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Kev Nair
Fluency in Asking Questions
1
Note: The Fluent English Dictionaries do not form part of Fluentzy: The
English Fluency Encyclopedia. They’re separate publications – meant for those
who want to specialize in fluency-oriented vocabulary. For details, visit www.
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4
B9
Fluency
in Asking
Questions
“(D)eals with a tricky skill.”
– THE HINDU.
Fifth Edition
TM
For Uma
Contents
Chapter 1: How to make questions, 11
Role of questions, 11
Difficulty in framing questions, 12
Chief reason for the difficulty, 13
Question types, 15
Yes-No questions, 15
Chapter 4: Wh-questions, 32
Conversion of statements into wh-questions, 33
Advanced wh-questions, 34
Questions with modified wh-word, 36
Negative wh-questions, 37
8 Contents
KEV Nair
Kochi, 2009.
10 Abbreviations
Abbreviations
fml formal
infml informal
sb somebody
sth something
sw somewhere
S Subject
H ow to make questions 11
Chapter 1
Role of questions
Are you really good at asking questions in fluent English? If
you’re not, do you think you’ll be able to have a satisfactory chat
or conversation in English with someone?
Suppose you’re at a party or in a gathering. Or suppose
that you’re travelling on a train. What will make a conversation
go on? You see, it’s mainly your capacity to ask questions. If
you’re not able to ask questions, you’ll find it difficult to keep
up conversations, and the conversations you have will come to a
stop quickly — or you’ll find yourself forced back into the position
of a silent listener. Others around you will go away with a wrong
impression about you — that you do not know English.
Again, if you want to effectively carry out a number of
communicative functions in English, you need to be good at
asking questions in fluent English.
Suppose you want some information from someone or
somewhere. What alone will help you get the information you
want? Only your skill in putting questions. Isn’t that so? Nothing
else. If you ask someone about something, they’ll give you some
kind of a reply. That may not be the kind of information you
want. Or that may only be part of what you want. You’d then
want extra information or the right information, or clarifications
or explanations. Which means that you have to put questions —
more questions, the right kind of questions.
Or suppose that you want to ask somebody for something, or
to offer something to somebody, or to make a polite suggestion.
Or suppose that you want to buy something from somewhere. Do
you think you’ll be able to do these things effectively in English if
12 H ow to make questions
English.
Of course, you may already know all this. You may already
know that this is not the right way to frame questions. But the
problem is this: If the right question patterns are not firmly fixed
in your mind, you’re sure to slip up and utter questions with “un-
English” patterns.
So it’s now time for us to pay close attention to question
patterns.
You know, making questions is one of the most important
spoken English skills. One of the most difficult skills, too. Of
course, many people are likely to be thinking like this: “Oh!
That is quite easy. I can make any number of questions without
difficulty”. Perhaps you can. But the problem is not simply of
making questions. The problem is of making them while you’re
speaking — on your feet.
Mind you, you’ll never be able to learn “right” question
patterns from a list of “wrong” and “right” samples. The thing
to do is to get the “right” question patterns imprinted on your
mind — so they don’t fade away. They’ll then remain there, and
act as the framework for all the questions you utter. And soon,
it becomes second nature to you to use those patterns and to
produce the ‘right’ sort of questions.
Question types
There are 3 major types of questions. They are:
• ‘Yes-No’ questions. • Wh-word questions. • Alternative
questions.
Yes-No questions
‘Yes-No’ questions are questions that expect ‘affirmation’ or
‘negation’ as a reply. The most common word that expresses
affirmation is ‘Yes’, and the most common word that expresses
negation is ‘No’. That is why these questions are called ‘Yes-No’
questions.
Here are a few examples of yes-no questions:
• Is he a nice person? • Isn’t she coming to the wedding? •
Are there any objections? • Aren’t you ready yet? • Doesn’t
she like coffee? • Did you paint it yourself? • Would you
like an orange? • Can I come too? • Hasn’t she been here
often? • Can’t we do something about it?
As you can see from these examples, a yes-no question starts
with an auxiliary verb. Here’s a complete list of the auxiliaries
that are normally used to make yes-no questions:
Primary auxiliaries:
be: am, is, are, was, were.
do: do, does, did.
have: have, has, had, have... been, has... been, had... been.
Modal auxiliaries:
can: can, could, is/was/are/were... able to, have/has/
had... been able to.
may: may, might.
must: must
16 H ow to make questions
***
18 S tatements into Yes-N o questions
Chapter 2
Statements
into Yes-No questions
Grammatically, there are five types of statements. You can form
Yes-No questions by converting the grammatical structures of
these statements into the corresponding question structures.
Here’s how you’ll be able to do this:
about it?”
As an action verb
• He has lunch at 12 noon every day. Does he have lunch
at 12 noon every day? • They have tea together in the
evening on most days. Do they have tea together in the
evening on most days? • They have a swim in the sea every
evening. Do they have a swim in the sea every evening?
• He had an operation last week. Did he have an
operation last week? • They had a quarrel yesterday. Did
they have a quarrel yesterday? • She didn’t have breakfast
today. Didn’t she have breakfast today?
Note: Mind you, “have got” is not possible when you use have as an ac-
tion verb. No. You have the “have got” option only when you use have
as a state verb.
adding “n’t”. These are am, can and will. Conventionally, their
negatives are aren’t, can’t and won’t respectively. Yes, listen to
this with attention: The shortened negative of am is aren’t, and
not amn’t. No. So “am I not…?” is usually reduced to “aren’t
I…?”.
Here are some examples of negative yes-no questions:
• Aren’t I right? (= Am I not right?) • Isn’t he waiting for
a bus? • Isn’t he her boss? • Aren’t you expecting them? •
Aren’t they happy? • Wasn’t he a minister? • Weren’t you
working there then? • Weren’t they against the scheme?
• Haven’t they replied yet? • Doesn’t he like detective
stories? • Don’t you want to get this job? • Didn’t you find
all this a bit strange? • Wouldn’t you like to see our plan
succeeding?
Sometimes you can also construct a negative yes-no question
by using a negative vocabulary item like never in a positive yes-
no question, instead of adding an “n’t” after the operator. Here’s a
list of some of the vocabulary items that make a yes-no question
negative:
in no way, neither of, never, no, no longer, no more, no one,
none of, nobody, nothing, nowhere.
E.g. • Are they in no way concerned with what is going on? • Is
neither of them interested in the offer? • Have you never heard
of these things in your life? • Are there no sales assistants here?
• Do they no longer live here? • Does he no more work for that
company? • Has no one got back from there yet? • Did none of
the boxes contain anything? • Did nobody complain about it? •
Does nothing affect that man? • Is there nowhere for me to park
the car?
***
26 Every day Yes-N o Questions for practice
Chapter 3
Yes-No Questions
Be-questions
• Am I going north? • Am I headed towards town? • Am I
making myself heard? • Anything else I can do for you? •
Are children allowed? • Are laundry machines available?
• Are my photos developed yet? • Are pets allowed? •
Are pets OK? • Are the kids ready? • Are there any nails
in the box? • Are there seats still available? • Are there
tickets available on standby? • Are there vending machines
available? • Are these shop cakes? • Are they any good? •
Are they going to be OK? • Are things getting you down? •
Are cameras permitted? • Are we almost there? • Are we
Everyday Yes -No Qu estions for practice 27
Do-questions
• D’you agree with him? • D’you agree, Jim? • D’you
and Mary like ice cream? • D’you both play basketball? •
D’you change your book every week? • D’you come here
often? • D’you ever go to the club? • D’you ever go to the
theatre? • D’you follow? • D’you have his phone number?
• D’you have my prescription on file? • D’you have proof of
insurance? • D’you have reservations? • D’you have senior
citizen discounts? • D’you have smaller bills? • D’you have
something a bit less expensive? • D’you have something
specific in mind? • D’you have student rates? • D’you have
the correct time? • D’you have the directions? • D’you have
the time? • D’you have this in a larger size? • D’you have
this in a smaller size? • D’you have this in blue? • D’you
have this in stock? • D’you have this in suede? • D’you
have this in wool? • D’you have time for coffee? • D’you
have to be there? • D’you have to drive this fast? • D’you
28 Everyday Yes-No Questions for practice
have-questions
• Hadn’t we better ring him now? • Has he been sleeping
well? • Has Michael arrived yet? • Has she told them?
• Has this been a problem before? • Hasn’t this coupon
expired? • Have Bob and Jane arrived? • Have I made
myself clear? • Have I met him before? • Have some? •
Have they figured out what’s wrong? • Have we forgotten
anything? • Have you any cigarette left? • Have you any
doubt about it? • Have you any objection? • Have you any
sealing wax? • Have you been keeping busy?
can-questions
• Can anyone lend me a copy? • Can David borrow your
penknife? • Can he play the piano? • Can I apply for a
credit card? • Can I ask you a question? • Can I borrow
it ? • Can I borrow some matches? • Can I borrow your
rubber? • Can I bring my kids? • Can I bring pets? • Can I
bring something? • Can I bring two guests? • Can I bum a
light? • Can I buy a money order here? • Can I buy you a
drink? • Can I call you a taxi? • Can I call you back? • Can
I change my flight schedule? • Can I change my itinerary?
• Can I check my baggage through? • Can I check your oil?
• Can I check your tyres? • Can I come again on Monday?
• Can I come home by myself, Mummy? • Can I come
over? • Can I get you something to drink? • Can I get you
something to drink with that? • Can I go standby?
• Could I bother you for the time? • Could I buy you a
30 Everyday Yes-No Questions for practice
may-questions
• May I ask why you wish to cancel? • May I be excused?
• May I be frank? • May I borrow this a moment? • May
I borrow this book for a while? • May I borrow this pen?
• May I borrow your pen? • May I bring a friend? • May
I come to your lecture? • May I come too? • May I get it
gift wrapped? • May I have a receipt, please? • May I have
another bun?
must-questions
• Must I eat it now? • Must I go by train? • Must she type
it out again? • Must we be very quiet? • Must you do that?
• Must you beat a dead horse?
shall-questions
• Shall I buy you a replacement? • Shall I check your oil?
• Shall I come in by the front door? • Shall I get rid of it? •
Shall I get you some more? • Shall I go back for it now? •
Shall I go or shan’t I? • Shall I go to the meeting? • Shall I
lend him mine?
• Should I bring anything? • Should I call a doctor? •
Should I call for the nurse? • Should I send them directly to
the funeral home?
Everyday Yes -No Qu estions for practice 31
will-questions
• Will I be able to make my connection? • Will he be all
right? • Will he buy another one? • Will he come back? •
Will he say yes, d’you think? • Will he turn up, d’you think?
• Will it be on sale soon? • Will it help, d’you think? • Will
my insurance cover this? • Will someone be joining you? •
Will that be a large soft drink? • Will that be all?
• Won’t you be cold if you don’t come inside? • Won’t you
come for a walk? • Won’t you have some grapes? • Won’t
he get irritated?
• Would a glass of water help? • Would anyone be
interested in giving up their seat in exchange for a
free ticket? • Would anyone like coffee? • Would Julia
subscribe, d’you suppose? • Would he lend me his new
dictionary? • Would I lie? • Would I lie to you? • Would I
like it, d’you think? • Would it be a problem if I dropped
by for a few minutes? • Would it be all right if I dropped
by for a few minutes? • Would it be cheaper if I left on
Thursday, instead? • Would it be possible to deliver this to
the hospital today? • Would Raju take it, d’you think? •
Would Pablo have a game? • Would you please gift wrap
that? • Would you accept a cigar? • Would you care for
dessert? • Would you care for some nuts? • Would you care
for some tea? • Would you care for the butter? • Would
you care to make a reservation for another night? • Would
you care to see the wine list? • Would you care to stay for
dinner? • Would you check my tyres? • Would you check
the battery? • Would you check the oil? • Would you check
the shocks? • Would you excuse me? • Would you give
me the Zip code for Los Angeles? • Would you have a look
under the hood? • Would you keep or sell it? • Would you
like a baked potato, fries, or rice? • Would you like a bite?
• Would you like a black one or a blue one?
***
32 Wh-Questions
Chapter 4
Wh-Questions
Wh-questions are questions that start with one of the following
eight wh-words:
What, When, Where, Which, Who, Whose, Why and How.
Note: ‘Whom’ is also a wh-word. But in modern English, ‘Whom’ is not
normally used to frame questions. No. The word ‘Who’ is used instead.
These words are also called question-words, and so wh-
questions are also called question-word questions.
