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58
If there is no auxiliary, use part of the verb 'to do'. For example: What time did he arrive? How often do you play
tennis?
However, when we ask for information, we often say 'Do you know…?' or 'Could you tell me…?' These are indirect
questions and more polite.
Note that the word order is different. For example: Do you know where Johnny is? Have you any idea if he has found it?
Note that we don’t use 'do', 'does' or 'did'. For example: Could you tell me what time he arrived?
Would you mind telling me how often you play tennis?
Use 'if' or 'whether when there is no question word.
Has he done it? = Do you know if he has done it? Is it ready? = Can you tell me if it is ready?
The same changes in word order happen when we report questions. Note that in reported questions, the verb changes
to the past: What are you doing? = He asked me what I was doing. What have you done about it? = He asked me what I
had done about it. Do you work with Pamela? = He asked me if I worked with Pamela.
QUESTION TAGS
We use tags in spoken English but not in formal written English. They are not really questions but are a way of asking
the other person to make a comment and so keep the conversation open.
Making a tag is very mechanical. To make a tag, use the first auxiliary. If there is no auxiliary, use 'do', 'does' or 'did'.
With a positive sentence, make a negative tag and with a negative sentence, make a positive tag.
It's beautiful, isn't it? He has been, hasn't he? You can, can't you? It must be, mustn't it? You know him, don’t you? He
finished it, didn't he? He will come, won't he? It isn't very good, is it? It hasn't rained, has it? It can't be, can it? Jenny
doesn't know James, does she? They didn't leave, did they? He won’t do it, will he? Notice these: There isn't an ATM here,
is there? Let's have a cup of coffee, shall we?
To reply, use the same auxiliary:
It's beautiful, isn't it? ~ Yes, it is. I think it's fabulous. It isn't very good, is it? ~ No, it isn't. In fact, it's terrible.
SUPPOSE 1
We often use 'suppose' to mean 'imagine' or 'guess'.
I suppose you'll be meeting Danielle when you go to Paris? When you weren't there, I supposed you must have been held
up. I suppose you two know each other?
Notice that 'suppose' is not normally used in the continuous form. We do not usually say 'I am supposing'.
Now I suppose we'll have to do something else. We're waiting for John and I suppose he must be stuck in traffic.
At this moment I suppose it doesn't matter.
Notice that for 'imagine not' or 'guess not' that we make 'suppose' negative, not the other verb.
I don't suppose you know where Mary is?
I don't suppose he'll do anything. I don't suppose you have a Nokia phone charger here?
When responding to an idea with 'suppose', you can use 'so' to avoid repeating the idea that has already been
expressed. Is Susan coming to this meeting? ~ I suppose so.
SUPPOSE 2
'Supposed to be' can be used to mean 'it is said/believed'.
The new James Bond movie is supposed to be excellent. He is supposed to have been rude to Mark but I don't believe it.
It is supposed to be the best restaurant in town.
'Supposed to be' can also be used to talk about what is arranged, intended or expected. It is a bit like 'should'.
I'm supposed to get to work by 8. John is supposed to turn off all the lights when he leaves.
I'm supposed to pay my rent on the first of the month. It's not supposed to be here.
Often there is a suggestion that the action 'supposed to' happen does not actually happen.
I'm supposed to be there before 8 but I'm often late. You were supposed to phone me.
I'm supposed to be getting on a plane to Tokyo at this very minute.
'Not supposed to' often suggests that something is not allowed or prohibited.
You're not supposed to smoke in here.
I'm not supposed to tell you.
We're not supposed to use the Internet for personal reasons at work.
'Suppose' can also be used as a conjunction to mean 'what if'. Notice that the verb which follows it is sometimes, but
not always, put 'more in the past'.
Suppose we take the earlier train to Munich? It would give us more time there.
Suppose we took the plane instead? That would give us even more time.
There's nobody in reception to let our visitors in. Suppose I sit there until somebody comes?
I'm going to ask him for a pay increase. ~ Suppose he said 'no'? What would you do?
HAVE SOMETHING DONE
If you 'have something done', you get somebody else to do something for you.
I'm going to have my hair cut. She's having her house redecorated. I'm having a copy of the report sent to you.
In informal English, we can replace 'have' by 'get'.
We're getting a new telephone system installed. They will be getting the system repaired as quickly as they can.
I got the bill sent direct to the company.
John had all his money stolen from his hotel bedroom. We had our car damaged by a falling tree.
