09-Book09+Fluency+in+Asking+Questions Unlocked

1
Kev Nair
Fluency in Asking Questions
Prof. Kev Nair was born in Kerala, South India, in 1949.

He’s an eminent scholar of international repute. He’s a first class
LL.B. and a first class LL.M. And he was ranked first in university
in both the LL. B. and LL. M. exams.
• “Nair was the first person in the world to give shape to the
area of study now known as ‘English fluency development’
and to systematize it into a distinct teachable subject... So he
is better known as the father of fluency development.”
– General Knowledge Today.
• “He had been researching since 1971, and the results... led
him to new discoveries... ”
– THE HINDU.
• “Prof. Kev Nair is regarded the world over as the father
of fluency lexicography... Fluency lexicography came into
existence as a separate branch of dictionary writing with
the publication of Prof. Nair’s Dictionary of Active Fluency
Combinations in 1986.”
– Competition Success Review.
• “A renowned English language lexicographer”
– The New Sunday Express.
• “One of the world’s most respected English language
scholars...Perhaps more innovative in method than Roget and
more modern in approach than Fowler, Prof. Kev Nair is... one
of the foremost Indian scholars who wield great influence
on the thinking of the English-educated people around the
world.”
– General Knowledge Today.
• “A towering English language expert”
– Competition Success Review.
• “Prof. Kev Nair... has... reached out to thousands – judicial
officers, professionals, top executives, scholars – who need
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that comfort and ease in speech with his specialised fluency

techniques.”
– The New Indian Express.
Prof. Nair is a lawyer by profession. He lives with his wife and
children in Kochi, Kerala, an enchanting place on the earth.
3
Fluent English Dictionaries1 by Kev Nair

• A Dictionary of Active Fluency Combinations.
• A Dictionary of Fluency Word Clusters.
• The Complete Fluency Words.
• A Dictionary of Essential Fluency Phrases.
• Core Fluency Thesaurus.
• Comprehensive Adjectival Fluency Dictionary.
• Narrative Fluency Dictionary.
• Thesaurus of Phrasal Verbs.
• Thesaurus of Descriptive English.
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.
fluencybookz.com.
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Books by Kev Nair making up

Fluentzy: The English Fluency Encyclopedia
• B1: Idea units & Fluency.
• B2: Speech Generation & Flow Production.
• B3: Teaching your Tongue & Speech Rhythm.
• B4: Key Speech-initiators & Speech-unit Patterns.
• S1/B13 & S2/B14: Fluency in Functional English (Vols. 1 & 2).
• S3/B15: Fluency in Telephone English & Sectoral English.
• B5: How to Deal with Hesitation.
• B6: Oral Training in Fluency Vocabulary (Vol.1).
• B7: Packing of Information.
• B8: Impromptu Speech-flow Techniques.
• S4/B16: Fluency Building & Mouth Gymnastics.
• S5/B17: Fluency in speaking about people.
• B9: Fluency in Asking Questions.
• B11: Fluency & Moment-to-Moment Speech-production.
• S6/B18 & S8/B20: Fluency in Topicwise English (Vols. 1 & 2).
• S7/B19: Fluency & Pronunciation.
5
B9
Fluency
in Asking
Questions
“(D)eals with a tricky skill.”
– THE HINDU.
Fifth Edition
Prof. Kev Nair
TM
Adult Faculties Council TM

6
For Uma
Fluency in asking questions.

Copyright © Prof. K. E. V. Nair @ KevNair 1982, 1989, 1994, 2000, 2009.
First published 1982.
4th edition 2000 (11 impressions).
5th edition 2009.
Prof. K. E. V. Nair @ KevNair has asserted his right to be identified
as the author of this book in accordance with the Copyright Act, 1957.
All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this book shall be copied or
reproduced or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or
manner whatever, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise, without the prior permission, in writing, of the
publisher, except in the case of brief quotations or as expressly permitted
by law.
All quotations from this book shall credit the author, Prof. KevNair.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade
or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form
of binding or cover other than that in which it is published, and without a
similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on any acquirer
or the subsequent purchaser.
Any violation of these terms and conditions will invite civil and criminal
proceedings and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Published in India by Mrs. Uma V. Nair, Adult Faculties Council,
DP Lane, Elamakkara PO, Kochi-682 026, Kerala.
Printed in India by Ayodhya Printers Ltd., Elamakkara PO,
Kochi-682 026, Kerala.
Adult Faculties Council’s websites:
www.fluentzy.com; www.fluencybookz.com.
Phone: (91)(0484) 2538449, 2408361.
Fax: (91)(0484) 2408361.
E-mail: info@fluentzy.com.
Price: Rs.175.00
7
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 2: Statements into yes-no questions, 18

Five types of statements, 18
Statements containing one or more auxiliaries, 18
Statements not containing any auxiliary, 19
Statements containing be as a main verb, 19
Statements containing do as a main verb, 19
Statements containing have as a main verb, 20
Responses to yes-no questions, 23
Negative yes-no questions, 24
Chapter 3: Everyday yes-no questions for practice, 26

Yes-No Questions, 26
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
Chapter 5: Everyday wh-questions for practice, 39

Alternative questions, 42
Chapter 6: Question-initiator word groups, 44

Declarative questions, 56
Yes-no declarative questions, 56
Wh-declarative questions, 57
Chapter 7: Tag questions, 58

Structure, 58
Three types of tag questions, 59
Opposite-way tag questions, 59
Same-way tag questions, 60
Special cases, 61
Three important points to remember, 65
Chapter 8: Tag questions for practice, 68

Invariant tag questions, 73
Chapter 9: Rhythm drill with questions, 75

Chapter 10: Nominal expressions for advanced
fluency, 83
Chapter 11: Verb-and-preposition clusters - Part 1, 97
Chapter 12: Verb-and-preposition clusters - Part 2, 110
P reface to the 5th edition 9
Preface to the 5th edition
Here’s the latest edition of this book.

I have now added some extremely useful material covering the
topics “Nominal expressions for advanced fluency” and “Verb-
and-preposition clusters”.
Do you have any comments and suggestions? Please do write to
me care of the publishers.
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
How to make questions
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
you aren’t fluent in asking questions in English?

Mind you, most non-native speakers of English are
handicapped in one way: In schools and colleges, they never had
much opportunity of learning to make ‘questions’. They only had
the opportunity of learning to make ‘answers’. And of course,
generally speaking, the answers could not be in the form of
questions. The answers had to be in the form of statements.
Many non-native speakers of English started facing the
problem of having to make questions only when they left school
or college. They came face to face with this problem only when
they found themselves having to SPEAK in English — in real-life
situations.
Difficulty in framing questions

Most educated people are able to produce questions correctly
in writing. True. But when they have to produce questions in
speech, they falter and fail.
Sometimes, they end up asking such un-English questions
as “What you’re doing?” (instead of “What are you doing?”),
“Where you’ve put it?” (instead of “Where have you put it?”),
“Why she’s standing there?” (instead of “Why is she standing
there?”), “When you came?” (instead of “When did you come?”),
“How she is managing?” (instead of “How is she managing?”),
“Whether he is coming?” (instead of “Is he coming?”), “Whether
you will do it?” (instead of “Will you do it?”), “Whether he can
come?” (instead of “Can he come?”) etc.
At other times, they end up muttering nonsense. Or they
become nervous and embarrassed and keep mum — or they fall
back on their mother tongue.
Even very highly-educated people can be heard to make
these sorts of distortions. Yes, they are distortions, because they
do not represent natural or genuine English. This is not the kind
of English that native speakers of English speak. It’s artificial
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.
Chief reason for the difficulty