You see, unlike yes-no questions, wh-questions cannot be
replied by a ‘Yes’ or a ‘No’ or by any other term of affirmation or
negation. These questions need some other kind of a reply from
an open range of replies — a reply specifying a person, thing,
place, direction, reason, manner, amount and circumstances.
Here are a few examples of wh-questions:
• What is his name? • What will she get? • What do they
want? • What did she paint? • What were they talking
about? • What is he interested in? • What was that noise?
• What will the test cover? • What will they think of me? •
What would you advise, Allen?
• When did she see him? • When will Tom be back? •
When’s the concert? • When’s their bedtime? • When will
you ask him then?
• Where has she gone? • Where does he come from? •
Where shall we keep it? • Where would you like to go? •
Where’s Arthur?
• Which of these two do you like? • Which would you
choose if you were me? • Which will you take, Henry?
• Who opened the door? • Who can do it? • Who’s next? •
Who’s on the line? • Who’s got it, then?
Wh-Questions 33
Advanced wh-questions
what/which/whose + noun:
Now go back for a moment to the wh-question examples
beginning with what, which and whose. If you pay close attention
to them, you can notice one thing: The words what, which and
whose stand alone (as pronouns), and are not followed by a noun.
But in wh-questions beginning with these 3 wh-words, these wh-
words can also be followed by a noun. In these questions, what,
which and whose act as determiners, and not as pronouns. Here
are some examples:
• What subject is he an authority on? • What idiot told you
all this? • What university did you go to? • What time did
it happen? • What stop are we at? • What station is this?
• What sort of mileage does this car get? • What colour
are those flowers? • What colour is her new dress? • What
kind of music do you like? • What make is his car? • What
language did she speak in? • What size shirt do you take?
• Whose bag is that? • Whose idea was it? • Whose turn
is it to do the dishes? • Whose fault was it, then? • Whose
Wh-Questions 35
which + of:
• Which of the two dresses do you like better? • Which of
the two boys is more intelligent?
how + adverb/adjective:
• How soon do you expect it to happen? • How often has
he visited you? • How fast was he driving? • How long
have you known him?
• How old is he? • How wide is that road? • How far is
that place from here? • How difficult was it to deal with
those people?
how + many/much:
• How many years have you worked with this company? •
How many people? • How many of his books have you read? •
How many pages?
• How much money have you got? • How much do I owe
you? • How much did he lend you? • How much did you
tell him, then? • How much are these potatoes? • How
much does this cost?
why + verb/noun:
• Why get upset over such a small matter? • Why ask him?
Let’s leave. • Why not meet him personally? • Why argue
with him? • Why wait? He isn’t going to come. • Why pay
more when you can buy it for less?
• Why the hurry? • Why all the secrecy? • Why the panic?
• He wants you to come with me ~ Why me? Why not
Ashish? • She blames you for what happened ~ Why me? •
36 Wh-Questions
why + so + adjective:
• Why so serious, Ahmed? • Why so angry, Priya?
wh-word + ever:
• What ever do you mean? • When ever are you going to
be careful? • Where ever have you put it? • Who ever was
that tall man standing there? • Why ever did you invite
them? • How ever did you manage to get it?
Note: “wh-word + ever” questions occur more often in British English
than in US English. These questions express surprise and indicate that
the speaker has no idea at all what the reply could be.
wh-word + on earth:
• What on earth is that black thing? • Why on earth did
you do it? • When on earth did all this happen? • Where
on earth are my slippers? • Who on earth gave you
permission to do all this? • Why on earth did you do that?
• How on earth did you manage?
Note: “on earth” questions express surprise, anger or despair, or indicate
that the speaker is not able to think of an obvious answer.
Negative wh-questions
Like yes-no questions, wh-questions can also be negative. You
can construct a negative yes-no question by adding an “n’t” after
the operator in a positive wh-question.
E.g. • Who hasn’t signed the register? • Why don’t you tell them
what actually happened?
Sometimes you can also construct a negative yes-no question
by using the word no (or another negative word) in a positive
wh-question, instead of adding an “n’t” after the operator.
E.g. • Why do they take no interest in these matters? • Why did she
say nothing at all?
A negative wh-question indicates surprise or complaint.
E.g. • Why haven’t they come yet? • Why can’t you do it
yourself?
Negative wh-questions introduced by who, what and which
ask for information.
E.g. • What isn’t in the right place? • When wouldn’t it
be convenient for you? • Where shouldn’t I touch? • Who
isn’t interested? • Why didn’t you meet him? • Why aren’t
they helping us? • Which of these isn’t yours? • How long
haven’t you been feeling very well?
go out for dinner tonight? • Why not start now? • Why not wait
for a few more days?
“Why don’t you...?” can be used to give advice (especially, in
a critical, irritable tone).
E.g. • Why don’t you try again? • Why don’t you consult a lawyer?
“Why don’t you...?” can also be used as an enquiry.
E.g. Why don’t you discuss these things with your family?
“Why not...?” questions can be used to express agreement.
E.g. Shall we go for a walk? ~ Why not?
Instead of “Why don’t you…?”, you can also use “Why don’t
we…?” for making suggestions.
E.g. Why don’t we discuss this some other time?
You can use “Why didn’t…?” to express criticism.
E.g. Why didn’t you do it yesterday?
***
Every day Wh-Questions for practice 39
Chapter 5
Everyday Wh-Questions
for practice
Here’s a collection of everyday wh-questions for practice. Read
each word group (wh-question) several times — ALOUD:
what-questions
• What sort of salary do you expect? • What are the
requirements? • Tell me exactly what happened? • What’s
the matter? • What’s the ZIP code there? • What’s to go
wrong? • Well, what d’you say to my offer? • What about
a game of billiards? • What about Sasha? • What about
asking Hamid? • What about their offer? • What about
giving it to Frank? • What about his cabbages? • What
about liver and onions? • What about Sheila? • What
about mileage? • What about Jose? • What about Smiths?
• What about some brandy? • What about something to
drink? • What about the pills? • What about the washing
up? • What about this material? • What about this money?
• What about this old deed? • What about this waste paper
basket? • What about Thursday? • What got into you? •
What kind of flowers did you have in mind? • What makes
you think I care? • What time is it? • What’s your deal?
• What’s your point? • What’s your sign (= star sign)?
• What star sign are you? • What’s happening? • What’s
his name? • What do you want to hear? • What about
vegetables? • What aisle is the canned salmon in? • What
am I charged with? • What am I supposed to do about it?
• What are my monthly principal and interest payments? •
What are the alternatives?
40 Every day W h-Questions for practice
when-questions
• When are we to expect you? • When are you being
released? • When are you coming to stay with us? • When
are you due? • When are you free? • When are you going
home? • When are you going to Brazil again? • When are
you open? • When are your office hours? • When can I
borrow it? • When can I move in? • When can I see you
alone? • When can I take occupancy? • When can you
come? • When can you do it? • When can you give me an
estimate? • When can you let me have them? • When can
you start? • When d’you want me? • When do I have to be
out of the room by?
where-questions
• Where do you come off saying that? • Where are the best
seats you have left? • Where are the children’s clothes?
• Where are the napkins? • Where are the periodicals?
• Where are the public rest rooms? • Where are the rest
rooms? • Where are their bags? • Where are we? • Where
are you going? • Where are you going for your holidays? •
Where are you located? • Where are you off to? • Where
are you off to now? • Where are you staying? • Where can
I find children’s clothes? • Where can I get a library card? •
Where can I get Italian food?
which-questions
• Which ships call at Barbados? • Which airport? • Which
are our places? • Which building is your office in? • Which
car shall I use? • Which corner? • Which credit cards
do you take? • Which d’you recommend? • Which day’s
best, d’you think? • Which do you prefer? • Which do you
prefer, Tom?
Every day Wh-Questions for practice 41
who-questions
• Who are you? • Who asked you? • Who can say that?
• Who can we ask? • Who can we get to stand in? • Who
d’you think will contribute? • Who do I call in case of
emergency? • Who do you think you are? • Who do you
think you’re kidding? • Who do you want to speak with? •
Who do you want to talk to? • Who do you wish to speak
to? • Who do you wish to speak with? • Who asked your
opinion? • Who do you think you’re talking to? • Who gave
you the right? • Who gave him the book? • Who gave it to
you? • Who got the goal?
why-questions
• Why are they so cross with me? • Why are you looking
so miserable? • Why are you so blue (= sad)? • Why are
you so bullheaded? • Why are you so late? • Why are you
so miserable? • Why be so rude to him? • Why bring an
umbrella? • Why bring me that book? • Why bring me
that file? • Why can’t you behave? • Why d’you ask about
that book ? • Why d’you give me extra home work? • Why
d’you put up with it? • Why d’you want more money? •
Why did he refuse? • Why did he run away? • Why did
you go there? • Why did you leave your last job? • Why
did you lock the door? • Why did you pay in cash? • Why
didn’t Zahid come? • Why didn’t he ask me? • Why didn’t
your brother mention it to her? • Why didn’t they ignore it?
• Why didn’t you phone me, then? • Why didn’t you play?
• Why didn’t you talk them out of it? • Why didn’t you tell
me?
how-questions
• How many weeks in advance do I have to buy to get a
discount? • How much postage do I need for this? • How
close to the Town hall is it? • How much are my monthly
42 Every day W h-Questions for practice
Alternative questions
Sometimes, a question itself offers two or more options, and
expects one only of them as the reply. The last of the options
would be introduced by the word or. This kind of a question is
known as an alternative question.
There are two types of alternative questions:
***
44 Q uestion-initiator word groups
Chapter 6
Am-initiators
• Am I right in thinking...? • Am I not right in supposing…?
• Am I the only...? • Am I going to be...? • Am I a little...?
Q uestion-initiator word groups 45
Are-initiators
• Are short people…? • Are there any letters for…? •
Are there any…? • Are they all…? • Are you a …? •
Are you afraid of …? • Are you doing anything…? • Are
you enjoying…? • Are you going to let me…? • Are you
going to pay for…? • Are you going to visit…? • Are you
going to…? • Are you having a...? • Are you having…? •
Are you learning any…? • Are you nearly…? • Are your
neighbours…? • Are you sorry for what…? • Are you
sure…? • Are your friends…? • Aren’t you tired of…? •
Aren’t you...?
Can-initiators
• Can Dad…? • Can I borrow your...? • Can I help...? •
Can I leave the washing up till…? • Can we…? • Can they
be...? • Can Rao…? • Can you be ready at…? • Can you
carry the…? • Can you drink…? • Can you imagine…? •
Can you read the notice…? • Can you read the…? • Can
you remember when…? • Can you remember where…? •
Can you see the…? • Can you tell me how…? • Can you
tell me the…? • Can you tell me what…? • Can you tell me
where…? • Can you tell me who…? • Can you tell me why
you…? • Can you tell me why…? • Can you tell me…? •
Can they...? • Could he have prevented…? • Could I have
a cup of…? • Could I have a new…? • Could I have a look
at…? • Could I have some more…? • Could I have your…?
• Could I see your…? • Could I speak to…? • Could you
live entirely on your…? • Could they be…? • Could we
speak to the…? • Could you change a…? • Could you do
without…? • Could you help me with…? • Could you keep
it in your…? • Could you lend it to…? • Could you please
ring back in…? • Could you possibly do it…? • Could you
possibly give me a…? • Could you read the…? • Could you
ring up the…? • Could you show me your…? • Could you
46 Q uestion-initiator word groups
Do-initiators
• Did any of you actually see the…? • Did anyone ask
any…? • Did he have to…? • Did he help…? • Did they...?
• Did it take him long to…? • Did she have to…? • Did
Sita have to…? • Did the idea interest any of…? • Did
the workers…? • Did they tell you to be…? • Did they
understand what…? • Did you buy…? • Did you do…?
• Did you drink it…? • Did you ever have time…? • Did
you get a chance to…? • Did you go to Japan for…? • Did
you have a …? • Did you have a good journey…? • Did
you have any difficulty in…? • Did you have any money
when…? • Did you have to write…? • Did you have
trouble…? • Did you hear a…? • Did you know she hadn’t
anything to…? • Did you know what…? • Did you like
the…? • Did you meet him…? • Did you notice whether…?
• Did you post the letter…? • Did you read…? • Did you
remember to…? • Did you reserve seats on…? • Did you
see…? • Did you understand my…? • Did you use to…?
• Did you visit the…? • Did your brother…? • Did your
mother say…? • Did your uncle agree to…? • Didn’t I give
you…? • Didn’t I…? • Didn’t you do any work…? • Didn’t
you do some work…? • Didn’t you use to…? • Do I have
to come at…? • Do I have to eat all this…? • Do Mary and
Molly have…? • Do most men…? • Do they all speak…?
