to know ……………………… ?
 I'm not sure ………………………………………..?
 If it’s not too much trouble …………………. ?
 I’m sorry, do you mean ……………………….. ?
 If you don’t mind, could you tell me……… ?
Self Assessment-6
Ask Indirect Questions

1. May I know ___________________________________?

2. Could you ____________________________________ ?
3. Do you think___________________________________?
4. Can I know ____________________________________?
5. Could you explain_______________________________?
6. Can I know if___________________________________?
7. Could you let us know how_______________________ ?

8. Could you please let me know__________________________________________?

9. May we know whether________________________________________________?
10. Do you think ______________________________________________________ ?
Self Assessment-7
Ask Indirect Questions

1: ___________________________________ _________ ?
2: _____________________________________________ ?
3: ____________________________________________ ?
4: _____________________________________________?
5: _____________________________________________ ?
6: _____________________________________________ ?
7: _____________________________________________ ?
8: _____________________________________________ ?

9: ___________________________________________________________________?
10: ___________________________________________________________________?
11: __________________________________________________________________ ?
12: __________________________________________________________________ ?
Statement Questions

Statement Questions are mostly

used in Spoken English, specially in
informal conversations. You make
the statement a Question by
changing the Intonation.
Question & Reply Forms-Statement
You are tired?
Yes, I am tired.

He is married?
No, he is not.

Ruwan is sick?
Yes, he is seriously sick.
 Double Questions

Double questions are used mainly in informal

conversation, and you hardly ever use them in
formal writing. Instead of asking two questions,
you ask one question amalgamating both facts.
Question & Reply Forms-Double
Do you come by bus or train?
I come by bus.

Are you free on Sundays or not?

I am not free.

Is he at home or in office?
He is in office
 Subject Questions

Subject questions are questions we ask when we want to know the subject of
the sentence. They normally start with the question words:
who, which, what, whose. They are in affirmative, without auxiliaries (do,
does, did etc.), (who, which, what, whose are the subjects of the sentence)
Q: Who bought the house?
A: Mr. Silva bought the house.
Q: What happened to him?
A: He lost the match.
Q: Whose car was stolen in the car park?
A: Mr. Silva’s car was stolen.
Object Questions

Object questions are used when we want to know the object of the sentence. The
questions normally begin with who, what, which, whose but they are not the
subjects and the auxiliary is needed:
Q: Who did you speak to?
A: I spoke to Mr. Silva.
Q: What did you do yesterday?
A: I visited my parents.

In object questions the preposition goes at the end of the sentence.

Where does he come from?
Who were you talking to?
THANK YOU