Here’s the chief reason for the difficulty in asking questions in
the right way:
The way you should arrange your words when you utter a
question — that is different from the way in which you arrange
your words when you utter a statement. That is, when you’re
uttering a simple sentence (a single independent clause) in the
form of a statement, you order your words in one way. But when
you’re uttering a simple sentence (a single independent clause)
in the form of a question, you order your words in another way.
For example, when you say, “John is a good boy”, you’re

uttering a statement, and not a question. (Grammatically
speaking, you’re using a declarative structure here). But when
you arrange the words in a different order and say “Is John a
good boy?”, you’re uttering a question. (Grammatically speaking,
you’re using an interrogative structure here). A basic difference
between a statement (declarative structure) and a question
(interrogative structure) is this: A statement normally starts with
a Subject element and is followed by a verb. But in questions, the
Subject element is pushed into another position. (We’ll soon look
at how this word-order reversal happens).
You see, simple sentences belong to four syntactic classes,
and each has a separate semantic function. Here are the names
of these syntactic classes (with the corresponding semantic class
name given within brackets):
• Declarative form (= Statements). • Interrogative form
(= Questions) • Exclamative form (= Exclamations) •
Imperative form (= Directives).
If you want to speak English fluently, the right order of
words must come easily and naturally — whether you’re uttering
a statement or a question or an exclamation or a directive. The
right word-order must come as second nature to you — almost
without thinking.
So the most important thing you should do now is to get
the patterns of questions in English fixed in your mind and to
get into the habit of uttering questions in those patterns. You
know, any advanced learner of your level can easily achieve these
goals through constant and thorough practice — constant and
thorough practice with a sufficiently large collection of everyday
questions.
And this sort of extensive practice is just what you’re going
to do. And you’re going to get large collections of everyday
questions that are sufficient for your purpose.
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
shall: shall, should.

will: will, would.
Note: The modal auxiliary “ought... to” and the semi-modal auxiliary
“dare” do not normally initiate questions, and so I have not included
them in this list.
Here are some examples of everyday yes-no questions
starting with the various auxiliaries:
• Am I late? • Am I right? • Are you sure? • Are you still
in that dingy little office? • Are you sure of the spelling? •
Are you talking to me? • Are you there, Julia? • Aren’t they
rather expensive? • Aren’t you going to do anything? • Is
there anything I can get you? • Is there anything I can help
you find today? • Is your birthday on the fourth? • Isn’t she
very bright? • Isn’t that special? • Were you talking to me?
• Were you waiting long?
• Do you really think you ought to have another one? • Do
you understand what I am saying? • Do my eyes deceive
me? • Do the eggs or the flour go in first? • Do the others
like it? • Don’t you have anything smaller? • Don’t you like
it? • Does the journey take that long? • Does this (drug)
have any side effects? • Didn’t you have your usual swim?
• Didn’t you hear any strange noises? • Didn’t you say you
couldn’t play? • Didn’t you see Olaf?
• Have you seen a doctor? • Have you seen my gold watch?
• Have you seen my pen? • Haven’t you been introduced?
• Haven’t you brought the car? • Has he left already? • Has
the meeting started?
• Can you see that? • Can you drive? • Can you get me
a good deal on a loan? • Can you get this stain out? •
Can you gift wrap that? • Could you please repeat that? •
Could you please repeat yourself? • Could you please speak
louder? • Could you please speak slower?
• May I see some identification? • May I see the wine
list? • May I see your boarding pass? • May I see your ID

(=identification)?
• Must you leave so soon?
• Shall we go out for a walk, Mummy? • Shall we go
swimming? • Shall we go today? • Shall we have a game of
bridge?
• Will you hold it for me? • Will you join us? • Will you
lend a hand, Tom? • Will you lend me your pen? • Would
you like to schedule your next appointment? • Would you
like to see a menu? • Would you like to sit over here?
***
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:
Five types of statements

1) Statements containing one or more auxiliaries
Take a close look at yes-no questions containing one or more
auxiliaries. You can then find one thing: They can all be made
by reversing the order of the Subject element and the first (or
the only) auxiliary in the Verb element in the corresponding
‘statements’ — and by placing the first auxiliary before the subject.
In other words, all yes-no questions begin with the first (or the
only) auxiliary in the Verb element of a statement.
In modern grammar, the first (or the only) auxiliary in the
Verb element is known as the operator.
Here are a few examples:
• He is leaving tomorrow.  Is he leaving tomorrow? •
You are making things difficult for them.  Are you making
things difficult for them? • He can start his work now. 
Can he start his work now? • You will forget it.  Will
you forget it? • He has been waiting long.  Has he been
waiting long? • He is able to read and write French.  Is
he able to read and write French. • The water could have
boiled by now.  Could the water have boiled by now?
Statements into Yes-N o questions 19
2) Statements NOT containing any auxiliary

In simple tense statements, there are no auxiliaries, and so there
won’t be any item in the verb phrase that can function as the
operator. Now if a statement doesn’t contain an auxiliary, how do
we frame a yes-no question from it? We can do this by supposing
that it contains a dummy operator ‘do’, and by using that dummy
operator to introduce the question.
The following examples would make the technique clear:
• He looks nice.  Does he look nice? • They work here. 
Do they work here? • She cried a lot.  Did she cry a lot? •
He knows the answer?  Does he know the answer? • She
loves cartoons.  Does she love cartoons? • They hate him.
 Do they hate him?
3) Statements containing ‘be’ as a main verb

In many statements, be (= am, is, are, was & were) functions
not as an auxiliary, but as a main (non-auxiliary) verb. But in
these statements also, you can treat be as an auxiliary, and you
can convert these statements also into questions in the same
way — that is, by reversing the order of the Subject and the
(deemed) operator.
E.g. • I am wrong.  Am I wrong? • He is a computer programmer.
 Is he a computer programmer? • She is his sister.  Is she
his sister? • He is very tall .  Is he very tall? • They are very
excited.  Are they very excited? • The hall was quiet.  Was the
hall quiet? • They were afraid.  Were they afraid? • She is in the
kitchen.  Is she in the kitchen? • He is on a diet.  Is he on a
diet?
4) Statements containing ‘do’ as a main verb

In many simple tense statements, do (= does, do & did) functions
not as an auxiliary, but as a main (non-auxiliary) verb.
As these are simple-tense statements, there won’t be any
auxiliary in them, and so there won’t be any item in the verb
20 Statements into Yes-N o questions
phrase that can function as the operator. So these statements

would be covered by the 2nd sub-head above, and you must
treat the main verb do as you would treat any other verb in such
a simple tense statement, and not as an auxiliary. That is, in
order to convert these statements into questions, you’ll have to
introduce another do as a dummy operator.
E.g. • Her father does the accounts for them.  Does her father do
the accounts for them? • They never do anything like this. 
Do they ever do anything like this? • He always does strange
things  Does he always do strange things? • He did some work
yesterday.  Did he do any work yesterday? • He does his job
well.  Does he do his job well?• They do a lot of business with
his company.  Do they do a lot of business with his company?
5) Statements containing ‘have’ as a main verb

Just as do, have (= have, has & had) also often functions as
a main (non-auxiliary) verb, and not as an auxiliary, in many
simple tense statements.
And as these are simple tense statements, there won’t be any
auxiliary in them, and so there won’t be any item in the verb
phrase that can function as the operator in those statements.
So these statements would be covered by the 2nd sub-head
above, and you must treat the main verb have as you would
treat any other verb in such a simple tense statement, and not
as an auxiliary. That is, in order to convert these statements into
questions, you’ll have to introduce the dummy operator do (just
as you do with all other simple tense statements).
Here you should keep one thing in mind: The word have has
a special feature. You see, when it functions as a main verb, it can
function either as an action verb or as a state verb. That is, —
(a) You can use have as a main verb to express an action
— indicating that something is happening or changing.
E.g. eat something, drink something, take a bath/rest, meet with
difficulties, experience problems, enjoy a good holiday, receive
something from somebody, take care of somebody or something in
your house etc.

