VOA慢速英语2020--Question Words

Question WordsA few years ago, On the American television show Saturday Night Live, actor Jerry Seinfeld answered questions from the audience. However, the people who asked them were not ordinary showgoers, but Hollywood stars.

The questions were jokes that made fun of other actors. Tim Meadows¹ asked if he could read from a magazine list of the worst actors to ever appear on the show.

But let me just read who is dead last. And do we have a camera ready to cut to Robert Downey Jr.?

No, let's not do this, let's not do this! This is not a good idea. Other questions.

Oh! Bob Odenkirk here. Bob!

Jerry, when are we doing a tribute² to the writers of SNL...?

That short discussion provides examples of two of the most common kinds of questions in English - "yes/no" questions and "wh-" questions.

What are question words?

A yes/no question is one that can be answered simply with a yes or a no.

And do we have a camera ready to cut to Robert Downey Jr.?

No, let's not do this...

The "wh-" question requires a more detailed³ answer:

Jerry, when are we doing a tribute to the writers of SNL...?

That question includes the word "when," which starts with "wh-." The words what, where or why are also used for "wh-" questions. This is where the "wh-" name comes from.*

"Wh-" questions follow a pattern. The question word comes first. Then come the subject and main verb. In some cases, there is a helping⁴ verb, such as do, have, or can, in between the question word and the subject.

The pattern is Question word + (helping verb) + subject + main verb

Here are two examples, one in the present and one in the past:

Where does he work?

What did she say?

Question words in answers

You might be thinking that this is all you need to know about question words. But question words are important for another reason: they can be used in answers.

Question words often begin noun clauses⁶ - groups of words with a subject and a verb. These clauses act like a noun in the sentence.

Think back to our examples:

Where does he work?

What did she say?

In response to these questions, a person might say:

I don't know where he works.

I didn't hear what she said.

In the first example, where he works is a noun clause⁵.

In the second example, what she said is a noun clause.

Notice that the question word order is not used in the answer. The verb do does not appear in the noun clause in the answer.

Where does he work?

I don't know where he works.

Closing thoughts

The next time you are listening or reading, try to find examples of question words – both in questions and in answers. Also pay attention to how speakers use intonation⁷ and word stress with question words.

Then practice using them a lot.

There are only a small number of question words, and they are useful in almost any situation you can think of. If your goal is to improve your speaking skills, then you must use question words with ease.

I'm John Russell.

Words in This Story

tribute – n. something that you say, give, or do to show respect or affection for someone

pattern – n. the regular and repeated way in which something happens or is done

intonation – n. the rise and fall in the sound of your voice when you speak

word stress – n. greater loudness or force given to a syllable or a word in speech

1 meadows   

草地，牧场， （河边的）低洼地( meadow的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The trail wends its way through leafy woodland and sunny meadows. 这条小径穿过葱郁的林区和洒满阳光的草地。
• They have railed the meadows off from the new railway cutting. 他们已用栏杆把草地和新铁道的路堑隔离开来。

2 tribute   

n.颂词，称赞，(表示敬意的)礼物；贡品

参考例句：

• She accepted their tribute graciously.她慈祥地接受了他们的致意。
• Many conquered nations had to pay tribute to the rulers of ancient Rome.许多被征服的国家必须向古罗马的统治者朝贡。

3 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 clause   

n.（正式文件或法律文件的）条款，从句，分句

参考例句：

• The sentence consists of a main clause and a subordinate clause.这句中有一个主句和一个从句。
• What clause do you require in the contract?你要求在合同中订上什么条款？

6 clauses   

从句( clause的名词复数 )； （法律文件等的）条款

参考例句：

• Relative pronouns and adverbs introduce attributive clauses. 关系代词和关系副词引导定语从句。
• Please underline the noun clauses in the passage. 请用线画出短文中的名词性从句。

7 intonation   

n.语调，声调；发声

参考例句：

• The teacher checks for pronunciation and intonation.老师在检查发音和语调。
• Questions are spoken with a rising intonation.疑问句是以升调说出来的。