• Do they ever…? • Do they have to…? • Do we have
time to…? • Do you always have a…? • Do you come here
by…? • Do you ever sleep in…? • Do you feel that…? •
Do you find it…? • Do you find that…? • Do you give it
back without…? • Do you grow your own vegetables…?
• Do you have time to …? • Do you have to…? • Do
you have…? • Do you hear that noise…? • Do you know
Q uestion-initiator word groups 47
Have-initiators
• Had he realized…? • Hadn’t we better…? • Has anyone
cleaned the…? • Has Dad ever…? • Has he been…? •
Has he missed his…? • Has he some other thing to…? •
Has he spoken to…? • Has he written to the…? • Has his
temperature…? • Has Nazia…? • Has Rahman been…? •
Has she fed the…? • Has she paid the…? • Has Sheila...?
48 Q uestion-initiator word groups
How-initiators
• How can I possibly…? • How can I see when…? • How
can they…? • How can one tell if…? • How can we get
there in…? • How can you bear to…? • How can you talk
to a…? • How could you be so…? • How did he…? • How
Q uestion-initiator word groups 49
Is-initiators
• Is it cold...? • Is it less expensive…? • Is it more
expensive to…? • Is it true that they…? • Is it very painful
to…? • Is it worth…? • Is she interested in…? • Is that a
personal…? • Is the lift…? • Is there a …? • Is there time
for…? • Is this the spot where…? • Is your friend…? • Is
your name…? • Isn’t he…? • Isn’t it wonderful to have…?
• Isn’t she…?
50 Q uestion-initiator word groups
May-initiators
• May I borrow your…? • May I take…?
Must-initiators
• Must you always ask me what…? • Must you do it all…?
• Must you make such a…? • Mustn’t you eat…?
Shall-initiators
• Shall I ask her to…? • Shall I ask the little boy how to…?
• Shall I carry some of…? • Shall I do it before…? • Shall
I ever see…? • Shall I go and get a…? • Shall I have to
do the…? • Shall I lend you some…? • Shall I start…? •
Shall I tell him what…? • Shall I wait for…? • Shall we be
in time…? • Shall we be…? • Shall we ever…? • Shall we
go for…? • Shall we meet here in…? • Should he be…? •
Should I be…? • Should I tell the …? • Should she be…?
• Should the man be…? • Should we cut the...? • Should
you say…?
Was-initiators
• Was it very…? • Was the driver...? • Was there a lot
to…? • Wasn’t Mozart a famous…? • Wasn’t she…? • Were
father and mother…? • Were there many people at the…?
• Were there…? • Were they surprised…? • Were we…? •
Were you able to…? • Were you at the cinema…? • Were
you trying to…? • Were you very busy…? • Were you very
late…? • Weren’t you supposed to…? • Weren’t you…?
What-initiators
• What about going for…? • What about going to…? •
What about just putting a…? • What about leaving this…?
• What are all these…? • What are they supposed to…?
• What are we going to have for…? • What are you doing
Q uestion-initiator word groups 51
for…? • What are you doing next…? • What are you going
to do with…? • What are you going to…? • What are you
whispering to…? • What brand of…? • What can it…? •
What caused the…? • What changes would you…? • What
colour shirt did…? • What colour would you like…? •
What date…? • What did he…? • What did she…? • What
did you have for…? • What did you miss most when…?
• What did you see when…? • What did you...? • What
different colour polishes do…? • What different colours…?
• What different occasions…? • What different people…?
• What different places…? • What different types of…?
• What do I have to…? • What do they...? • What do you
expect me to…? • What do you mean by…? • What do
you plan to…? • What do you think it is…? • What do you
think you are…? • What does it...? • What else besides
medicines is…? • What else did you…? • What experience
do you…? • What famous places are there…? • What fell
on the…? • What fruits are there…? • What good books
have you read…? • What happened when…? • What has
he been…? • What has he just…? • What have I done with
my…? • What have people done about…? • What have
you done for…? • What have you done with…? • What
have you got in …? • What have you just…? • What have
they…? • What hotel is…? • What interest do you…? •
What is meant by…? • What is the best way to…? • What
is the name of …? • What is the strange...? • What is
wrong with…? • What is your new…? • What made you
do…? • What makes people believe…? • What makes you
think…? • What material is…? • What number did…? •
What other kinds of…? • What other person did…? • What
other person is…? • What other place can I…? • What
other places…? • What other thing could a …? • What
other thing could…? • What other thing must I…? • What
other work besides…? • What part of…? • What place
has he…? • What place have you…? • What places have
52 Q uestion-initiator word groups
When-initiators
• When are we going to finish this…? • When are we going
to meet…? • When are you beginning your…? • When
are you going back to…? • When are you going to have
your…? • When did they all tell you…? • When did you
begin to…? • When did you last go to…? • When did you
last hear…? • When did you last see …? • When did you
last take an…? • When did you last write a…? • When
did you leave…? • When do they…? • When does she...?
• When should she…? • When will it…? • When will you
be…? • When have you cleaned the…?
Where-initiators
• Where am I supposed to…? • Where are you going
Q uestion-initiator word groups 53
Which-initiators
• Which cost more, these or those? • Which gives more…?
• Which is better, this one or that one? • Which is my…? •
Which of the two girls is…? • Which of them…? • Which
of these two books have you…? • Which of these two…? •
Which of you finished your…? • Which of you knows how
to…? • Which of you knows the…? • Which of you likes…?
• Which of you must…? • Which one are you…? • Which
one did they…? • Which one do you…? • Which one of
these…? • Which way are you…? • Which will you…?
Who-initiators
• Who are the…? • Who broke my…? • Who came…? •
Who can answer my…? • Who did you meet in the…? •
Who do they want to…? • Who do you suppose would…?
• Who do you think is…? • Who do you want to…? • Who
has been using my…? • Who has taken my…? • Who is
that…? • Who is the…? • Who is this…? • Who likes…?
• Who made that dirty mark on…? • Who made that…? •
Who owns this…? • Who phoned…? • Who put salt in…?
• Who shut the…? • Who taught you to…? • Who told you
to…? • Who used to live in this…? • Who wants to…? •
54 Q uestion-initiator word groups
Why-initiators
• Why are you carrying a…? • Why are you carrying
that…? • Why are you getting out the…? • Why are you
in such a…? • Why are you looking so…? • Why are
you looking through…? • Why are you peeling that…? •
Why are you putting that…? • Why are you so…? • Why
are you spending so long on…? • Why are you taking all
that…? • Why are you taking out all your…? • Why are
you taking up that…? • Why are you wrapping the…? •
Why aren’t you taking the…? • Why can’t he...? • Why
can’t you answer…? • Why did David...? • Why did he
drive so…? • Why did she put parsley in…? • Why did
they...? • Why did you break my…? • Why did you bring
your…? • Why did you buy all these…? • Why did you
come so…? • Why did you come with…? • Why did you
have to…? • Why did you lock the door…? • Why did
you say so…? • Why did you take his…? • Why did you
throw away those…? • Why did you travel…? • Why didn’t
he call the…? • Why didn’t he repair…? • Why didn’t
he report it to…? • Why didn’t she…? • Why didn’t they
mend the…? • Why didn’t you ask your father for…? •
Why didn’t you buy the…? • Why didn’t you do it if…? •
Why didn’t you do it when…? • Why didn’t you hit…? •
Why didn’t you move your…? • Why didn’t you pay the…?
• Why didn’t you phone from…? • Why didn’t you say
that…? • Why didn’t you signal to…? • Why do I never
have…? • Why do some of them carry…? • Why do you
keep your…? • Why do you suddenly want to…? • Why
do you have to...? • Why do you want a…? • Why does
Q uestion-initiator word groups 55
Will-initiators
• Will his mother be…? • Will it be all right if…? • Will
Mary and you be…? • Will she...? • Will the shops be open
at…? • Will they still be open at…? • Will the weather
clear up…? • Will there be a class…? • Will there be
an…? • Will there be…? • Will they be ...? • Will they be
open on…? • Will you be able to…? • Will you be angry
if…? • Will you be at the…? • Will you be here for…? •
Will you be quiet for…? • Will you buy me…? • Will you
come again…? • Will you come to…? • Will you explain
what…? • Will you forget what…? • Will you go on strike
when…? • Will you have another…? • Will you have
enough money to…? • Will you have some more…? • Will
you have time to…? • Will you have to pay for…? • Will
you help me if…? • Will you help me or…? • Will you help
me to…? • Will you lend me your…? • Will you please tell
me when…? • Will you remember these…? • Will your
brother be…? • Won’t he be..? • Won’t they be able to…?
• Won’t you find out why…? • Won’t you have something
to…? • Would you like me to go through…? • Would you
like a…? • Would you like another…? • Would you like
to come with…? • Would you like to go to…? • Would
56 Q uestion-initiator word groups
Declarative questions
Declarative questions are questions in which the speaker does not
reverse the Subject-operator order. And so these questions have
the same syntactic structure as statements. That’s why they’re
called declarative questions.
Declarative questions are quite common in casual and
informal speech.
Wh-declarative questions
When you say something or ask for something, the addressee
sometimes follows it up with a question of a particular kind — a
question that doesn’t have an interrogative structure and that
doesn’t begin with a wh-word, but that contains a wh-element in
the middle or end. (The wh-element occurs as the Complement
element or Adverbial element in the question-clause — that is, in
the position that is normal for it in the declarative structure).
Here are some examples:
• I don’t like pop music ~ You like what kind of music
then? • My son hasn’t started school. ~ Your son is how
old? • I met him yesterday. ~ You met him where? • It’s
several days since I’ve seen him. ~ You last saw him when?
• I told him about it yesterday ~ You told him at what
time?
Remember this: Nobody starts a conversation with a wh-
declarative question. No. A wh-declarative question is used
only when it follows on from a question or statement made by
the previous speaker. That is, a wh-declarative question is only
used as a follow-up to something that the previous speaker
has said. Declarative questions of this kind are quite common
during interviews, interrogations and similar situations. (They’re
especially used by the person who does the interview or
interrogation).
***
58 Tag questions
Chapter 7
Tag questions
Tag questions are questions like “isn’t it?”, “hasn’t he?” etc. that
are often tagged on to statements. When you ask a tag question,
you expect affirmation or negation as the reply, and so tag
questions are a special category of yes-no questions.
Here are some examples. In these examples, you’ll find tag
questions given in italics.
• It is raining outside, isn’t it? • He has left, hasn’t he? •
You can see it now, can’t you?
These are examples in which the statement part contains an
operator. (As you know an operator is an auxiliary — either the
sole auxiliary or the first auxiliary). You see, if the statement part
contains an operator, that operator would be the operator in the
tag question part, too. But often, the statement may not contain
an operator. Then the dummy operator do acts as the operator in
the tag question. Here are some examples:
• She likes cats, doesn’t she? • You know how to drive a
car, don’t you? • They turned left, didn’t they? • He called
you a liar, didn’t he?
If you take a close look at these tag questions, you can
find that a tag question can be negative or positive. A negative
tag question always expects an affirmation, and a positive tag
question always expects a negation. (Of course, this doesn’t
mean that the addressee is obliged to reply exactly in the way
you expect them to reply).
Structure
All tag questions (= the tag part) have the following structure:
Negative tags: operator + n’t + pronoun
E.g. isn’t he?, doesn’t she?, can’t we?, haven’t they?, wouldn’t you?
Tag questions 59
‘Negative opposite-way’
(+ve statement) + (–ve tag):
• It is very warm today, isn’t it? • He was satisfied,
wasn’t he? • They were planning another meeting,
weren’t they? • You have given up smoking, haven’t
you? • The last bus has gone, hasn’t it? • You can swim,
can’t you? • He will be here for a few more days, won’t
he? • They come here everyday, don’t they? • She likes
him, doesn’t she? • You told him about it, didn’t you? •
I would be a fool to reject that offer, wouldn’t I? • They
must come, mustn’t they?
60 Tag questions
‘Affirmative opposite-way’
(–ve statement) + (+ve tag):
• It wasn’t his fault, was it? • He couldn’t get the car to
start, could he? • We can’t do it, can we? • They don’t
need it, do they? • You don’t feel very well, do you? • You
are not serious, are you? • I am not stopping you, am
I? • You aren’t ready to start, are you? • The candidates
mustn’t be over 20 years of age, must they?
Note: A negative statement need not always have the word not in it.
Instead, it can have other negative words like never, no, nobody etc.
So if you use question tags after negative statements containing these
negative words, they must be ‘affirmative opposite-way’ question tags.