Or
(b) You can use have as a main verb to express a state
(= temporary or permanent possession and possession-
like meanings, such as, relationships, health & illnesses,
characteristics of people & things etc. — indicating that
something stays the same).
When you’re using have in its dynamic meaning as at (a),
you can use it in the simple tense or in the continuous. But when
you’re using it in its stative meaning as at (b), you can use it only
in the simple tense, and not in the continuous.
Now when you’re using have as a main verb in a simple tense
statement, whether you’re using it in its dynamic meaning or
in its stative meaning, you can take support from the dummy
operator do to convert that statement into a yes-no question.
And when you’re using have as a main verb in its stative
meaning, you have another option, especially when you’re
speaking informally. You see, you can then use have got (= ’ve
got) instead of have alone. And if you’re using have got instead of
have alone, have acts as an auxiliary, and the operator would be
have itself, and not do — and the statement containing have got
would be covered by the 1st sub-head above. This usage is more
common in British English than in US English. (But in formal
British English, the operator can be have as well, but this usage
has become far less common than it used to be). Here are some
examples:
As a state verb: do-forms

• He has a new car.  Does he have a new car? • She
has long hair.  Does she have long hair? • He has a
headache.  Does he have a headache? • They have a lot
of influence.  Do they have a lot of influence? • We have
no option.  Do we have any option? • He had a lot of
work to do.  Did he have a lot of work to do?
• He doesn’t have any change for the phone. (Avoid: He

hasn’t any change for the phone).  Doesn’t he have any
change for the phone? • They don’t have any children.
(Avoid: They haven’t any children).  Don’t they have
any children? • They don’t have any regrets at all. (Avoid:
They haven’t any regrets at all).  Don’t they have any
regrets at all? • They don’t have any time to wait. (Avoid:
They haven’t any time to wait).  Don’t they have any
time to wait? • You didn’t have any idea about it. (Avoid:
You haven’t any idea about it).  Didn’t you have any idea
about it?
As a state verb: ‘have got’ forms

• She’s got a car.  Has she got a car? • She’s got long hair.
 Has she got long hair? • He’s got a terrible headache or
something.  Has he got a terrible headache or something?
• They’ve got a lot of influence.  Have they got a lot
of influence? • We’ve got no option.  Have we got any
option?
• He hasn’t got any change.  Hasn’t he got any change?
• They haven’t got any children.  Haven’t they got any
children? • They haven’t got any regrets at all.  Haven’t
they got any regrets at all? • They haven’t got any time to
wait.  Haven’t they got any time to wait?
Note: You see, have got and haven’t got are quite common in speech. But
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. Make questions with the do-forms instead.
So don’t say: “He’d got a lot of work to do”. Say: “He had a
lot of work to do.” Don’t ask: “Had he got a lot of work to
do?”. Ask: “Did he have a lot of work to do?”. In the same
way, don’t say: “You hadn’t got any idea about it”. Say:
“You didn’t have any idea about it”. And don’t ask: “Hadn’t
you got any idea about it?”. Ask: “Didn’t you have any idea
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.
Responses to yes-no questions

Don’t be under the impression that only ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ can
occur as responses to yes-no questions. And don’t be under the
impression that only ‘Yes’ can express affirmation or that only
‘No’ can express negation. In fact, there are several other terms
also that can express affirmation and negation, and these other
terms can also answer yes-no questions.
Here are some of the other terms that can express affirmation,
and so can answer a yes-no question:
• Can I use your bathroom? ~ All right/OK. • Can I ask
them to come in? ~ By all means. • Can I read your
newspaper? ~ Certainly. • Are you telling the truth? ~
Honest to God (informal). • Is that true? ~ Of course. • Is
it safe? ~ Sure (informal).
And here are some of the other terms that can express
negation, and so can answer a yes-no question:
• Did they blame you? ~ Absolutely not. • Do you expect
them to come to your help? ~ Certainly not. • Can I show
you another model? ~ Forget it. • Is he going to come? ~ I

think not. • Have you ever heard him shouting at anybody?
~ Never. • Do you mind if I have a look? ~ Not at all. •
Can I borrow your car? ~ Nothing doing. • Do you think
they’ll support this proposal? ~ Out of the question. • Is he
going to get married to her? ~ Over my dead body.
Actually, you can also express affirmation and negation even
without using these conventional expressions. Here are some
examples:
• Is this what you’re looking for? ~ Thank you. • Can I
have a look at it? ~ If you like. • Is this as good as his
last book? ~ Better, actually. • Did you enjoy yourself? ~
Tremendously. • Is she as beautiful as her mother? ~ More
beautiful, even. • Was she really so rude? ~ I could hardly
believe it.
Then there are several terms that can express an intermediate
meaning (on a gradient from yes to no), and these terms can also
answer yes-no questions. Here are some of these terms:
• Do you watch TV often? ~ Hardly ever. • Is he happy
there? ~ Maybe. • Is he satisfied with your work? ~ It
appears so. • Did you like it? ~ Not very much. • Do you
eat out often? ~ Occasionally. • Does she love him? ~
Perhaps. • Have the police been watching him all these
days? ~ Probably. • Is he aware of all this? ~ Probably not.
• Is that true? ~ To some extent. • Is she often late? ~ Very
often.
Negative yes-no questions

As you must have noticed by now, yes-no questions can be positive
or negative. You see, you can make a negative yes-no question by
adding an “n’t” after most of the operators in a positive yes-no
question.
But there are 3 auxiliaries that cannot be made negative by
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
Everyday Yes-No Questions

for practice
Here’s a collection of everyday yes-no questions for practice.
Read each question several times — ALOUD. You may feel
that you already know how to frame these questions. And you
could be right, too. But the aim here is not to teach you, but to
teach your organs of speech. Let the framework — the syntactic
structure — of the questions get firmly fixed in your mind. Let
your organs of speech become used to moving according to the
patterns of these questions.
Therefore, even if you think you’re very good at framing
questions of these types, keep uttering the questions ALOUD —
several times. And you’ll soon find that your organs of speech
have begun to get control over the question patterns. Here we go
for the questions:
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
having fun yet? • Are we ready to leave?

• Is there anything I can do (to make it up to you)? •
Is a gratuity included? • Is a meal served? • Is a paper
required for this course? • Is a washer and dryer available?
• Is anyone sitting here? • Is attendance required in this
course? • Is everything all right? • Is everything OK? •
Is he angry with me? • Is he breathing? • Is he getting
fatter? • Is he nuts (= crazy)? • Is he tall and dark? • Is it
a big house? • Is it a fair proposition? • Is it cancer? • Is
it catching? • Is it causal or formal? • Is it close to public
transportation? • Is it closing time already? • Is it curable?
• Is it difficult?
• Was he very late? • Was it a good game? • Was it a good
show? • Was it expensive? • Was it rough crossing them? •
Was it twins or triplets? • Was it well acted? • Was the car
damaged? • Was the play good?
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 to leave us? • D’you have vegetarian dishes? • D’you

