Questions and Common Errors-II

 

Questions and Common Errors-II

            Dear readers, in the previous post we discussed the errors that we tend to commit while speaking and writing in English in terms of framing questions. This topic helps us understand the significant rules to be followed while framing questions in conversations.

Let us look at the common errors associated with framing questions in the following:

1. When did you came yesterday?                                                                      (Incorrect)

     When did you come yesterday?                                                                     (Correct)

      Did you meet him yesterday?                                                                       (Correct)

When we use “did” as auxiliary verb the main verb should be in present form.

2. Do he have any doubt?                                                                                  (Incorrect)

     Does he has any question?                                                                            (Incorrect)

     Does he have any doubt?                                                                              (Correct)

     Does he have any question?                                                                          (Correct)

When the subject is third person singular, i.e., he/she/it, always use “does” in the question. When we use “does” we should use only “have”.

3. Where was bought the car?                                                                            (Incorrect)

     Where was the car bought?                                                                           (Correct)

     How is done online booking of seats?                                                            (Incorrect)

     How is online booking of seats done?                                                            (Correct)

Before the subject, we can use only the auxiliary and modal verbs, not main verbs.

4. Which is the name of the book you prepared for semester examinations?          (Incorrect)

     What is the name of the book you prepared for semester examinations?          (Correct)

   We should use “what”, to ask about specific information from a general range of possible answers, not “which”.

5. Magizhan asked me that do you like going out on weekends.                            (Incorrect)

    Magizhan asked me whether I liked going out on weekends.                           (Correct)

    Magizhan asked me if I liked going out on weekends.                                     (Correct)

When we report other’s statement, it will undergo several changes. When we report any question which has a “yes” or “no” answer, then we should use “if” or “whether”. Also, the tense of the main verb (here, “like”) changes and the auxiliary verb (here “do”) is not used while reporting questions. And, the word order should be like that of a sentence, not of a question.   

In the next post, we shall discuss some other interesting topics.

 

Author:

Dr. K. Nandhakumar

Assistant Professor of English

Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science

Coimbatore