Here are some examples:
• He’s never been so angry, has he? • They have no
objections, do they? • Nobody showed any interest, did
they?
Special cases
There are a few special cases you must pay close attention to:
Compound pronouns
Sometimes the statement part contains one of the following
compound pronouns as the Subject element:
62 Tag questions
Directives
Normally, tag questions follow statements (= the declarative
structure). But occasionally, some tag questions also follow
directives (= the imperative structure). That is, not all tag
questions, but some. The tag questions that can follow directives
are:
will you?, won’t you?, would you?, can you?, can’t you?,
could you?
In general, tags are used after directives to tell or ask people
to do something in an informal way.
When you offer something to somebody or invite them to do
something, you can use either will you? or won’t you? (In these
situations, won’t you? is more common in British English).
E.g. Have another cake, will you?/won’t you?
Do come in, will you?/won’t you?
In positive directives used as warnings, reminders and good
wishes, you should use won’t you? as the tag question.
E.g. • Be careful, won’t you? • Make sure you don’t drop it, won’t
you? • You’ll remember about the doctor’s appointment, won’t
you? • Remember to post the letter, won’t you? • Have a good
Tag questions 63
Non-auxiliary ‘have’
The word have can occur in the statement part either as an
auxiliary or as a main verb (= non-auxiliary). As I’ve already told
you earlier in this Book, when have occurs as a main verb, it can
either express an action or a state. So it’ll help you a lot if you’re
clear in your mind about the following 3 uses of have:
64 Tag questions
E.g. • She has a car, doesn’t she? (Or: She’s got a car, hasn’t she?
— Instead of: “She has a car, hasn’t she?”). • She has long hair,
doesn’t she? (Or: She’s got long hair, hasn’t she? — Instead of:
“She has long hair, hasn’t she?). • He has a bad cold, doesn’t
he? (Or: He’s got a bad cold, hasn’t he? — Instead of: “He has
a bad cold, hasn’t he?”). • They have a lot of influence, don’t
they? (Or: They’ve got a lot of influence, haven’t they? — Instead
of: “They have a lot of influence, haven’t they?”). • We have no
option, do we? (Or: We’ve got no option, have we? — Instead
of: “We have no option, have we?”). • He had a lot of work to do,
didn’t he? (Instead of: “He had a lot of work to do, hadn’t he?”
— and instead of: “He’d got a lot of work to do, hadn’t he?”. See
Note below about avoiding had got).
• He doesn’t have any change, does he? (Or: He hasn’t got any
change, has he? — Instead of: “He hasn’t any change, has he?”).
• They haven’t any children, do they? (Or: They haven’t got any
children, have they? — Instead of: “They haven’t any children,
have they?”). • They don’t have any regrets at all, do they? (Or:
They haven’t got any regrets at all, have they? — Instead of:
“They haven’t any regrets at all, have they?”). • They don’t have
any time to wait, do they? (Or: They haven’t got any time to wait,
have they? — Instead of: “They haven’t any time to wait, have
they?”). • You didn’t have any idea about it, did you? (Instead of:
“You hadn’t any idea about it, had you?” — and instead of: “You
hadn’t got any idea about it, had you?”. See Note below about
avoiding hadn’t got).
Note: While have got and haven’t got are quite common, had got (= the
past tense form of have got) and hadn’t got (= the past tense form of
have got) are not. Mind you, had got and hadn’t got do not occur in
US English, and are rare even in British English. So avoid them. Use
the do-forms instead.
***
68 Tag questions for practice
Chapter 8
The milk has gone sour + hasn’t it? • The war has come to
an end + hasn’t it? • There has been a strike in the factory
+ hasn’t there? • Father and mother have not come so far
+ have they? • You haven’t told him + have you ? • You’ve
never been to Agra + have you? • I have been in the class
room since the bell rang + haven’t I? • I have made out
the receipt correctly + haven’t I? • Somebody has to file
a complaint+ haven’t they? • We have to discuss a few
preliminaries + haven’t we? • You’ve had lunch + haven’t
you? • You have got enough for yourself + haven’t you?
• You have talked with her long enough + haven’t you?
• You’ve got more than three + haven’t you? • You have
made up your mind to marry her + haven’t you? • Nobody
had bothered to plant new ones + had they?
• He isn’t kind to her + is he? • This battered old car isn’t
yours + is it? • This chair isn’t comfortable to sit in + is
it? • Her house is not far to walk + is it? • It’s not very
difficult + is it? • There is nothing further I’ve to do +
is there? • There isn’t a drop of water left + is there? •
There’s nobody in + is there? • Their father is still living +
isn’t he? • He is quite a good player + isn’t he? • He is very
selfish + isn’t he? • He is putting off doing that work+ isn’t
he? • He’s a communist + isn’t he? • He’s nice + isn’t he?
• It is time for bed+ isn’t it? • That is the man you told me
about + isn’t it? • That’s enough + isn’t it? • The tea is too
hot to drink + isn’t it? • Your name is Kamala + isn’t it?
• Your father’s name is Gopal Rao + isn’t it? • Your motor
bike is in good condition + isn’t it? • The box is too heavy
to lift + isn’t it? • Your house is across the road + isn’t it?
• This report is badly written + isn’t it? • Your house is
right by the park + isn’t it? • It’s a good plan + isn’t it? •
It’s difficult + isn’t it? • It’s good + isn’t it? • It’s Mohan
Kumar + isn’t it? • It’s rather difficult + isn’t it? • This is
the bag you asked for + isn’t it? • This room’s freezing +
isn’t it? • It is quite warm + isn’t it? • She is always very
72 Tag questions for practice
***
Rhy thm Dril l with Questions 75
Chapter 9
Be-questions
• |Are you |feeling O|K? • |Are you |following me? •
|Are you |fond of him? • |Are you |free |later to|day?
• |Are you |free |Saturday |evening? • |Are you |free
|Saturday |night? • |Are you |going for a par|ticular
|look? • |Are you |going my |way? • |Are you |going to
|Anne’s |twenty |first? • |Are you |going to |eat it |here?
• |Are you |going by |car? • |Are you |happy (|now)?
• |Is the |plane on |time? • |Is the |radio too |loud? •
|Is the |railroad |station in this di|rection? • |Is the |train
on |time? • |Is there a |charge for gift |wrapping? • |Is
there a |dining-car? • |Is there a |discount for ad|vance
|purchase? • |Is there a |doctor |here? • |Is there a
|drugstore |nearby? • |Is there a |final for this |course? •
|Is there a |history of dia|betes in your |family?
• |Was your |car |new or second |hand? • |Wasn’t |Rao
any |help? • |Were the |locals |friendly? • |Were the
76 Rhy thm Dril l with Questions
Do-questions
• |D’you |need any |marmalade? • |D’you |need any
|napkins? • |D’you |need |anything? • |D’you |need
|anything |else (to|day)? • |D’you |need |anything to
|go with |that? • |D’you |need |help with |that? • |D’you
|need it at |once? • |D’you |need my in|surance |card?
• |D’you |offer |bank fi|nancing? • |D’you |offer |short-
term |loans? • |D’you |play |tennis? • |D’you pre|fer
|green or |blue? • |D’you pro|vide |long-term |loans?
• |D’you |really |know the |way? • |D’you re|member
|how much this |cost? • |D’you re|member that |party? •
|D’you re|member which |box |this was |in?
• |Do you |have an ad|dress? • |Do you |have any
|allergies? • |Do you |have any |coupons? • |Do you
|have any |envelopes I could |buy? • |Do you |have
any fi|nancing |plans? • |Do you |have any |homework
to|night? • |Do you |have any I|D (= identifi|cation)?
• |Do I |make my|self |perfectly |clear? • |Do I |need
|stitches? • |Do I |need |surgery? • |Do I |need to |bring
|anything? • |Do I |pay you or the |cashier? • |Do my
|eyes de|ceive me? • |Do you |have a |shirt to |match
|this?
• |Does that |come with a |salad? • |Does that |have a
|shower? • |Does that in|clude u|tilities? • |Does that
|make any |sense? • |Does the |building |have a se|curity
|system? • |Does the |building |have an at|tendant? •
|Does the con|ductor an|nounce the |stops? • |Does the
ex|pressway |go by |there?
• |Did you |hear what |happened? • |Did you |know
you were |going |eighty |kilometres per |hour? • |Did
you |leave a |light on? • |Did you |like her |father? •
|Did you |like it? • |Did you |like the |people in |Spain?
Rhy thm Dril l with Questions 77
Have-questions
• |Have you |had this be|fore? • |Have you |had this
|problem be|fore? • |Have you |had this |problem |long?
• |Have you |heard? • |Have you |heard about |Nikhil?
• |Have you |heard the |latest? • |Have you |lost your
|marbles? • |Have you |lost your |mind? • |Have you
|lost your |senses? • |Have you |met?
Can-questions
• |Can I ex|change |these for a|nother |night? • |Can
I |fax my |order to you? • |Can I |finish |reading the
|paper? • |Can I |get this |refilled? • |Can I |get it |gift-
wrapped? • |Can I |get on to the |next |flight? • |Can I
|get this pre|scription |filled? • |Can I |get you a |glass
of |water? • |Can I |get you |anything? • |Can I |see the
|place |now? • |Can I |see your |driver’s |licence? • |Can
I |see your |licence? • |Can I |sell you a |ticket? • |Can
I |show you |something? • |Can I |stay a |bit |longer?
• |Can I |still |get into your |course? • |Can I |take a
|couple? • |Can I |take a |look at your |paper? • |Can I
|take it for a |road |test?
• |Could I |see your |menu? • |Could I |sit |here? •
|Could I |speak with the |manager, |please? • |Could I
|take a |message? • |Could I |talk to you |sometime?
• |Could she |come, d’you |think? • |Could she |help
|breaking it? • |Could they |help it, d’you |think? •
|Could we |borrow a |ladder? • |Could we |have some
|water, |please? • |Could you |tell me what |time it is? •
|Could you |call at the |post office? • |Could you |clean
up a |little, too? • |Could you |dial it for me, |please? •
|Could you ex|plain that a|gain?
78 Rhy thm Dril l with Questions
May-questions
• |May I |have some more |pie? • |May I |have the |ZIP
code for |New York? • |May I |have your |name and
ad|dress? • |May I |have your |name, |please? • |May I
|have your |seat (when you |leave)? • |May I |have your
|PIN code? • |May I |help my|self? • |May I |help you?
• |May I |hold him? • |May I |hold it for a |minute? •
|May I |join you? • |May I just |finish my |letter? • |May
I |please |leave the |table? • |May I |see some I|D (=
identification)?
Must-questions
• |Must you con|tinue to |do that? • |Must you |dwell on
the sub|ject? • |Must you |harp on the |same |string? •
|Must you |keep |harping on |that?
Shall-questions
• |Shall I |mention it to |Andrew? • |Shall I |pass them to
|Reddy? • |Shall I |press the |starter? • |Shall I |send it to
you or to |Julia? • |Shall I |shave your |outline? • |Shall
I |treat the |lawn for |weeds? • |Shall we |be in |time? •
|Shall we |call on at |Peter’s? • |Shall we |dance? • |Shall
we |give him a |couple? • |Shall we |go |now?
Should-questions
• |Should I |take this with |meals? • |Should I |trim the
|bushes this |time? • |Shouldn’t you |be at |work? •
|Shouldn’t you |be in |school?
Will-questions
• |Will that be |cash or |charge? • |Will that be |cash or
|credit? • |Will they |hold my co|nnecting |flight? • |Will
this be for |here or to |go? • |Will this com|partment |do?
Rhy thm Dril l with Questions 79
What-questions
• |What d’you |want |now, |Lucille? • |What |days
would you |like to |travel? • |What did he |say a|bout
it? • |What did |Frieda |say? • |What did you just |say?
• |What did you |people |think of those |plans? • |What
did you |say? • |What did you |say the ad|dress |was?
• |What did you |say, |Andrew? • |What did you |think
of it? • |What did you |think of the |house? • |What did
you |think of the |lecture? • |What did you |think of the
|show? • |What did her |father |die of? • |What did his
|mother |die of? • |What did your |parents |think ? •
|What do I |owe you? • |What do you ex|pect |me to |do
a|bout it? • |What do you |have in |season? • |What do
you |have |planned? • |What do you |have to |drink? •
|What do you |know? • |What do you |mean? • |What
do you |mean by |that? • |What do you |need? • |What
do you |say? • |What do you |think of my |new |dress?
• |What do you |want to |see? • |What do you |want to
80 Rhy thm Dril l with Questions
When-questions
• |When is the |final (e|xam)? • |When is the mid|term?