have your bank ID card? • D’you have your keys? • D’you
have your receipt? • D’you have your visa? • D’you hear?
• D’you hear me? • D’you hear what I’m saying? • D’you
know any French? • D’you know Abdul Zakir? • D’you
know how much this was? • D’you know how to apply a
tourniquet? • D’you know how to find 501, Winston street?
• D’you know if it’s a boy or a girl? • D’you know the time?
• D’you know what I’m talking about? • D’you know what
size you are? • D’you know what the problem is? • D’you
know what time it is? • D’you know what you want? •
D’you know where 327, Bristow Street is?
• Do you accept cheques? • Do you get the picture? • Do
you accept credit cards? • Do you agree? • Do you bake
birthday cakes to order? • Do you care if I join you? • Do
you carry diet root beer? • Do you carry the Times of India?
• Do you check out video cassettes? • Do you come here
often? • Do you deliver? • Do you do alterations on men’s
clothing? • Do you do alterations on women’s clothing?
• Do I have to change buses? • Do I have to change planes?
• Do I have to change trains? • Do I have to feed them? •
Do I have to stay over Saturday night? • Do I have to stay
overnight?
• Does a bus go there? • Does a train go there? • Does
anyone know CPR? • Does Arthur really need it? • Does
he ever lend a hand? • Does he know? • Does he sleep
through the night yet?
• Doesn’t anyone want to do the crossword? • Don’t I know
you from somewhere? • Don’t you get a bit lonely? • Don’t
you go by underground? • Don’t you have a light in your
garage? • Don’t you have anything better to do?
• Did any of the parents turn up? • Did Bob talk to you ? •
Did everything go OK? • Did I say you could touch that? •
Did Olaf like it? • Did Mary post that letter? • Did someone
mix your plans? • Did the children behave? • Did the

job take long? • Did they have any luck? • Did we forget
anything? • Did you bring me anything? • Did you bring
the map? • Did you buy anything? • Did you call at the
bank? • Did you call him a liar? • Did you call, Frank? •
Did you catch the last train?
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
drink? • Could I come over later today? • Could I get by,

please? • Could I get you something to drink? • Could
I give you a lift? • Could I have a soda? • Could I have
a word with you? • Could I have more coffee, please? •
Could I have seconds, please? • Could I have some more
bread, please? • Could I have some more butter? • Could
I have some more water, please? • Could I have some
quarters, please? • Could I have someone call you? • Could
I have the bill?
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?
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
• Whose is this purse? • Whose is the new bike?

• Why did she refuse the offer? • Why were you so cross
with Sharon? • Why was he so rude to you? • Why would
you ask such a thing?
• How did you do it? • How does it work? • How do you
plan to organize it? • How are you? • How is your mother
now? • How were the children? • How will you pay for
this? • How would you like that?
Conversion of statements into

wh-questions
In general, you can frame a wh-question in 2 ways:
(a) wh-element as the S-element: Simply substitute an
appropriate wh-element for the Subject element. (Here, the
conversion of a statement into a question does not bring about
a change in the word order, and there’s no subject-operator
inversion).
• Someone opened the door.  Who opened the door? •
He can do it.  Who can do it? • That is my bag.  Which
is your bag?
(b) wh-element as the S/O/C-element: Substitute an
appropriate wh-element for one of the other elements (the Object
element, the Describer Complement or the Adverbial). Then
place the wh-element before the Subject element. Then reverse
the subject-operator order and place the operator between the
wh-element and the subject.
wh-element as the Object

• She will get a certificate.  What will she get? • They
want something.  What do they want? • She painted a
picture.  What did she paint?
34 Wh-Questions
wh-element as the Complement

• This purse is Mary’s.  Whose is this purse?
wh-element as the Adverbial

• She saw him yesterday.  When did she see him? • He
has gone home.  Where has he gone? • She refused the
offer for some reason.  Why did she refuse the offer?
If there’s no operator in the corresponding statement, use do
as a dummy operator.
• She told him something.  What did she tell him? •
He knows something.  What does he know? • I like that one
better.  Which do you like better?
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
mother are you? • Whose side are you on?

• Which side of the street? • Which subject do you prefer?
• Which train is she coming on? • Which route did you
travel by? • Which novelist do you like best?
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 me? Why can’t someone else do it?
why + so + adjective:
• Why so serious, Ahmed? • Why so angry, Priya?
Questions with modified wh-word

wh-word + else:
• What else did she say? • Where else can we go? • Who
else was there? • He wants some kind of a favour from you.
Why else would he say all those things? • How else can we
fix this problem?
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.
wh-word modified in other ways:

• What exactly do you mean? • What specifically did he
say? • When precisely did it happen? • Where exactly did
you find it lying? • Who really discovered the problem? •
Wh-Questions 37
How clearly could you hear it?

• About how big was that elephant? • Just what do you
think are they planning to do?
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?
“Why don’t you/Why not” questions

Wh-questions starting with “Why don’t you...?” as well as with
“Why not...?” can be used for invitations, suggestions and
instructions.
E.g. • If you don’t like the way he behaves, why not tell him? • Why
don’t you do some walking/swimming everyday? • Why don’t we
38 Wh-Questions
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?
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
principal and interest payments? • How goes it with you?

• How you doing? • How would I know? • How are you
this morning? • And how about your sister? • And how are
you today? • And how was your Christmas? • And how’s
the skirt? • And what is your name? • How do I get back to
the disc operating system? • Which line goes downtown?
• How about a bite? • How about a cup of coffee? • How
about a game of bridge? • How about a rubber, Tony? •
How about a theatre tonight? • How about asking Ajith? •
How about asking Pedro and Keshav? • How about asking
Priya to join us? • How about asking the Menons? • How
about asking Tim? • How about cleaning up a little around
here? • How about going in the spring? • How about
Jane? • How about me going to fetch them? • How about
phoning them? • How about postponing the game? • How
about Saturday? • How about six o’clock? • How about
some new heels? • How about the jacket? • How about
visiting the museum? • How am I doing? • How are you?
• How are you doing? • How are you doing today? • How
are you feeling? • How are you feeling now?
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:
• A yes-no question type

E.g. Would you like coffee, tea or milk?
• A wh-type yes-no question.

E.g. Which is your favourite season? Spring, summer, autumn or
winter?
The options that the question gives may be in the form of

phrases (including one-word phrases) or in the form of clauses.
Here are a few examples:
(a) Phrases as options

E.g. • Would you like tea or coffee? • Is it a boy or a girl? • Did you
come by bus or train? • Was he sitting or standing? • When did
you come, yesterday or today? • Who gave it to you, Ann or her
father?
(b) Clauses as options

E.g. Did you call him or did you write to him? • Will you bring it with
you or will you send it across through somebody? • Are you in
favour of it or are you against it?
The second alternative (clause) can be the negative of the
first, and then the alternative question can be expressed in one
of the 2 ways:
Are you in favour of it or aren’t you?
Are you in favour of it or not?
This type of yes-no questions sound impatient and has a
petulant tone and are not common.
***
44 Q uestion-initiator word groups
Chapter 6
Question-initiator word groups

You’ll find below a number of question-initiator word groups.
These word groups cover both Yes-No questions and Wh-word
questions.
I’ve called these word groups question-initiators, because
they’re the beginning parts of questions. And they’re ready-to-use
parts too, because each of them is very commonly used by every
fluent speaker to make a large number of everyday questions.
And so they save you from the agony and trouble of having to
think of putting together an acceptable initiator combination
every time you have to utter a question. And soon it becomes
easy and convenient to use them.
Once these initiators start occurring easily and naturally to
you, a major part of your difficulty in (making questions) would
be over. They lead you effortlessly into your thoughts and into
the syntactic framework needed to express those thoughts — and
even into a choice of lexical items needed to fill that framework.
You should practise saying these question word groups in this
way: Say each word group as you’d say a single word, without
any pause in the middle. Say each word group in this way again
and again — as many times as possible. And every time, say each
word group ALOUD. Let your ears hear each word group every
time you utter it. This sort of practice will give plenty of training
to your organs of speech, and they’ll soon stop hesitating to let
you use the word groups in speech.
So, here we go for the question-initiator word groups:
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
sign the…? • Could you spare…? • Could you wait a…? •

