Interrogatives Notes, Quizzes & Revision
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Notes: Interrogatives
Topic: topic_name_replace • Subject: subject_replace • Target age: age_replace (Kenyan context)
What are interrogatives?
Interrogatives are words and sentence forms used to ask questions. They help us find out information, check facts, or request confirmation.
Main types of questions
- Yes/No questions — expect "Yes" or "No". (e.g., "Are you coming to class?")
- WH- questions — begin with question words (who, what, where, when, why, how, which, whose). They ask for more information.
- Alternative questions — give choices (e.g., "Do you want tea or coffee?").
- Tag questions — short confirmation added to the end (e.g., "You are Kenyan, aren't you?").
Common WH- words and meaning
Who
asks about people — Who is the teacher?
What
asks about things or actions — What did you buy?
Where
asks about place — Where is the market?
When
asks about time — When does the boda boda arrive?
Why
asks for reason — Why is the shop closed?
How
asks about manner, cost or condition — How much does it cost?
Which
asks for a choice — Which road goes to Kisumu?
Whose
asks about possession — Whose bag is this?
Forming questions — basic rules
- Yes/No: Use auxiliary verb before subject.
Example: "Is the shop open?" — (Auxiliary "Is" + subject "the shop")
- WH- + auxiliary + subject + main verb:
Example: "Where did you buy maize?" — ("Where" + "did" + "you" + "buy")
- No auxiliary in present simple with "be":
Example: "Where are they?" — ("be" verb changes place before subject)
- Short answers use auxiliary (Yes, I am. / No, she doesn't. / Yes, they did.)
Tag questions (confirmation)
Add a short tag with the opposite polarity: positive sentence + negative tag; negative sentence + positive tag.
Examples:
- "You live in Mombasa, don't you?"
- "He isn't coming, is he?"
Intonation and punctuation
- Yes/No questions: rising intonation in speech.
- WH- questions: usually falling intonation.
- In writing, all questions end with a question mark (?).
Common mistakes and tips
- Do not use two auxiliaries: wrong — "Do you can come?" correct — "Can you come?"
- Remember to change word order: statement "You are late." → question "Are you late?"
- With WH- words you still use auxiliaries when needed: "What do you want?" not "What you want?"
- Short answers must reflect the auxiliary: "Yes, she has." / "No, he hasn't."
Examples in Kenyan context
- "Who sells fresh mangoes at the market?"
- "How much is a litre of milk at the shop?"
- "Which matatu goes to Westlands?"
- "When does the train to Mombasa leave?"
- "Are you coming to the football match?"
Practice: make these into questions
- She will arrive tomorrow. — (Ask for time)
- You bought sugar. — (Ask yes/no)
- They travel to Kisumu by bus. — (Ask which method)
- He is the chief. — (Ask about person)
- You have finished homework. — (Short answer: positive)
Answers (click to view)
- When will she arrive?
- Did you buy sugar?
- How do they travel to Kisumu? / Which means of transport do they use to travel to Kisumu?
- Who is the chief?
- Yes, I have. (Or: No, I haven't.)
Final tips for learners (age_replace)
- Practice forming questions aloud using local examples (market, school, transport).
- Listen for auxiliary verbs and question words in conversations or radio news in Kenya.
- Use short answers in dialogues to sound natural and clear.
End of notes — Subtopic: Interrogatives