• |When is the |next |issue |out? • |When may he |have
them? • |When ought we to |leave? • |When shall I
|come? • |When shall I |cut the |grass? • |When shall
I |leave? • |When shall I |meet you? • |When shall we
|send it? • |When was the |last |time you |had a |tetanus
|shot? • |When will it be |finished? • |When will it be
|ready? • |When will she be |out of |hospital? • |When
will |supper be |ready? • |When will |that be |ready? •
|When will the |school be |ready? • |When will they |get
|back?
Where-questions
• |Where does it |hurt? • |Where does |Angela |live? •
|Where does she |come |from? • |Where has he been |all
this |time? • |Where have they |got to? • |Where have
you |been? • |Where have you been |keeping your|self?
• |Where is a |bathroom? • |Where is a |toilet? • |Where
is it? • |Where is |ladies-wear? • |Where is the |chocolate
|milk? • |Where is the |automatic |teller ma|chine? •
|Where is the |bathroom (, |please)? • |Where is the
|credit de|partment? • |Where is the |fiction?
Which-questions
• |Which |route would you ad|vise? • |Which is my
|place? • |Which is the |nearest |tube |station? • |Which
is the |quickest |way? • |Which is |William’s |book?
• |Which |month would you pre|fer? • |Which of you
Rhy thm Dril l with Questions 81
Who-questions
• |Who shall I |say is |calling? • |Who |told the |boss
I was |late? • |Who was the |top of the |class? • |Who
were you |talking to? • |Who will be in |charge? • |Who
would have |thought? • |Who’d |help? • |Who’d |know
a|bout such a |thing? • |Who’ll |give me a |lift? • |Who’ll
|help, d’you |think? • |Who’ll vo|lunteer? • |Who’s
|William |Law? • |Who’s been |eating my |grapes? •
|Who’s |buying? • |Who’s |calling? • |Who’s |coming
this |Friday? • |Who’s |going to |bath the |baby? (British
English). • |Who’s |going to |bathe the |baby? (US
English).
Why-questions
• |Why don’t you |buy |one? • |Why don’t you |go? •
|Why don’t you |go to |bed? • |Why don’t you |like it? •
|Why don’t you |rub the |lotion into your |skin? • |Why
don’t you |stop and |ask for di|rections? • |Why don’t you
|take |off your |coat and |make your|self |comfortable? •
|Why don’t you |write to the |Director? • |Why |ever did
you |lose your |temper? • |Why |ever didn’t you |write to
me? • |Why |ever |give him |that? • |Why |ever |go by
the |boat?
How-questions
• |How do I |get to the |railway |station? (British
English). • |How do I |get to the |train |station? (US
English). • |How do |things |look? • |How do we |get
there? • |How do you ex|pect to |find |anything in this
|mess? • |How do you |format discs? • |How do you
|get to the |other |side of the |river? • |How do you |get
82 Rhy thm Dril l with Questions
***
Nominal expressions for advanced fluency 83
Chapter 10
Nominal expressions
for advanced fluency
I’ve stressed one point again and again in several of the books in
this series: You may have a good command of single words. But
that is not sufficient for you to achieve a high degree of fluency.
What you need is a good command of word groups – yes, groups
of words – and not merely of single words.
Keep this in mind: You need this command (of word groups)
not only for great fluency in producing structures other than
questions, but also for great fluency in producing questions of
all types.
Now, there’s an important category of word groups you
should do oral practice with. These word groups are nominal
expressions, that is, naming word groups. You need them to refer,
without faltering, to many of the things, ideas and situations that
your speech covers, especially your content-intensive speech.
Yes, especially content-intensive speech. And out of all types of
nominal expressions, the most frequent ones are the of-nominals
— that is, nominal expressions in which the preposition of is a
key grammatical word. We’ve already covered them in detail in
Book 5 in this series.
As for the rest of the important types of nominal expressions,
I’m now going to cover them in this chapter. These remaining
types of nominal expressions are those in which the words in, on,
to, for and and are the key grammatical words. Let’s call them
the in-nominals, on-nominals, to-nominals, for-nominals and
and-nominals.
I’m now going to give you an exhaustive collection of these
in-nominals, on-nominals, to-nominals, for-nominals and and-
nominals.
84 Nominal e xpressions for advanced flu ency
in-nominals
Here’s a collection of nominal expressions in which the word in
is the key grammatical word:
Group 1
a bend in the river; a blessing in disguise; a breach in security;
a break in the cloud(s); a breakdown in communication(s); a
breakdown in law and order; a breakdown in negotiations; a
breakdown in relations; a case in point; a change in circumstances;
a change in mortality; a change in ownership; a change in
status; a change in strategy; a change in structure; a change in
temperature; a change in the composition of sth; a change in
the weather; a change in/of attitude; a change in/of fortune;
a change in/of level; a change in/of practice; a change in/of
routine; a chill in the air; a clause in a constitution; a clause in a
lease; a cog in the machine; a collapse in demand; a contradiction
in terms; a cut in expenditure; a cut in funding; a cut in price;
a cut in production; a cut in salary; a cut in spending; a cut in
subsidies; a cut in wages; a cutback in supplies.
a damsel in distress; a decline in exports; a decline in
importance; a decline in morale; a decline in morals; a decline in
mortality; a decline in numbers; a decline in popularity; a decline
in powers; a decline in productivity; a decline in profitability; a
decline in profits; a decline in sales; a decline in size; a decline
in tourism; a decline in turnout; a decline in turnover; a decrease
in number; a decrease in size; a decrease in the incidence of
sth; a decrease in value; a diet high/rich in sth; a difference in
degree/kind; a dig in the ribs; a downturn in tourism; a drop
Nominal expressions for advanced fluency 85
Group 2
a pain in your guts; a part in shaping sth; a participant in a
workshop; a partner in a firm; a pause in conversation; a phase
in/of (your) life; a piece in a jigsaw; a piece in the puzzle; a
86 Nominal e xpressions for advanced flu ency
on-nominals
Here’s a collection of nominal expressions in which the word on
is the key grammatical word:
a ban on demonstration; a ban on exports; a ban on imports;
a ban on smoking; a ban on the use of sth; a blast on a whistle;
a blot on the character; a blot on the landscape; a chain on the
door; a cloud on the horizon; a consensus on policy; a crackdown
on crime; a curb on prices; the expression on sb’s face; a frown
on your face; a heaven on earth; a kiss on the cheek; a knock on
the door; a look on sb’s face; a loss on an investment; a night
(out) on the town; a paradise on earth; a pat on the back; a pat
on the shoulder; a place on your shelves; a point on the agenda;
a profit on an investment; a return on an investment; a return
on (your) capital; a rung on the ladder; a seat on the council;
a seat on the board; a slap on the back; a step on the ladder; a
step on the road/way to sth; a variation on a theme; an advance
on royalties; an agreement on policy; an attempt on sb’s life; an
entry on a register; an intrusion on (sb’s) privacy; an item on the
agenda/menu.
sb’s outlook on life; sb’s arrival on the scene; cash on delivery;
cheese on toast; discrimination on the grounds of caste etc.;
freeze on spending; intrusion on privacy; resignation on (the)
grounds of sth; shortcomings on sb’s part; the fault on sb’s part;
the last thing on sb’s mind; the last word on sth; the next road on
the left/right; the second road on the left/right.
to-nominals
Here’s a collection of nominal expressions in which the word to
(used as a preposition and as the infinitive marker) is the key
Nominal expressions for advanced fluency 89
grammatical word:
Group 1
a barrier to success; a battle to save sth; a benefit to mankind;
a bid to escape; a bid to host sth; a bid to regain sth; a bid to
save sth; a bite to eat; a bitter pill to swallow; a blow to self-
confidence; a boost to self-confidence; a boost to the economy; a
boost to the morale; a call to arms; a campaign to promote sth;
a campaign to save sth; a capacity to respond; a celebration to
mark sth; a challenge to sb/sth’s integrity; a challenge to sb/sth’s
supremacy; a challenge to sb’s leadership; a chance to express
sth; a chance to prove sth; a chance to regain sth; a chance to
renew sth; a chance to show sth; a chance to win sth; a claim to
sovereignty; a claimant to the throne; a contract to supply sth; a
decision to ban sth; a desire to join the army; a desire to protect
sb/sth; a disaster waiting to happen; a duty to obey; a duty to
protect sb/sth; a duty to respect sth.
a failure to perceive sth; a failure to respond; a fight to the
death; a fight to the finish; a force to be reckoned with; a great
loss to sb; a heavy load to bear/carry; a horrible thing to say; a
joy to watch; a lot to do/see; a lot to eat; a means to an end; a
mouth to feed; a move to ban sth; a need to protect sb/sth; a
need to reform sth; a place to hide (sth); a place to live; a plot
to assassinate sb; a pointer to the future; a relaxed approach to
life; a remedy to a problem; a return to normality; a return to
profitability; a rise to prominence; a route to chaos; a scheme
to promote sth; a shock to the system; a short step from/to sth;
a shoulder to cry on; a sign of things to come; a small price to
pay (for sth); a solution to a crisis; a solution to a dilemma;
a solution to a problem; a solution to a puzzle; a source of
fascination to sb; a step on the road/way to sth; a strange thing
to say; a stumbling block to agreement; a stupid thing to say; a
taste of things to come; a tendency to treat sb/sth; a third to (a)
half; a threat to democracy; a threat to freedom/liberty; a threat
90 Nominal e xpressions for advanced flu ency
Group 2
an assistant to the General Manager; an attempt to assassinate
sb; an attempt to avert sth; an attempt to avoid sth; an attempt
to ban sth; an attempt to curb sth; an attempt to destroy sth; an
attempt to discover sth; an attempt to disguise sth; an attempt
to disrupt sth; an attempt to ensure sth; an attempt to establish
sth; an attempt to impress sb; an attempt to improve sth; an
attempt to intimidate sb; an attempt to overcome sth; an attempt
to persuade sb; an attempt to place sth; an attempt to preserve
sth; an attempt to prevent sth; an attempt to reconstruct sth; an
attempt to reduce sth; an attempt to regain sth; an attempt to
regulate sth; an attempt to relate sth; an attempt to reproduce
sth; an attempt to resolve sth; an attempt to restore sth; an
attempt to restrain sb; an attempt to restrict sth; an attempt to
revive sb/sth; an attempt to rewrite sth; an attempt to save sth;
an attempt to secure sth; an attempt to solve sth; an attempt to
strengthen sth; an attempt to suppress sth.
an irreverent attitude to life; an easy mistake to make; an
easy way to do sth; an effort to avert sth; an effort to avoid
sth; an effort to curb sth; an effort to establish sth; an effort to
impress sb; an effort to improve sth; an effort to persuade sb; an
effort to reduce sth; an effort to regain sth; an effort to resolve
sth; an effort to restore sth; an effort to restrain sb; an effort to
revive sb; an effort to revive sth; an effort to save sth; an effort
Nominal expressions for advanced fluency 91
right to live; the right to nominate sb; the right to privacy; the
right to roam; the right to silence; the right to strike; the right to
terminate sth; the right to veto sth; the road to democracy; the
road to ruin; the road to stardom; the run-up to an election; the
shape of things to come; the strength to resist sth; the succession
to the throne; the will to live/win, etc.
time to get up; time to go home; time to prepare (sth); time
to reflect.
for-nominals
Here’s a collection of nominal expressions in which the word for
is the key grammatical word:
a basis for comparison; a basis for discussion; a basis for
negotiation; a basis for settlement; a battle for supremacy; a
battle for survival; a bid for attention; a bid for freedom; a bid
for leadership; a bid for power; a big demand for sth; a big hand
for sb; a call for sb’s resignation; a candidate for office; a capacity
for work; a cause for celebration; a cause for pride; a cause for
rejoicing; a cause for satisfaction; a cause for shame; a cause
for worry; a change for the better; a change for the worse; a
claim for damages; a claim for injury; a cry for help; a cure for a
disease; a demand for autonomy; a demand for energy; a desire
for fulfilment; a desire for revenge.