Couldn’t he be…? • Couldn’t you leave some for…?
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
anybody in…? • Do you know how far it is to…? • Do you

know if any…? • Do you know that…? • Do you know the
…? • Do you know the way to…? • Do you know what…?
• Do you know where…? • Do you know which is…? •
Do you know why…? • Do you know…? • Do you like…?
• Do you live...? • Do you mind if I…? • Do you mind
working on…? • Do you need …? • Do you object to…? •
Do you often eat...? • Do you often…? • Do you play…? •
Do you prefer…? • Do you really think he used to…? • Do
you remember me asking for…? • Do you require…? • Do
you see any…? • Do you see that…? • Do you see what…?
• Do you suffer from…? • Do you think hard when…? • Do
you think he would come if…? • Do you think he…? • Do
you think I should…? • Do you think it will…? • Do you
think we’ll have to…? • Do you think we should…? • Do
you think you could…? • Do you understand what …? •
Do you want? • Do you want any more…? • Do you want
to see the…? • Do they…? • Does a number of people…?
• Does anyone want tickets for…? • Does he always…? •
Does he drink…? • Does he ever…? • Does he have to…?
• Does he know…? • Does he love...? • Does he play…?
• Does Mario…? • Does it cost very much to…? • Does it
ever…? • Does Raju usually…? • Does she always wear…?
• Does she have to…? • Does your sister like…? • Doesn’t
Mary…? • Doesn’t Mr. Sharma know…? • Don’t you wish
you…?
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...?
• Has somebody mended that…? • Has your dog ever

bitten…? • Has your friend gone…? • Hasn’t he been...?
• Hasn’t she…? • Have I asked you to…? • Have they...?
• Have they been through…? • Have they done their…? •
Have they repaired the…? • Have you and your friends…?
• Have you any idea when…? • Have you any other thing
to…? • Have you any...? • Have you anything else to…?
• Have you been here…? • Have you been to a…? •
Have you been to the…? • Have they been to…? • Have
you decided on…? • Have you done any…? • Have you
done this sort of…? • Have you eaten…? • Have you ever
been to…? • Have you ever driven…? • Have you ever
drunk…? • Have you ever eaten…? • Have you ever seen
a…? • Have you ever seen…? • Have you ever tried to…?
• Have you ever watched…? • Have they ever…? • Have
we ever…? • Have you ever…? • Have you found the…?
• Have you got a ticket for…? • Have you got…? • Have
you had anything to…? • Have you had enough of…? •
Have you had your…? • Have you had…? • Have you
heard what…? • Have you lived here…? • Have you lost
anything…? • Have you made the…? • Have you met
my…? • Have you paid the…? • Have you planted your…?
• Have you put the car in…? • Have you seen a…? • Have
you seen him…? • Have you seen his…? • Have you seen
my…? • Have you seen that...? • Have you sewn on my…?
• Have you spent all your…? • Have you wound the…?
• Have you…? • Have your father and mother been…? •
Haven’t I given you…? • Haven’t you been…? • Haven’t
you got a…? • Haven’t you heard…?
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
did you come to…? • How did you do in the…? • How

did you get into…? • How did you get your…? • How did
you go to…? • How do I get from here to…? • How do
you get on with…? • How do you know that…? • How do
you know…? • How do you like my…? • How do you like
this…? • How does it...? • How far can you …? • How far
is it to…? • How far is…? • How far will...? • How large
is…? • How long ago did…? • How long did you spend…?
• How long does it take to…? • How long have you been
learning…? • How long have they been…? • How long
is…? • How long will you go on…? • How long will your
friends be…? • How many cakes can you get into…? •
How many have I…? • How many letters did you…? •
How many of these are…? • How many of you can…? •
How many of you have…? • How many of you must…?
• How many people know the…? • How many pieces
of…? • How many times have I told you not to…? • How
many…? • How much are you going to give me for…? •
How much are…? • How much did it…? • How much did
these…? • How much did you pay for…? • How much did
he…? • How much did…? • How much do you think…? •
How much does it cost to…? • How much have you…? •
How much must…? • How much will…? • How often are
there…? • How often did he…? • How old are…? • How
old is…? • How soon will…?
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…?
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
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
you…? • What purpose is served by…? • What questions

did…? • What road is…? • What salary do you…? • What
school is…? • What shall I do if…? • What shall I do with
my…? • What shall I do with…? • What shall I tell…? •
What shall we do if…? • What should it…? • What should
they have to…? • What size shoes does he…? • What sort
of…? • What thing did…? • What time did you…? • What
time do you have to…? • What time do you…? • What
time does he…? • What time is …? • What time of year…?
• What train are you…? • What type of work was he…? •
What was he…? • What was she wearing when…? • What
were they...? • What were you doing at the…? • What
were you doing in the…? • What were you doing with…?
• What will it…? • What would happen if…? • What
would you do if…? • What’ll we do if…? • What’s going to
happen to…? • What’s the capital of…? • What’s the name
of…? • In what manner is…? • In what other way can…? •
In what year is…? • At what other place can…? • At what
other time could…?
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
for your…? • Where are the Barkers spending their…?

• Where are we going to keep the…? • Where are you
spending…? • Where are they…? • Where can I park
my…? • Where did I leave my…? • Where did you buy
that…? • Where did you go…? • Where did you spend
your…? • Where do you…? • Where has he put my…?
• Where has she been …? • Where have they been…? •
Where have you put…? • Where shall we all…? • Where
shall we meet…? • Where were you last…? • Where were
you when…? • Where will they…? • Where will you be
at…? • Where will you be…? • Where will you go after…?
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…? •
Who will be…? • Who wrote…? • Who’ll come with me

to…? • Who’ll help…? • Who’s taken my…? • Who’s the
present ruler of…? • Whose car did you…? • Why are we
trying to…?
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
he sing so…? • Why doesn’t he play…? • Why doesn’t he

punish his boys when…? • Why doesn’t he try…? • Why
don’t you ask…? • Why don’t you cut your…? • Why don’t
you go and see…? • Why don’t you go by…? • Why don’t
you have your…? • Why don’t you open…? • Why don’t
you say…? • Why don’t you take it to…? • Why don’t you
take the…? • Why don’t you tie it…? • Why has she not
eaten…? • Why have you brought your…? • Why have you
forgotten to…? • Why have you…? • Why should she…?
• Why wasn’t anyone…? • Why wasn’t the car…? • Why
weren’t you…? • Why weren’t they…?
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
you like to have…? • Would you like to see…? • Would

you like to wait or…? • Would you like to…? • Would you
like…? • Would you mind getting out of…? • Would you
mind if I…? • Would you mind moving your…? • Would
you please fill in this form…? • Would you please wait in
the…? • Wouldn’t you like to…?
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.
Yes-No declarative questions

For all practical purposes, yes-no declarative questions are
statements themselves. Only, you utter them with a rising
intonation and in a way questions are asked, rather than in a way
statements are made. This makes them sound somewhat casual.
Here are some examples:
• He’s come back? • She hasn’t finished the report? •
He’s your new boss? • She isn’t a nurse? • You’ve met my
father? • You’ve never been to his place? • She knew that
before? • So you heard nothing?
As these examples show, declarative yes-no questions can be
positive or negative.
A declarative question can take the form of a statement
followed by a comment clause. (But then the statement part is
not said with a rising intonation, but with a falling intonation,
and the comment clause is said with a rising intonation). Here
are some examples:
• You’re going to accept their offer, I suppose? • This is

your first job, I believe? • You’ll finish it in a day or two, I
hope? • He didn’t criticize your work, of course?
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).
• 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
Positive tags: operator + pronoun

E.g. is he?, does she?, can we?, have they?, would you?
Three types of tag questions

There are 3 types of tag questions: We’ll call two of the types
‘opposite-way’ tag questions, and the third type, ‘same-way’ tag
questions.
The ‘opposite-way’ tag questions are quite common in
speech. The ‘same-way’ tags are less common than the ‘opposite-
way’ tags, but they too occur frequently.
Opposite-way tag questions

