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ESL forum >
Ask for help > yes/no questions
yes/no questions
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cris03glu
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yes/no questions
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Hi dear teachers
Today i was reading an article about syntax and found these questions:
- Dance still can she? - More-or-less finished have we?
My doubt is... are these forms possible? if so, when do you use them?
I �d really appreciate your help
Thanks
Cris =) |
2 May 2011
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edrodmedina
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These are the way I would say these: Can she still dance? Are we more or less finished? Ed |
2 May 2011
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Kate (kkcat)
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Looks like inversion... to intensify the meaning of the sentence. The first one sounds weird to me, though. Even if they use inversion, I think some punctuation should be used.
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2 May 2011
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cris03glu
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ED: yes, i had the same thought... this is the first time i see questions like these
KATE: Linguistics always give weird examples to get their point, at school we work with samples of non common languages (at least not in mexico)...and they confuse me a lot! i �ll look for more info about inversion
Thanks you guys 
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2 May 2011
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almaz
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I can accept "(More or less) finished, have we?" but, like Kate, I find the first one rather odd, if not downright Yoda-esque.
Related true story: a friend of mine had unfortunately taken a couple of wee goldies too many and inevitably �lost his balance � on hitting the fresh air outside the pub. As he was making strenuous but vain attempts to get up, his wife came out, stepped over him, shot him a withering glance and said, "Breakdancing are we, dear?" |
2 May 2011
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tancredo
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Almaz:
This site without you the same wouldn �t it be!
Keep on making me laugh! Thank you.
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3 May 2011
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mariec
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Yes, you can use that form. It like using a question tag. It�s informal.
You put the main verb first, then the question tag.
e.g. Went to bed early, did you?
Having a party, are you?
Going to have a shower, are they?
Broken the vase, has he?
So your sentence would be; Dance still, can she? which means; Can she still dance?
Hope I have helped, ( Helped, have I? )
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3 May 2011
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Olindalima ( F )
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@Almaz
a "fresh iron woman" is that what I call
hubbie Poor, valid attemps didn �t he find to his dear wife to convince.
( God, that �s difficult and I am sure you can point fingers in my grammar, believe me, my students can do this easily, now I can see they are artists . )
Linda
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3 May 2011
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cris03glu
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Thank you all guys... your comments have helped me a lot to understand these questions =) I knew i could count on you!! Regards =) Cris |
3 May 2011
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douglas
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As Almaz alluded to, Yoda always speaks like that (ref.: Star Wars).
Yes you can use the form, Mariec gave some great examples. I would only correct one statement, I would say:
"Still dance, can she?" |
3 May 2011
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