a fight for liberation; a fight for life; a fight for supremacy;
a fight for survival; a force for good; a forum for discussion; a
good advertisement for sth; a good bet for sth; a lust for life;
a matter for conjecture; a matter for negotiation; a matter for
pride; a matter for regret; a matter for speculation; a motive for
the killing; a need for continuity; a need for cooperation; a need
for coordination; a need for discretion; a need for flexibility; a
need for fulfilment; a need for integration; a need for vigilance; a
place for a rendezvous; a plea for help; a plea for leniency; a quest
for perfection; a recipe for disaster; a recipe for success; a request
Nominal expressions for advanced fluency 93
defence; the criteria for inclusion (in sth); the criteria for judging
sth; the demand for imports; the going rate for sth; the instinct
for survival; the lust for power; the need for caution; the need
for reform; the quest for (the) truth; the quest for knowledge; the
right person for the job; the search for (the) truth; the search for a
clue; the search for a cure; the struggle for existence; the struggle
for independence; time for bed; value for (your) money.
and-nominals
Here’s a collection of nominal expressions in which the word and
is the key grammatical word:
a ball and chain; a bow and arrow; a breakdown in law
and order; a brush and comb; a bucket and spade; a carrot
and stick; a cup and saucer; a dustpan and brush; a friend and
ally; a hammer and chisel; a hammer and nails; a horse and
carriage; a horse and cart; a jacket and tie; a knife and fork; a
map and compass; a mop and bucket; a pen and paper; a suit
and tie; aches and pains; advantages and disadvantages; age
and infirmity; aims and objectives; airs and graces; alarm and
despondency; arrivals and departures; art and design; arts and
crafts; arts and sciences; assault and battery; assets and liabilities;
bed and breakfast; behaviour and attitudes; blazer and tie; board
and lodging; body and soul; boom and bust; boom and slump;
boos and hisses; brandy and cigars; bread and butter; bread and
cheese; bread and jam; bread and margarine; bread and water;
bribery and corruption; bricks and mortar; brother and sister;
business and pleasure; care and attention; cause and effect;
cheese and biscuits; cheese and onion; chicken and chips; collar
and tie; comfort and convenience; crime and disorder; crime and
punishment; cuts and bruises.
dozens and dozens; dreams and aspirations; drink and
drugs; duties and responsibilities; each and every one; fact and
fiction; facts and figures; fame and fortune; family and friends;
fear and anxiety; fear and loathing; fear and trepidation; fish
Nominal expressions for advanced fluency 95
and chips; fixtures and fittings; flesh and blood; flesh and bone;
food and drink; food and water; food and wine; friends and
acquaintances; friends and family/family and friends; friends
and neighbours; friends and relations; gloom and despondency;
goods and services; greed and selfishness; guns and ammunition;
hammer and sickle; heart and soul; herbs and spices; hopes and
aspirations; hugs and kisses; husband and wife; hustle and bustle;
income and expenditure; input and output; landlord and tenant;
law and order; light and shade; likes and dislikes; lots and lots;
love and affection; love and compassion; love and romance;
marriages and deaths; mind and body; mum and dad; music and
song; myths and legends; name and address; names and faces;
nausea and vomiting; needle and thread; needs and aspirations;
needs and desires.
pain and suffering; painter and decorator; peace and quiet;
peace and tranquillity; pen and ink; pluses and minuses; pomp
and ceremony; pomp and circumstance; the poor and needy;
postage and packing; pots and pans; puffing and blowing; pushing
and shoving; rags and tatters; reading and writing; receipts and
payments; repair and maintenance; research and development;
rest and refreshment; rest and relaxation; reward and punishment;
right and wrong; rights and remedies; rights and responsibilities;
risks and benefits; risks and rewards; rows and rows (of sth);
rules and regulations; sales and marketing; salt and pepper;
science and technology; shampoo and conditioner; shampoo and
set; shapes and sizes; sheets and blankets; shirt and tie; soap
and water; stage and screen; strength and resilience; strengths
and weaknesses; stresses and strains; supply and demand; tact
and diplomacy; tact and sensitivity; taste and decency; tea and
biscuits; tea and cake(s); tea and coffee; tea and sandwiches; tea
and scones; tea and sympathy; terms and conditions; the bride
and bridegroom; the bride and groom; the dead and dying; the
dead and injured; the decline and fall of sth; the highs and lows;
the length and breadth of sth; the peaks and troughs; the pros
and cons [of (doing) sth]; the rich and famous; the rights and
96 Nominal e xpressions for advanced flu ency
wrongs (of sth); the rise and fall (of sth); the rough and tumble of
politics; the sick and wounded; the sights and sounds; theory and
practice; thunder and lightning; time and space; trial and error;
trials and tribulations; twists and turns; values and aspirations;
vim and vigour; wants and needs; wear and tear; weeping and
wailing; weights and measures; wit and wisdom; (your) hopes
and dreams; (your) hopes and expectations; (your) hopes and
fears; (your) likes and dislikes; (your) pride and joy.
***
Verb -and -preposition clusters - Part 1 97
Chapter 11
Verb-and-preposition clusters
- Part 1
Most people are not certain whether some of the verbs they use
should be followed by prepositions at all. And even when they
know that the answer is ‘yes’, they’re not certain what the right
prepositions are.
And this feeling of uncertainty makes them falter from time
to time as they speak.
Most people try to get over this problem by learning the
meanings of prepositions and how to use them in grammatically
correct ways. This method will, of course, help them learn the
grammar and usage of prepositions — and to do well in exams.
Also, this knowledge might help them, to some extent, when they
want to write something at their leisure — in their own good
time and when it suits them.
But it is one thing to write something at your leisure; it is quite
another to speak spontaneously. When you speak spontaneously,
your can’t compose your speech at your convenience, that is,
when you have time to and when you’re not under pressure of
time. You have to compose your speech and speak at the same
time. On the spot.
In the same way, answering questions (about prepositions)
in examinations is one thing, and speaking spontaneously is quite
another. The form and content of the things you have to write in a
test on prepositions are entirely different from those of the things
you need to say when you’re on your feet and speaking about
something in real time. And remember this: A speech-situation,
its pressures, demands, objectives, participants, etc. are entirely
different from those of an examination-situation.
98 Verb -and -preposition clusters- Part 1
about
• advise (sb) about doing sth. • advise sb on/about sth. •
agree about sth. • agree with sb on/about sth. • approach sb
about sth. • argue about/over sth. • argue with sb about/over
sth. • ask sb (sth) about sth. • ask about sb/sth. • bother sb
about/with sth. • bother with/about sth. • care for/about sb.
100 Verb -and -preposition clusters- Part 1
above
• appear above sth. • come above sth. • fly above sth. • put
sth above/before sth. • rise above sth. • score above sth. • value
sth above sth.
according to
• create sth according to sth. • do sth according to sth. • fix
sth according to sth. • go according to sth (= plan/schedule). •
service sth according to sth. • vary with/according to sth.
across
• build sth across sth.• come across sb/sth. • cut across sw.
• fly across sth. • lie across sth. • run across sb. • run sth across/
down/through sth. • see sb across sth. • speed sb across/to/up
sth. • stare across sth. • spread across sth. • stop across sth. •
walk across sth.
across from
• sit across from sb. • stay sw across from sth. • stop across
from sth.
Verb -and -preposition clusters- Part 1 101
after
• arrive after sth. • ask after sb. • call after sb. • come after
sth. • lock up after you. • look after sb/sth. • name sb/sth after
sb. • run after sb/sth. • shout after sb. • stare after sb. • take
after sb. • tidy up after yourself.
against
• advise against doing sth. • advise sb against sth. • appeal
to sb against sth. • argue for/against sth. • argue for/against
doing sth. • balance sth with/against sth. • bring sth against sb.
• campaign for/against sth. • come up against sth. • compete
against/with sb. • count against sb. • cover sb against sth. • cry
out against sth. • decide against sth. • decide for/against sb. •
defend sb from/against sb/sth. • defend sth from/against sb/sth.
• defend yourself from/against sb/sth. • defend sb/sth from/
against sth. • direct sth at/against sb. • fight against sth. • fight
with/against sb. • find against sb. • go against sb. • go against
sb/sth. • guard against sth. • guarantee sth against sth. • hold sth
against sb. • level sth at/against sb/sth. • match yourself against
sb. • measure sb/sth against sb/sth. • play against sb/sth. • play
sb/sth off against sb/sth. • press sth against sth. • produce sth
for/against sth. • protect sb/sth against/from sth. • protect (sb/
sth) against sth. • protest at/about/against sth. • rebel against
sth. • rule against sb/sth. • run up against sth. • secure sb/sth
against/from sth. • set sb against sb. • set sth against/beside sth.
• set sth against sth (= tax). • stand out against/for sth. • take
against sb/sth. • turn against sb. • vote against sb/sth. • warn sb
against doing sth.
ahead of
• announce sth ahead of sth. • do sth ahead of sb. • finish
ahead of sb. • go on ahead of sb. • happen ahead of sth. • have
sth ahead of you. • lie ahead of sth. • reach sw ahead of sb. • say
sth ahead of sth.
102 Verb -and -preposition clusters- Part 1
among
• argue among ourselves/themselves. • count sb among
sth. • disappear among sb (= the crowd, etc.). • divide sth (up)
among/between sb. • distribute sth (out) among sb/sth. • find
sth among sth. • rummage among sth. • search among sth. •
share sth (out) among/between sb. • spread sth among sb. •
stroll among sth. • walk among sth.
apart from
• do sth apart from sth. • finish apart from sth. • have sth/
nothing apart from sth. • know no one apart from sb. • see
nobody apart from sb.
around
• centre around/round/on sth. • crowd around/round sb/
sth. • hang around/about sw. • show sb around/round sw. • sit
around sth. • wrap sth around/round sth.
as
• accept sb as sth. • accept sth as sth. • act as sth. • address
sb as sth. • adopt sb/sth as sth. • appoint sb (as) sth. • attack sth
as sth. • begin as sth. • cast sb as sth (in sth). • choose sb/sth as
sth. • come as sth. • consider sb/sth as sth. • continue as sth. •
count as sth. • count sb as sth. • count sth as sth (= be counted
as sth). • describe sb/sth as sth. • double as sb/sth. • elect sb as
sth. • employ sb/sth as sth. • establish sb/sth as sth. • establish
yourself as/in sth. • express sth as sth. • feature sb/sth as sth. •
figure as sth. • function as sth. • grow as sth. • guess sth as sth.
• have sb as sth. • identify sb/sth as sb/sth. • imagine sb/sth as
sth. • include sb/sth as sth. • intend sth as sth. • look on/upon
sb/sth as sth. • name sb/sth as sth. • pass for/as sb/sth. • pass
sth off as sth. • picture sb/sth as sth. • present sb/sth as sth. •
present yourself as sth. • project sb/sth as sth. • promote sth as
sth. • put sb down as sth. • qualify as sth. • qualify sth as sth. •
Verb -and -preposition clusters- Part 1 103
at
• aim at/for sth. • aim sth at sb/sth. • arrive at sth. • arrive
at/from sw. • book sb in at sth. • catch sb at it. • check in at sth
(= a hotel/airport). • direct sth at/against sb. • direct sth at/to/
towards sth. • drop sb at/in… (= sw). • estimate sth at sth. •
fire sth at sb. • fly at sb. • get at sb/sth. • guess at sth. • hit back
at sb. • jump at sth. • keep on at sb. • knock on/at sth. • laugh
at sb/sth. • laugh at/about sth. • level sth at/against sb/sth. •
look across at sb/sth.• look at sb/sth. • nod at sb/sth. • nod to/
at sb. • pick at sth (= food). • play at (doing/being) sth. • point
at/to sb/sth. • point sth at/towards sb/sth. • present yourself
at… (= sw). • protest at/about/against sth. • pull on/at sth. •
reckon sth at sth. • run at sth. • sell sth for/at sth. • shoot at sb/
sth. • shoot sth at sb. • shout at sb. • smile at sb/sth. • stand at
sth. • stare at sb/sth. • stick at sth. • stop at… (sw). • strike at
sb/sth. • tear at sth. • throw sth at sb/sth. • value sth at sth. •
wave to sb/at sb. • wave sth at sb. • wonder at sth. • work at…
(sw). • work on/at sth.
before
• appear before sb. • arrive before sb. • bring sb before sb/
sth. • do sth before sb. • go before sb. • have sth before you. •
kneel before sth. • lay sth before sb. • live sw before sth. • put sth
above/before sth. • put sth before sb (for them to do sth). • turn
before sth.
104 Verb -and -preposition clusters- Part 1
behind
• fall behind sb. • glance behind sb/sth. • hang sth behind
sth. • hide behind sth. • lie behind sth. • put sth behind you. •
run sth behind/through/under sth. • stand behind sb/sth. • stay
behind sb/sth.
beside
• build sth beside sth. • kneel down beside sth.• set sth
against/beside sth. • sit beside sb. • stand beside sb.
between
• choose between X and/or Y. • come between sb and sb.