If the statement (to which a tag question is tagged on) is positive,
the tag question is usually negative. We’ll call tag questions of
this type ‘negative opposite-way’ tag questions. If the statement
(to which it’s tagged on) is negative, the tag question is always
positive. We’ll call tag questions of this type ‘affirmative opposite-
way’ tag questions.
Here are some more examples:
‘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.
• He’s never been so angry, has he? • They have no
objections, do they? • Nobody showed any interest, did
they?
Same-way tag questions

For all practical purposes, all same-way tags are ‘affirmative
same-way’ ones. Tag questions of this type have the following
structure:
(+ve statement) + (+ve tag).
Tag questions of this type are often used by addressees as
a reaction signal. As reaction signals, addressees use such a tag
question not to ask for information, but to show that they’re paying
attention, and that they’ve just learnt or realized something from
what the speaker has said, and to express interest in it or to show
surprise at it or to show concern — or even to express sarcasm.
And so the statement part in these tag questions typically starts
with ‘So’ or ‘Oh’. Remember this: Tag questions of this type are not
used if the speaker already knows what is said in the statement
part. Here are some examples:
• Oh, you’re busy, are you? • Oh, you’ve just come in,
have you? • Oh, it’s yours, is it? • Oh, it’s only 5, is it? •
Tag questions 61
So, that’s what you’re planning to do, is it? • So you only

think about yourself, do you? • So you’re a very important
person, are you?
Sometimes, they’re used to contradict the speaker in a
sarcastic way:
• So that’s your car, is it? • So you’re a doctor, are you?
They’re also used when the speaker has just this moment
found out something. For example, they’re used to scold someone
when you’ve found out something:
So you’ve broken the pen, have you?
Occasionally, a tag question of this type is used not as a
reaction signal, but as an enquiry, checking whether a guess is
correct. In this use, the statements in these tag questions don’t
start with ‘So’ or ‘Oh’.
• You’re an artist, are you? • She has been promoted, has
she? • He is thinking of resigning, is he?
Special cases
There are a few special cases you must pay close attention to:
‘There’ as the Subject

Sometimes the statement part contains the word ‘There’ as the
Subject element. Then the tag question also uses the word ‘there’
as the item that follows the operator.
E.g. • There’s nothing wrong, is there? • There’s something wrong,
isn’t there? • There were a large number of people at the meeting,
weren’t there? • There was nobody in his house, was there?
Compound pronouns
Sometimes the statement part contains one of the following
compound pronouns as the Subject element:
62 Tag questions
Anybody/Anyone, Everybody/Everyone, Nobody/No one,

Somebody/Someone.
Then the tag question uses they as pronoun that follows the
operator.
E.g. • Anybody can see that, can’t they? • Everyone is in favour of the
new plan, aren’t they? • Nobody objected, did they? • Somebody
asked you about it, didn’t they?
Sometimes the statement part contains the word ‘Nothing’
as the Subject element. Then the tag question uses it as pronoun
that follows the operator.
E.g. • Nothing ever happens in this place, does it? • Nothing came
out of the discussion, did it?
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
time, won’t you? • Have a good trip, won’t you?

In negative directives used as warnings, reminders and good
wishes, you should use will you? as the tag question.
E.g. Don’t touch the wires, will you? • Don’t move, will you? •
Don’t forget about booking the ticket, will you? • Don’t forget to
write to him, will you? • Don’t forget to give my regards to your
parents, will you?
You can use one of the affirmative tags will you?, would you?,
can you? or could you? after other types of positive directives.
E.g. • Try again, will you? • Switch the light off, would you? •
Tighten that screw a little more, can you? • Ask him to come in,
could you?
But after a negative directive, you should only use will you?
(and not any of the other tags).
E.g. Don’t leave it there, will you?
If you want to add greater feeling to an affirmative directive,
you can use one of the two negative tags won’t you? or can’t
you?
E.g. • Give me a hand, won’t you? • Keep quiet, can’t you?
Can’t you? (after a directive) often expresses annoyance.
Tags with “Let’s...”

After a directive starting with “Let’s...”, use shall we? as the
tag question. Directive starting with “Let’s...” are used to make
suggestions.
E.g. Let’s go home, shall we?
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
1) When have occurs as an auxiliary, it functions like any

other auxiliary, and the tag question contains have itself
as the operator.
E.g. • He has already completed the report, hasn’t he? • They have
been here since 1970, haven’t they? • She hasn’t left, has she?
2) When have occurs as a non-auxiliary action verb, it
functions like any other verb (come, go, say, take etc.)
— and then it can even occur in the continuous. Here, if
the statement part contains an auxiliary, the tag question
repeats it (irrespective of what auxiliary it is). And if
the statement part doesn’t contain an auxiliary, the tag
question uses the dummy operator do.
E.g. • He has lunch at 12 noon every day, doesn’t he? • They have
tea together in the evening on most days, don’t they? • He had an
operation last week, didn’t he? • She didn’t have breakfast today,
did she? • You were having dinner then, weren’t you? • She was
having a swim in the sea then, wasn’t she? • We must have a talk
with him, mustn’t we?
3) When have occurs as a non-auxiliary state verb (=
possession and possession-like meanings), it can occur
in the simple tense, but never in the continuous. And in
a simple tense statement, the statement part wouldn’t
contain an auxiliary that can function as the operator.
And so the tag question uses the dummy word do, and
not have, as the operator. This is the standard usage in
US English, and this has now become the common usage
in British English. Alternatively, in informal speech, you
can use have got (= ’ve got) instead of have alone. This
usage is more common in British English than in US
English. Remember that if you use have got instead of
have alone, have acts as an auxiliary and the operator in
the question tag would be have itself, and not do. (But in
formal British English, the operator can be have as well,
but this usage has become far less frequent than it used
to be).
Tag questions 65
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.
Three important points to remember

Here are 3 important points you should remember:
Shorten “not” to “n’t”

In normal speech and writing, the word ‘not’ is not used in tag
questions, except in one case. This exception is ‘am I not’. In all
66 Tag questions
other cases, the shortened form of ‘not’ is used, along with a

pronoun. For example, native speakers of English wouldn’t ask
“do not I?” or “do I not?” — they would only ask: “don’t I?”. In
the same way, they wouldn’t ask: “will not you?” or “will you
not?” — they would only ask: “won’t you?”.
The word not occurs in the full form only in very formal
written English and in old-fashioned English. In those types of
English, not occurs after the pronoun: do I not?, will you not?, is
he not? etc.
Of course, “am I not?” is an exception. It occurs occasionally
in native English speech as the negative tag question following
a positive statement beginning ‘I am...’. But the most frequently
used tag question after a positive statement beginning ‘I am...’ is
“aren’t I?”. It’s NOT: “amn’t I?”. NEVER say: “amn’t I?”. NEVER. Say
“aren’t I?”. Here are a few examples of the negative tag question
containing am:
• I’m late, aren’t I? • I’m too lazy, aren’t I? • I’m your
friend, aren’t I?
Get out of the “isn’t it?/is it? trap”

English is different from most non-English languages in the way
tag questions are made. Of course, in non-English languages also,
there are ‘tag-questions’. But in many non-English languages,
there are only two tag questions. They are “isn’t it”? and “is it?”.
Indian-language-speakers use the words “isn’t it?” or “is it?”
everywhere. This is a common feature of the languages in India
(and of several other non-English Languages). So, do you know
what happens? Most non-native speakers of English wrongly
think that, in English also, there are only two tag questions.
And they use “isn’t it?” and “is it?” everywhere when they speak
English — even where the tag question should not be “isn’t it?”
or “is it?”.
For example, you can hear people asking like this. “You are
playing, isn’t it?” or “Rahman has been playing all this time, isn’t
Tag questions 67
it?”. Be careful about this mistake. Don’t make this kind of a

mistake. In English, there are several kinds of tag questions —
and we have seen them. The operator in a tag question in English
varies with that in the statement part. So you should only ask in
this way: “You are playing, aren’t you?” or “Rahman has been
playing all this time, hasn’t he?”.
Use “isn’t it?” as a tag question only when the statement part
has is as the operator, and in no other situation. And use “is it?”
as a tag question only when the statement part has isn’t as the
operator, and in no other situation.
Don’t use ‘yes?’/‘no?’ as tag questions

