XVI. Special questions
Special questions pronounced with the low falling tone are called Neutral
Special Questions.
If the special word is the nucleus of the sense group such questions are called Specifying. They are often pronounced with the high falling tone.
Special questions pronounced with the low rising tone are called Friendly
Special Questions. They are used in a friendly conversation and when the speaker is very interested in the information he can receive.
Such questions are common in the series of questions, especially when talking to children. A special word may be omitted.
1. Practise reading these sentences using all the intonation patterns:
1. Well, what’s the news, Mr. White?
2. And how do you like these gloves?
3. Why couldn’t he pay?
4. Where can we get the record-player?
5. Why don’t you write to the secretary?
6. When do you like your tea?
7. How do you drink your tea?
8. What is there on the window sill?
9. When are you starting your classes?
10. How could you do this to me?
11. Whose bag is there under the chair?
12. What is going on here?
13. Who is there?
14. Which switch is which?
2. Read the following dialogues:
1. My dog is here. – What kind of dog is it? – It’s a poodle. - What’s the poodle like?
– It is very kind. - What colour is it? – It’s white. – I see.
2. What is it? – It’s a small radio. – What kind of radio is it? – It is a transistor radio?
– Is it portable? – Of course.
3. This is a nice dress. What colour is this? – Is it maroon. – What size is it? – It’s size twelve.
4. What shape is your new mirror? Is it round? – No it isn’t. – Is it square? – No, my mirror isn’t square. – What shape is it then? - It’s oval.
5. What are your shoes like? – They are nice. – What colour are the shoes? – They are brown. – What size are they? – 37 – What kind of shoes are these? – They are walking shoes.
6. A: Look, why is your file here?
B: No idea
A: And why is your written report here?
B: It’s a mistake of the secretary.
7. A: Why are you so sad?
B: It isn’t sadness. It’s tiredness.
A: Why are you tired?
B: It’s a hard job. Aren’t you tired?
8. A: Excuse me, Where is the Tower Bridge.
B: Well, it is opposite the Tower.
A: And where’s the Tower?
B: It’s just in front of you. Where are you from?
A: Canada.
9. A: Please, where is McDonalds?
B: It’s in High Street round the corner.
A: Where?
B: It’s down there.
A: Thank you.
3. Make up your own dialogues using all the intonation patterns.
XVII. Alternative questions
Alternative questions generally form a combined tune in speech. The two
intonation patterns are: Rise + Fall and Rise + Rise. Where there are more than two alternatives, the combined tune contains more than two intonation groups.
If the list of alternatives is complete Rise is used in every nonfinal sense group and Fall in the final one.
The negative reply to the question with the complete list of alternatives is
“neither”.
If the list of alternatives is incomplete, the final intonation group is also
pronounced with the rising tone.
The negative reply to the question with the incomplete list of alternatives is “no”.