• decide between X and Y. • divide sth among/between sb. •
establish sth between X and Y. • range between X and Y. • share
sth (out) among/between sb. • split sth between sb. • vary between
X and Y.
beyond
• continue beyond sth. • extend beyond sth. • extend sth
beyond sth. • go beyond sth. • live beyond sth. • own sth beyond
sth. • push sb beyond sth. • rise beyond sth. • say sth beyond sth.
• stop sw beyond sw. • work beyond sth.
by
• address sb by sth. • benefit from/by sth. • call sb by sth. •
close sth by doing sth. • come by sth. • finish with/by doing sth.
• gain sth from/by (doing) sth. • go by sth. • have sb by sth. •
intend sth by sth. • judge sth on/by sth. • lead sb by sth. • live by
sth. • lose (sth) by sth. • lose (sth) by doing sth. • mean sth by
sth. • measure sth by sth. • profit from/by sth. • recognize sb/
sth (by/from sth). • reduce sth by sth. • respond to sb (by doing
sth). • round sth off by doing sth. • show sth by sth. • sort sth
by sth. • stand by sb. • stand by sth. • start (off) by doing sth. •
stick by sb. • stick by sth.
Verb -and -preposition clusters- Part 1 105
down
• drive down sth. • fall down sth. • follow sb up/down sth. •
go down sth. • hurry down sth. • look down sth. • look back down
sth. • run (up and) down sth. • sail sth down sth. • slide down
sth. • walk down sth.
in favour of
• argue in favour of sth. • come down in favour of sth. •
decide in favour of sb/sth. • find for/in favour of sb/sth. • reject
sth in favour of sth. • rule in favour of sb/sth. • speak out in
favour of sb. • vote in favour of sth.
for
• account for sth. • act for sb. • aim at/for sth. • allow for
sth. • allow sth for sb/sth. • appeal for sth. • appear for/on behalf
of sb. • apply for sth. • apply to sth for sth. • argue for/against
sth. • argue for/against doing sth. • arrange sth for sth. • arrest
sb for sth. • ask for sb/sth. • ask sb for sth. • ask sth (for sth). •
attack sb/sth for sth. • bid sth for sth. • bid for sth. • blame sb/
sth for sth. • book sb for (committing) sth (= a crime). • break
for sth. • bring sth to/for sb/sth. • bring sth for sb. • buy sth
for Rs.500/$10, etc. • call for sb. • call for sth. • campaign for/
against sth. • care for sb. • care for/about sb. • charge sth for
sth. • choose sb/sth for sth. • close sth for sth. • come in for sth.
• come up for sth. • compete for sth. • cook sth for sb. • count
for sth. • cover up for sb. • cover sb for sth. • cry out for sth. •
decide for/against sb. • depend on sb for sth. • describe sb/sth
to/for sb. • dress for sth. • enter for sth. • enter sb/sth for/in sth.
• exchange sth for sth. • fall for sb/sth. • fall for sth. • fear for
sb/sth. • feel for sth. • feel sth for sb. • fight for sth. • file for sth.
• fill in for sb. • find for/in favour of sb. • find sth for sb. • fish
for sth. • fit sb for sth. • fit sb/sth for sth. • get sth for sth. • get
sth for yourself/sb. • go for sb. • go for sth. • go in for sth. • head
for sw. • hold out for sth. • hope for sth. • investigate sb for sth.
106 Verb -and -preposition clusters- Part 1
• invite sb to/for sth. • join sb for sth. • leave for sw. • leave sth
for sb. • leave sth with/to sb (for them to do sth). • listen for sth.
• live for sth. • long for sth. • look for sb/sth. • look out for sth.
• look to sb for sth. • make for sw. • make for sth. • make up for
sth. • measure sb for sth. • meet (sb) for sth. • mistake sb/sth for
sb/sth. • name sb/sth for sb. • negotiate with sb (for sth). • offer
sb sth for sth. • operate on sb (for sth). • order sth for sb/sth. •
owe sth to sb (for sth). • owe (sb) sth for sth. • pass for/as sb/
sth. • pay for sth. • pay sb back for sth. • pay sb for sth. • pick sb/
sth for sth. • plan for sth. • prepare (yourself) for sth. • prepare
sb for sth. • prepare sth for sb/sth. • press for sth. • produce sth
for/against sth. • provide sth for sb/sth. • push for sth. • put sth
before sb (for them to do sth). • qualify for sth. • qualify sb for
sth. • quote for doing sth. • recommend sb/sth for sth. • require
sth for sth. • reserve sth for sb/sth. • respect sb for (doing) sth. •
ring for sb/sth. • run to sb for sth. • save (up) for sth. • save sth
(up) for sth. • save sth for sb/sth. • schedule sth for sth. • score
sth for sth. • search for sth. • sell sth for/at sth. • send for sb. •
send (off) for sth. • set sth for sb to do. • settle down to/for sth.
• settle for/on sth. • sign for sth. • sign sb to/for sth. • sit for sb.
• speak for sb/sth. • stand for sth. • stand in for sb. • stand out
against/for sth. • stand up for sb/sth. • stick out for sth. • stick
up for sb/sth. • study for sth. • suffer for sth. • suggest sb/sth for
sth. • telephone (sb) for sth. • test for sth. • test sb for sth. • test
sth for sth. • thank sb for (doing) sth. • trade sth for sth. • train
as/for sth. • trouble sb for sth. • try for sth. • try sb for sth. • turn
to sb for sth. • use sth for sth. • value sth for sth. • vote for sb/
sth. • wait for sb/sth. • want sth for sth. • watch (out) for sth. •
wish for sth. • work for sb. • work for/towards sth.
from
• accept sth from sb. • arise from/out of sth. • arrive at/from
sw. • ban sb from doing sth. • bar sb from (doing) sth. • benefit
from/by sth. • break away from sb/sth. • bring sth from sb. •
buy sth from sb. • catch sth from sb/sth. • change from sth to/
Verb -and -preposition clusters- Part 1 107
into sth. • choose (X) from Y. • come from sw. • come from sth.
• come from/out of sw. • conclude from sth that…. • conclude
sth from sth. • construct sth from/out of sth. • cut sb off from
sth. • cut sth from/off sth. • cut sth out from sth. • defend sb
from/against sb/sth. • defend sth from/against sb/sth. • defend
yourself from/against sb/sth. • defend sb/sth from/against sth. •
deliver sb from sth. • demand sth of/from sb/yourself. • develop
(sth) from sth. • develop from sth to/into sth. • die of/from sth.
• drive sb to/from sth. • escape from sb/sth. • escape from sw
to sw. • exclude sb/sth from sth. • exclude sth from sth. • expect
sth of/from sb. • export sth from X (= one country) to Y (=
another). • export sth to/from X (= a country). • fall from X to Y.
• flow from sth. • follow from sth. • free sb/sth from sth. • gain
sth from (doing) sth. • gain sth from/by (doing) sth. • get sth
from/out of sth. • grow sth from sth. • guard sb/sth from sth. •
guess sth from sth. • hear from sb. • hide sth from sb. • judge sth
from sth. • keep away from sth. • keep sb/sth from doing sth. •
keep sth from sb. • kick sth away from sth. • lead sth away from
sth. • learn sth from sb/sth. • learn from sth. • lift sth from sth.
• lift sth from sb/sth. • lift sb from sth. • make sth from/out of
sth. • move from sw to sw. • obtain sth from sb/sth. • prepare sth
from sth. • prevent sb/sth (from) doing sth. • produce sth from
sw/sth. • profit from/by sth. • promote sb (from sth) to sth. •
promote sb from sth (to sth). • protect sb/sth against/from sth. •
range from X to Y. • receive sth from sb. • recognize sb/sth (by/
from sth). • recover from sth. • reduce sth (from sth) to sth. •
release sth from sth. • remove sb/sth from sw. • remove sth from
sb/sth. • resign from sth. • result from sth. • rise from sth. •
rise from X to Y. • save sb/sth from sth. • save sb/sth from doing
sth. • secure sb/sth against/from sth. • separate sb/sth from sb/
sth. • separate sb from sb. • separate sth from sth. • set sb/sth
apart from sb/sth. • split away/off from sth. • spring from sth. •
stop sb from doing sth. • strike sth from sth. • suffer from sth. •
survive from sth. • switch from sth to sth. • take sth from sb/sw.
• tear sb away from sw/sth. • tell X from Y. • tell sth from sth. •
108 Verb -and -preposition clusters- Part 1
in
• assist sb in/with sth. • base sth in… (sw). • break out in
spots. • break out in a sweat. • bring sb out in sth. • bury sth in
sth. • cast sb as sth (in sth). • come in sth. • compete in sth. •
confirm sb in sth. • consist in sth. • deal in sth. • die in sth. •
drop sb at/in… (= sw). • encourage sb in sth. • encourage sth
in sb/sth. • end with/in sth. • enter sb/sth for/in sth. • enter sth
in/into sth. • establish yourself as/in sth. • establish sb/sth in
sth. • fail in sth. • feature sb/sth in sth. • feature in sth. • figure
in sth. • find sth in sth. • fit in with sth. • gain in sth. • grow in
sth. • guide sb in sth. • include sb/sth in/on sth. • interest sb in
sth. • invest in sth. • invest sth in sth. • invest sth in doing sth.
• involve yourself/sb in sth. • join in sth. • keep in with sb. •
land sb in sth. • leave sth to sb in sth (= your will). • occupy sb/
yourself in doing sth. • occur in sb/sth. • read sth in sth. • result
in sth. • settle sb into/in/on sth. • share in doing sth. • shut sb
in sth. • succeed in sth. • succeed in doing sth. • support sb in
(doing) sth. • tie with sb in sth. • trust in sb/sth. • vary in sth. •
work with/in sth.
into
• accept sb into sth. • back sb into sth (= a corner, etc.). •
bend sth into sth. • book into sth (= a hotel). • break into sth. •
break into sw. • bring sb/sth into sth. • build sth into sth. • carry
sb/sth to/into sth. • change from sth to/into sth. • change into
sth. • channel sth into sth. • channel sth into/to sth. • check
into/out of sw. • come to/into sth. • copy sth into sth. • crowd
into sw. • develop (sth) into sth. • develop from sth to/into sth. •
dip into sth. • direct sth into sth. • divide sth into sth. • draw sb
Verb -and -preposition clusters- Part 1 109
into sth. • drive sb to/into sth. • drop sth down/into sth. • drop
sth into sth. • eat into sth. • enter into sth. • enter sth in/into
sth. • fall into sth. • feed sth into sth. • fit into sth. • fit sth into/
with sth. • fly into sth. • follow sb to/into/through sth. • force
sb into doing sth. • force sb into/out of sth. • form sth into sth.
• get into sth. • go into sth. • go on/into sth. • group sb/sth into
sth. • grow into sth. • guide sth into/towards sth. • introduce
sth into/to sw/sth. • launch into sth. • lay into sb. • lead to/
into sth. • lead sb into sth. • lift sb/sth into/onto sth. • look into
sth. • make sth into sth. • model sth into sth. • move into sw. •
press sb into doing sth. • press sb into sth. • press sth into sth. •
push sb into (doing) sth. • put sth into sth. • read sth into sth. •
receive sb into sth. • release sth into sth. • roll sth into sth. • run
into problems. • run into sth. • run sb to/into sw. • send sb to/
into sth. • settle sb into/in/on sth. • shape sth into sth. • show
sb into sth. • slip into/out of sth. • split sb into sth (= groups). •
talk sb into doing sth. • tear into sb. • throw sth into sth. • turn
into/to sth. • turn sth from sth into sth. • work yourself into sth.
• write sth into sth.
***
110 Verb -and -preposition clusters - Part 2
Chapter 12
Verb-and-preposition clusters
- Part 2
The previous chapter gave you comprehensive lists of
verb+preposition combinations in which the following were the
prepositions:
about, above, according to, across, across from, after, against,
ahead of, among, apart from, around, as, at, before, behind,
beside, between, beyond, by, down, in favour of, for, from, in,
into.
The present chapter will now give you lists of verb+preposition
combinations in which the following are the prepositions:
like, of, off, on, onto, out of, over, round, through, to, towards,
under, up, upon, with, within, without.
The lists you’re going to get are as comprehensive as those in
the previous chapter. Go through these lists. They’ve been given
preposition-wise. Pick up each word combination and say it ALOUD
several times. Get your organs of speech to become familiar with
these word combinations.