There’s a kind of non-standard usage you should avoid. This is
the use of yes?/no? as tag questions. Here are some examples:
• Your ankle is broken, yes? • She was crying, no?
Avoid using yes?/no? as tag questions at all costs. Use an
appropriate opposite-way tag instead, as follows:
• Your ankle is broken, isn’t it? • She was crying, wasn’t
she?
In informal US English, speakers often use right? and OK?
as tag questions, in order to indicate that they expect agreement.
• They live near the station, right? • You had your car
serviced, right? • We’re leaving tomorrow, OK? • We can go
right or left, OK?
But in general, even these two tags are considered non-
standard. So it’s better to avoid them, too. Use an appropriate
opposite-way tag instead.
***
68 Tag questions for practice
Chapter 8
Tag questions for practice

Here’s a collection of questions with question tags attached to
them.
Read each question ALOUD several times — and get the feel
of the tags. The questions would sound easy to you. But just
because they are easy, don’t slacken your practice. The aim is
NOT to teach you the questions themselves. The aim is to let you
get the feel of the tags and their patterns, and to push you into
the habit of using tag questions in everyday speech. So go over
the questions as many times as possible. Here we go:
• Buses are not running today + are they? • They’re not
the same + are they? • You’re not buying that one + are
you? • You’re not eating that + are you? • You’re not really
leaving + are you? • You’re not very good at it + are you?
• I am the next +aren’t I? • I’m controlling it + aren’t I? •
Everyone is well at home + aren’t they? • These shoes are
my size + aren’t they? • The grapes are fine and ripe +
aren’t they? • Blue and green are primary colours + aren’t
they? • Only a few are going + aren’t they? • They are +
aren’t they? • They are beautiful places + aren’t they? •
You are going to play tennis + aren’t you? • You are uneasy
about the quarrel + aren’t you? • You’re due in at ten +
aren’t you? • You’re from Tokyo+ aren’t you?
• I can put trust in him + can’t I? • I can do it any way I
want + can’t I? • I can ring you back a little later + can’t
I? • They can catch the train, if they go fast + can’t they?
• You can wait a little longer + can’t you? • You can play
+ can’t you Nadia? • You can come on Friday + can’t you?
• You can manage Fridays + can’t you? • You can play
on Saturday + can’t you? • She couldn’t manage with
Tag questions for practice 69
what she had + could she? • You could see it at a glance

+ couldn’t you? • You could run faster if you wanted +
couldn’t you?
• John didn’t have any breakfast this morning + did he?
• He didn’t get many right + did he? • She didn’t help
you with your work + did she? • They didn’t answer your
questions + did they? • You didn’t know I was an artist +
did you? • You didn’t know that + did you? • He sat down
opposite you + didn’t he? • He wanted to throw a scare
into me + didn’t he? • He wanted to clear up this matter +
didn’t he? • He did his best to ruin your life + didn’t he? •
He took his friend home yesterday + didn’t he? • He came
back just a short time ago + didn’t he? • He gave it to you
+ didn’t he? • He played for Korea + didn’t he? • The
fire broke out late at night + didn’t it? • Her car knocked
a man down + didn’t it? • The fish tasted bad + didn’t
it? • The train left the station early + didn’t it? • The box
fell heavily + didn’t it? • The story amused everybody +
didn’t it? • It became stronger + didn’t it? • She left the
light on in her room + didn’t she? • She fell off the bicycle
+ didn’t she? • She waved to you from the bus + didn’t
she? • She overslept a little this morning + didn’t she? •
All these things happened long ago + didn’t they? • This
time everybody clapped harder than before + didn’t they?
• They went to the football match yesterday + didn’t they?
• You got to the college late+ didn’t you? • You went there
on foot + didn’t you? • You lay awake all night + didn’t
you? • You dropped the pen on the floor + didn’t you? •
You pulled him by the collar + didn’t you? • You felt dizzy
after the accident + didn’t you? • You broke the window
+ didn’t you? • I don’t need a jacket + do I? • I have no
choice in the matter + do I? • Nobody cares for the law
nowadays + do they? • Her gray hairs don’t show too
much + do they? • You don’t eat much meat at home + do
you? • You don’t suppose it matters + do you? • You don’t
care for it much + do you? • You don’t mind + do you? •

He doesn’t wear glasses + does he? • He doesn’t take sugar
in tea + does he? • He doesn’t speak French + does he? •
He doesn’t want it + does he? • That clown has no sense +
does he? • This shirt doesn’t look well on me + does it? •
The car doesn’t start + does it? • It doesn’t work + does it?
• That hardly counts + does it? • She doesn’t interest you
in the slightest + does she? • He needs a haircut + doesn’t
he? • He sleeps too little + doesn’t he? • This jacket goes
well with this skirt + doesn’t it? • That shirt looks really
stunning on him + doesn’t it? • This fan looks all right +
doesn’t it? • This one seems to be just as good as the other
one + doesn’t it? • This shirt fits you better + doesn’t it?
• It looks like rain today + doesn’t it? • The school starts
next week + doesn’t it? • She knows how to drive a car +
doesn’t she? • She looks very tired + doesn’t she? • She
usually has curd for lunch + doesn’t she? • Everybody
wants to make money + don’t they? • Oranges cost less
than apples + don’t they? • They live near the college +
don’t they? • We have to get a chair made + don’t we? •
You want to change this hundred-rupee note + don’t you?
• You know how to ride a bicycle + don’t you? • You know
how to ride a scooter + don’t you? • You often wonder if I
am happy + don’t you? • You doubt if I can do the job well
+ don’t you? • You like your pants a little loose + don’t
you? • You do believe me + don’t you? • You do know
the way + don’t you? • You do still need it + don’t you? •
You like Nadia + don’t you ? • You like staying with your
cousins + don’t you? • You like Natasha a lot + don’t you?
• You had on a white shirt and blue pants + didn’t you? •
You had to work long hours everyday + didn’t you?
• He has gone off to some place far away + hasn’t he? •
Your son has grown up + hasn’t he? • He has taken off his
shoes + hasn’t he? • He has done very well in the test +
hasn’t he? • The postman has delivered mail + hasn’t he? •
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
unlucky + isn’t she? • She is the image of her mother +

isn’t she? • Mum is preparing the food + isn’t she? • She is
afraid of the dark + isn’t she? • She’s a pleasant girl + isn’t
she? • There is a shorter way here + isn’t there? • There
is plenty of time + isn’t there? • There’s a great deal of
difference + isn’t there?
• We mustn’t hurt others + must we? • Children must
do as they are told + mustn’t they? • We must water the
plants well + mustn’t we? • We must go now + mustn’t
we?
• Let’s go out to dinner + shall we? • Let’s give them a
treat + shall we?
• I should think carefully before I act + shouldn’t I? • I
should take the train from the junction + shouldn’t I? • She
should have told us before + shouldn’t she? • He was not
used to washing his own clothes + was he? • He was not
used to getting up early + was he? • There wasn’t enough
food left for you + was there? • He was working all night
+ wasn’t he? • He was sitting in his room all by himself +
wasn’t he? • He was too scared to look at you + wasn’t he?
• The story he told was a strange one + wasn’t it? • The
wind was blowing hard + wasn’t it? • It was rather odd +
wasn’t it? • Lovely evening + wasn’t it? • The party was
fun + wasn’t it? • She was working far into the night +
wasn’t she? • There was quite a crowd at the gate + wasn’t
there? • There was quite a crowd at the stadium + wasn’t
there? • It was my mistake + wasn’t it? • You weren’t there
+ were you? • They were surprised when they saw you +
weren’t they? • You were holding the things tight + weren’t
you? • A good deal of the time you were alone + weren’t
you?
• There won’t be any discounts + will there? • They won’t
treat this complaint lightly + will they? • Call your dog +
will you? • Help me put it right + will you? • Lend me fifty
rupees + will you? • Lend me your pen + will you? • You

