Asking a question in English correctly

[5jj]

Okay,thank you for your reply my teacher,but I am still confused.

So, what are you confused about?

ALL verbs in English in (except those I note below) form questions with DO in non-progressive, non-perfect forms:

do I work?.......did he work?


ALL verbs used as auxiliaries form questions without DO:

are you coming? .......has she left?.......can you swim?

BE, whether it is used as a main verb or as an auxiliary, never forms questions with DO:

are you English? ...... is she working?.......was the meeting postponed?

HAVE, as a full verb, can be used in a question form with or without DO:

have you? mainly BrE, fairly formal and old-fashioned.
do you have? mainly AmE when HAVE has an association with 'possession'; correct in both AmE and BrE when HAVE means 'experience/take/etc'.

 

[symaa]

So, what are you confused about?

ALL verbs in English in (except those I note below) form questions with DO in non-progressive, non-perfect forms:

do I work?.......did he work?


ALL verbs used as auxiliaries form questions without DO:

are you coming? .......has she left?.......can you swim?

BE, whether it is used as a main verb or as an auxiliary, never forms questions with DO:

are you English? ...... is she working?.......was the meeting postponed?

HAVE, as a full verb, can be used in a question form with or without DO:

have you? mainly BrE, fairly formal and old-fashioned.
do you have? mainly AmE when HAVE has an association with 'possession'; correct in both AmE and BrE when HAVE means 'experience/take/etc'.

I do not know how I should thank you,
thanks a lot for the details that you give it to me,and your nice explanation
Respectfuly yours
Syma

 

[TheParser]

So,in writing I shoul not use this form for example:have you......

Respectfully yours,
Syma

[/QUOTE]


NOT A TEACHER


DEAR FELLOW MEMBER SYMA:


(1) I just want to say THANK YOU for your question.

(2) This thread has taught me a lot, and it has made me

go to my books in order to learn more.

(3) I think that you have made an excellent decision:

Never use "have" to make a question except when you must.

As the posters here told you, you must use "have" to start

a question only for the present and past perfect:

You have eaten. = HAVE you eaten?
Tom has eaten. = HAS Tom eaten?
They had eaten. = Had they eaten?

(NOTE: The future perfect is "We will have eaten." WILL we HAVE

eaten?)

(4) IF you see the verb "have" in other sentences, always

use do/does/did:


You have a car. = DO you have a car?

He has a car. = DOES he have a car?

They had a car. = DID they have a car?


(Yes, some speakers of English say "Have you a car?" and "Has

he a car?" But you are very wise (smart) to use only "do." I also

learned from my books and contacting other people that in 2011

almost everyone uses "did" for the past. In other words, almost

nobody says "Had they a car?" That is just too old-fashioned.)



Respectfully yours,


James

 

[birdeen's call]

Okay,_thank you for your reply my teacher,_but I am still confused. (period)

Respectfully yours

Symaa, there should always be a space after a comma. There should always be a period at the end of a sentence. Please take a look at my corrections in your post.

 

[symaa]

Symaa, there should always be a space after a comma. There should always be a period at the end of a sentence. Please take a look at my corrections in your post.

I had edited my post, thank you for remind me .

 

[symaa]

NOT A TEACHER , I learnt from you a lot and I still learn from you, my teacher.


DEAR FELLOW MEMBER SYMA:


(1) I just want to say THANK YOU for your question.No, it is you who should be thanked.:up:
(2) This thread has taught me a lot, and it has made me

go to my books in order to learn more.

(3) I think that you have made an excellent decision:

Never use "have" to make a question except when you must.

As the posters here told you, you must use "have" to start

a question only for the present and past perfect:

You have eaten. = HAVE you eaten?
Tom has eaten. = HAS Tom eaten?
They had eaten. = Had they eaten?

(NOTE: The future perfect is "We will have eaten." WILL we HAVE

eaten?)

(4) IF you see the verb "have" in other sentences, always

use do/does/did:


You have a car. = DO you have a car?

He has a car. = DOES he have a car?

They had a car. = DID they have a car?


(Yes, some speakers of English say "Have you a car?" and "Has

he a car?" But you are very wise (smart) to use only "do." I also

learned from my books and contacting other people that in 2011

almost everyone uses "did" for the past. In other words, almost

nobody says "Had they a car?" That is just too old-fashioned.)



Respectfully yours,


James

Really , from your answers, I consider you as being a teacher, your way of explanation and your writing style is ineffable.
Thank you for your detailed answer.you excite my curiosityto know your books which seem to be very interesting.



Thank you again


Best regard for you Mr.James

 

[TheParser]

(1) Thank you for your super kind words.

(2) People like to answer your questions because you are very

courteous to every person who answers you.

(3) I know that your wonderful attitude will bring you much

success in your career.


Sincerely,


James

 

[symaa]

(1) Thank you for your super kind words.

(2) People like to answer your questions because you are very

courteous to every person who answers you.

(3) I know that your wonderful attitude will bring you much

success in your career.


Sincerely,


James

Thanks a lot for your kindness Mr.James, really I do not find the appropriate word to express my thankfulness, because it is you who give your time to help students without getting any benefits.

Best regards,
Syma