Here we go:
like
• act like sth. • feel like sth. • feel like sb. • feel like (doing)
sth. • look like sth. • seem like sth. • treat sb like/as sth.
of
• accuse sb of doing sth. • accuse sb of sth. • approve of
sb/sth. • ask sth of sb. • break sb of sth. • complain of sth. •
consist of sb/sth. • construct sth of sth. • convince sb of/about
sth. • convince yourself of sth. • demand sth of sb. • demand
Verb -and - preposition c lusters - Part 2 111
off
• blow sth off sth. • clean sth off sth. • come off sth. • cross
sth off sth. • cut (sb) sth from/off sth. • cut sth off sth. • drop off
sth. • drop sth off sth. • fall off sth. • feed on/off sth. • get off sth
(= a bus/plane/train, etc.). • get sth off sth. • go off sth. • keep
off sth. • keep sth off sth. • kick off sth. • knock sth off sth. • lay
off sth. • lead off sw. • let sb off sth. • live (just) off sth. • scrape
sth off sth. • stay off sth. • take off sth. • take sth off sth. • want
sth off sth.
on
• act on sth. • advance on/towards sb/sth. • advise sb on/
about sth. • agree on sth. • agree with sb on/about sth. • appear
for/on behalf of sb. • back sb on sth. • blame sth on sb/sth. •
blow sth (= money) on sth. • border on sth. • border (on) sth
(= a country). • break in on sb. • break in on sth. • bring sth (=
shame/disgrace, etc.) on sth (= your family, etc.). • bring sth on
yourself. • build on sth. • build sth on/upon sth. • call on sb. •
call on sb to do sth. • cash in on sth. • cast sth (= doubt) on sth.
• catch up on sth. • centre round/around/on sth. • check (up)
on sb/sth. • close in on sb. • come on/upon sb/sth. • comment
on/upon sth. • concentrate on/upon sth. • count on/upon sb/
sth. • cut back on sth. • cut down on sth. • decide on/upon sth.
• deliver on sth. • depend on/upon sb/sth. • depend on sth. •
depend on sb for sth. • depend on sb to do sth. • draw on/upon
sth. • drop in on sb. • enter sth on sth. • examine sb on sth. •
112 Verb -and - preposition c lusters - Part 2
onto
• carry sth onto sth. • climb onto sth. • come to/onto sth. •
copy sth to/onto sth. • drop sth onto/over sth. • empty sth onto
sth. • fall onto sth. • fit sth onto/over sth. • hang onto sth. • lift
sb/sth into/onto sth. • pour out onto sth. • push sth on/onto/
upon sb. • roll over onto sth. • run onto sth. • walk onto sth.
out of
• argue sb out of sth. • arise from/out of sth. • break out of
sth. • check into/out of sw. • choose sb/sth out of sb/sth. • come
from/out of sw. • construct sth from/out of sth. • cut sb out of sth.
• cut sth out of sth. • drop out of sth. • force sb into/out of sth.
• get out of sth. • get out of doing sth.• get sth from/out of sth.
• go out of sth/sw. • grow out of sth (= clothes). • grow out of
sth (= a habit). • keep sb out of sth. • kick sb out of sth. • knock
sth out of sb. • lift sb/sth out of sth. • look out of sth. • make sth
from/out of sth. • pay for sth out of sth. • pull out of sth. • run
out of sth. • sell out of sth. • shout out of sth. • slip into/out of
sth. • take sth out of sth. • talk sb out of doing sth. • turn sb out
of sth.
over
• argue about/over sth. • argue with sb about/over sth. •
bend sth over/round sth. • dispute with sb over sth. • drop sth
onto/over sth. • fight about/over sth. • fit sth onto/over sth. • get
over sth. • go over sth. • hang over sb/sth. • reflect on/over/upon
sth. • row with sb about/over sth. • rule over sb/sth. • score over
sb. • spread sth on/over sth. • think back over sth. • watch over
sb/sth.
round/around
• bend sth over/round sth. • centre round/around/on sth.
• come round to sth. • crowd around/round sb/sth. • follow sb
round sw. • get round sb. • get round sth. • show sb around/
round sw. • wander round sw. • wrap sth round/around sth.
114 Verb -and - preposition c lusters - Part 2
through
• break through sth. • channel sth through sth. • cut through
sth. • feed sth through sth. • follow sb to/into/through sth. • get
through sth. • go through sth (= a difficult/unpleasant situation).
• go through sth (= the drawers, etc.). • go through sth (= the
details, etc.). • go through sth (= a process). • guide sb through
sth. • help sb through sth. • live through sth. • look through sth.
• run through sth. • run sth across/down/through sth. • run sth
behind/through/under sth. • see sb through sth. • see through
sb/sth. • sit through sth. • work through sth.
to
• add sth to sth. • add to sth. • add up to sth. • admit sb
to sth. • admit to sb that… • admit to sth. • advance sth to sb.
• agree to sth. • amount to sth. • announce sth to sb. • answer
to sth. • appeal to sb. • appeal to sb against sth. • apply sth to
sth. • apply to sth for sth. • apply to sb/sth. • apply yourself to
(doing) sth. • appoint sb to sth. • ask sb to sth. • attend to sb/
sth. • attract sb/sth to sth. • attract sb to sb/sth. • beat sb down
to sth. • belong to sb/sth. • bind sb to sb/sth. • break sth to sb.
• bring sth to/for sb/sth. • bring sth to sw. • bring sb/sth with
you (to sw). • bring sth to sb. • bring sth to sth (= an end/a
stop). • carry sb/sth to/into sth. • change from sth to/into sth.
• channel sth into/to sth. • close sth to sth. • come down to sth.
• come round to sth. • come to Rs.5,000, etc. • come to sw. •
come to sb/sth. • come to/into sth. • come to/onto sth. • come
up to sth. • commit sth to sth. • commit yourself to sth. • commit
sb to (doing) sth. • commit sb to sth. • compare sb to/with sb. •
compare sth to/with sth. • complain to sb (about sth). • connect
sb to/with sb/sth. • connect sth to/with sb/sth. • contrast sth
with/to sth. • contribute (sth) to/towards sth. • contribute (sth)
to sth. • contribute to sth. • copy sth to/onto sth. • count to/up
to sth. • count to/up to sth. • credit sth to sb. • dance to sth. •
deliver sth to sb/sth. • deliver sth (up/over) to sb. • deliver sb
Verb -and - preposition c lusters - Part 2 115
provide sth to sb. • put sb up to doing sth. • put sth down to sth.
• put sth to sb. • range from X to Y. • read (sth) to sb. • recall
sb to sth. • recommend sb/sth to sb. • reduce sth (from sth) to
sth. • reduce sth to sth. • refer sb to sb. • refer to sb/sth. • refer
to sb/sth as sth. • relate sth to sth. • relate to sb. • relate to sth.
• remember sb to sb. • reply to sb/to sth. • reply to sb/to sth. •
report back to sb. • report sb/sth to sb. • report to sb. • resign
yourself to sth. • respond to sb (by doing sth). • respond to sb
(with sth). • respond (to sth) with (doing) sth. • respond to sth.
• restore sth to sb. • restore sth to sth. • return sb to sth. • return
sth to sb. • return sth to sw. • return to sw/sth. • reveal sth to sb.
• rise from X to Y. • run to sb for sth. • run sb to/into sw. • say
sth to sb about sth. • see to sth. • seem to sb (to be) sth. • sell out
to sb/sth. • sell sth to sb. • send sth to sb. • send sb to/into sth. •
sentence sb to sth. • set sth for sb to do. • settle down to/for sth.
• show sb to sth (= a room, etc.). • show sth to sb. • show sth to/
towards sb. • show sb/sth to be sth. • signal to sb. • sign sb to/
for sth. • speak to/with sb (about sb/sth). • speed sb across/to/
up sth. • square up to sb/sth. • stand up to sb. • stand up to sth.
• stick to sth. • subject sb to sth. • suggest sth to sb. • supply sth
to sb. • switch from sth to sth. • take to sb/sth. • talk down to sb.
• talk to sb. • teach sth to sb. • tell sth to sb. • think back to sth.
• throw sth to sb. • transfer from sw/sth to sw/sth. • transfer sth
to sth. • transport sb to/from sth. • treat sb to sth. • turn from sth
to sth. • turn into/to sth. • turn to sb for sth. • turn sb on to sth.
• turn sb/sth over to sb. • turn sth over to sth. • turn sth to sth. •
vary from sth to sth. • wake up to sth. • warm to sb/sth. • wave
to sb/at sb. • work up to sth. • work yourself up to doing sth. •
write off to sb/sth. • write to sb. • write sth to sb.
towards
• advance on/towards sb/sth. • contribute (sth) to/towards
sth. • count towards sth. • direct sth at/to/towards sth. • do sth
towards sth. • go towards sth. • guide sth into/towards sth. •
hurry towards sb. • kick sth to/towards sth. • lean towards sth.
Verb -and - preposition c lusters - Part 2 117
under
• bury sth under sth. • collapse under sth. • come under sb/
sth. • come under sth. • complete sth under sth. • drive under sth.
• feel under sth. • go under sth. • hide under sth. • labour under
sth. • lie under sth. • look under sth. • place sth under sth.• put
sth under sth. • roll under sth. • run sth behind/through/under
sth. • slide under sth. • squeeze under sth. • stand under sth. •
work under sb.
up
• back sth up sth. • climb up sth. • disappear up sth. • follow
sb up/down sth. • go up sth. • live (just) up sth. • run up (and
down) sth. • sail up sth. • walk up sth.
upon
• build sth on/upon sth. • come on/upon sb/sth. • comment
on/upon sth. • concentrate on/upon sth. • count on/upon sb/sth.
• decide on/upon sth. • depend on/upon sb/sth. • draw on/upon
sth. • expand on/upon sth. • fix sth on/upon sb/sth. • force sth
on/upon sb. • impose on/upon sb. • impose sth on/upon sb. •
impose yourself on/upon sb/sth. • improve on/upon sth. • insist
on/upon doing sth. • insist on/upon having sth. • lay sth on/
upon sb. • lay sth on/upon sth. • light upon sth. • look on/upon
sb/sth as sth. • place sth on/upon sb. • play on/upon sth. • press
sth on/upon sb. • push sth on/onto/upon sb. • reckon on/upon
sth. • reflect on/over/upon sth. • rely on/upon sb/sth. • report
on/upon sth. • rest on/upon sb/sth. • set sb/sth on/upon sb. •
stake sth on/upon sth. • take sth upon yourself.
with
• agree with sb on/about sth. • agree with sth. • answer
(sth) with sth. • argue with sb about/over sth. • arm sb with sth.
118 Verb -and - preposition c lusters - Part 2
sb. • lie with sb. • link up with sb. • link sth with/to sth. • live
with sth. • make off with sth. • manage with/without sb/sth. •
marry sth to/with sth. • match sth up with sth. • match sth with/
to sth. • meet up with sb. • mix sth with sth. • move in with sb.
• negotiate with sb (for sth). • not hold with sth. • occupy sb/
yourself with sb/sth. • part with sb/sth. • plant sth with sth. •
play along with sb/sth. • play around with sb/sth. • play with sb/
sth. • present sb with sth. • press ahead/on with sth. • provide
sb with sth. • push ahead/on with sth. • put up with sth. • raise
sth with sb. • receive sb with sth. • receive sth with sth. • reckon
with sth. • regard sb/sth with sth. • relax with sth. • replace sb
with sb. • replace sth with sth. • reply with sth. • respond to sb
(with sth). • respond (to sth) with (doing) sth. • rest with sb. •
ring with sth. • row with sb about/over sth. • run away with sb.
• serve sb with sth. • settle (up) with sb. • share sth with sb. •
sign sth with sb. • speak to/with sb (about sb/sth). • speak with
sth ( = American accent, etc.). • spend sth with sb. • split up
with sb. • square up with sb. • square with sth. • start (off) with
sth. • stick with sb/sth. • stuff sth with sth. • supply sb with sth.
• support sth with sth. • surround sb/sth with sth. • surround
yourself with sth. • switch with sb. • tax sb with sth. • threaten
sb with sth. • tie up with sth. • tie with sb in sth. • top sth off with
sth. • top sth with sth. • trade with sb. • treat sb with sth. • treat
sth with sth. • trust sb with sth. • vary with/according to sth. •
visit with sb. • walk away with sth. • walk off with sth. • work
with sb/sth. • work with/in sth.
within
• act within sth. • come within sth. • consume within sth. •
complete sth within sth. • do sth within sth.• happen within sth.
• keep sth within sth. • land within sth. • lie within sth. • live
within sth.
without
• close/shut/open sth without doing sth. • come out without
120 Verb -and - preposition c lusters - Part 2
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121