won’t give me away + will you? • You won’t tell a soul +
will you, Nadia? • You won’t tell anyone + will you? • You
won’t tell him + will you? • You won’t tell anyone else all
this + will you? • He will be free in a minute + won’t he?
• He will tell you the result + won’t he? • Jim’ll help +
won’t he ? • It’ll hurt + won’t it? • There will be a flower-
show here next week + won’t there? • Your friends will be
coming to the station + won’t they? • You will get back a
little after five + won’t you? • Wait for me + won’t you?
• You will come next week + won’t you? • You will come
with me + won’t you? • You will come + won’t you? • You
will go + won’t you? • You will meet me + won’t you? •
You will play + won’t you? • You will stay a bit longer +
won’t you? • You will stay + won’t you? • You’ll be going
there soon + won’t you? • You will stay in touch + won’t
you? • Cousin would stay here a month + wouldn’t he? •
He would be at home + wouldn’t he? • You’d love to live in
a fine new house + wouldn’t you?
Invariant tag questions

There are some tag questions that do not have the normal tag
question structure “operator + n’t + pronoun” or “operator +
pronoun”. Here are the common ones among these exceptional
types of tag questions:
am I right?, can’t you see?, do you agree?, don’t you agree?,
don’t you know?, do you remember?, (did) you say?, do
you suppose?, do you think?, don’t you think?, isn’t that
so?, right? (informal), wouldn’t you say?
These tag questions are called invariant tag questions,
because their form does not vary whether the statement (to
which they’re appended) is positive or negative. Here are some
examples showing these invariant tag questions in use:
• They really insulted you, am I right? • They’re only
interested in themselves, can’t you see? • They don’t get

the help they need from the government, do you agree? •
This is too good an opportunity to miss, don’t you agree?
• Schemes like these are not going to succeed, don’t you
know? • You once offered to contribute to this charity, do
you remember? • He doesn’t show much gratitude, did you
say? • This dress looks nice, do you think? • She has the
prettiest dress, don’t you think? • He’s being promoted,
isn’t that so? • It was all rather amusing, wouldn’t you say?
Here’s an important point you should note: You can attach
invariant tag questions not only to statements, but also to
exclamations.
• What a brilliant idea, don’t you think? • How wonderful,
don’t you agree? • Isn’t that splendid, wouldn’t you say?
And here’s another important point: Positive invariant tag
questions do you suppose? and do you think? can occur even at
the ends of interrogative structures.
• Is he trying to fool us, do you suppose? • When are they
going to call off the strike, do you think?
The interrogative sounds ‘eh?’ and ‘huh?’ are also invariant
tag questions, but they’re considered rude, and so you should
avoid them.
***
Rhy thm Dril l with Questions 75
Chapter 9
Rhythm Drill with Questions

Here’s a collection of everyday yes-no questions and everyday
wh-questions. These questions are for you to do the rhythm drill
with. Yes, the rhythm drill.
Do the rhythm drill exactly as you’ve done it before.
The drill you’re going to do now is very important. For one
thing, it would give you excellent practice in asking everyday
questions with the characteristic English rhythm. For another,
it would help you try and master the patterns of everyday
questions from an interesting angle. So take up this drill with all
seriousness.
Here we go:
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
|natives |friendly? • |Were there any |problems?
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?
• |Did you |lock the |back |door? • |Did you |make a

reser|vation?
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?
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?
• |Will this |make me |drowsy? • |Will you |ask him? •

|Will you be |able to |fetch them? • |Will you be |calling
a|gain? • |Will you be |coming a|round this |evening? •
|Will you be |having |lunch to|day? • |Will you be |long,
|dear? • |Will you be |ready by |six? • |Will you be |using
a |credit |card? • |Will you both |see him to|morrow? •
|Will you |call at the |chemist’s for me?
• |Won’t your wife be |rather |cross?
• |Would you |like a |smoking or a non|smoking |room? •
|Would you |like a |taste? • |Would you |like an |orange?
• |Would you |like |anything |else? • |Would you |like
|anything with your |bread and |butter? • |Would you
|like |coffee? • |Would you |like |fries with |that? •
|Would you |like |smoking or non|smoking? • |Would you
|like me to |bring |anything?
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
|watch? • |What do you |want us to |know for the |test?

• |What does this |word |mean? • |What does a |robot
|look like? • |What does he |do for a |living? • |What
does it |cost? • |What does that |come with?
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
|broke my |pipe? • |Which one can I |have? • |Which one

can I |take? • |Which one shall I |buy?
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
|there from |here? • |How do you |like |school? • |How

do you |spell |that? • |How do you |want to |pay for
|this? • |How does that |look? • |How does your |wife
|find it? • |How |dumb do you |think I |am? • |How
|early did you |get there? • |How |far are we from the
|centre of |town? • |How |far a |way is it? • |How |far
do you de|liver? • |How |far does this |bus |go? • |How
|far from the |bus station is your |house? • |How |far is
it to |Delhi? • |How |far |out can we |swim? • |How |far
to |Pune? • |How |long can you |wait? • |How |long
d’you |want me to |stay? • |How |long do you |plan on
|staying? • |How |long does the |show |run? • |How
|long have you |had this |problem? • |How |long is |this
on |sale? • |How |long were you |out of the |country? •
|How |long will it |be? • |How |long will it |take to |get
to |London? • |How |long will it |take to |get to |town?
• |How |long will it |take (to |get there)? • |How |long
will you be |here? • |How |long will you be |staying?
• |How |long will you be |with us? • |How |goes it? •
|How have you |been? • |How is |everything? • |How is
my |daughter |doing in |class? • |How is that |spelled? •
|How |large a down |payment is re|quired? • |How |late
are you |open (to|day)? • |How |late will you be |out?
• |How |long can I |have it |for? • |How |long can you
|stay?
***
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
Go through each of the categories of word groups given

below. Pick up each word group. Say it ALOUD several times.
Complete going through all the word groups in this way. Get your
organs of speech to become familiar with them all. Here we go:
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
in interest rates; a drop in consumption; a drop in income; a

drop in inflation; a drop in numbers; a drop in output; a drop in
popularity; a drop in population; a drop in price; a drop in profit;
a drop in the success rate; a drop in salary; a drop in sales; a drop
in temperature; a drop in the standard (of sth); a drop in tourism;
a drop in unemployment; a drop in value; a fall in exports; a fall
in imports; a fall in inflation; a fall in output; a fall in price; a
fall in production; a fall in profitability; a fall in profits; a fall in
crime rate; a fall in sales; a fall in supply; a fall in temperature;
a fall in the standard (of sth); a fall in the standard of living;
a fall in turnout; a fall in turnover; a fall in unemployment;
a fall in value; a fall in wages; a flaw in character; a flaw in
nature; a flaw in system; a flaw in the argument; a flaw in your
reasoning; a frown in your eyes; a gain in productivity; a gap in
conversation; a gap in the floorboards; a gap in the market; a
gap in your knowledge; a glance in sb/sth’s direction; a gleam in
sb’s eye(s); a glint in sb’s eye; a growth in earnings; a growth in
numbers; a growth in output; a growth in productivity; a growth
in sales; a growth in wages; a growth in/of the economy; a jump
in price; a jump in sales; a keen interest in sth; a kick in the
face; a kick in the jaw/teeth; a knife in sb’s heart; a landmark in
the history of sth; a lapse in concentration; a lead in the polls;
a legend in your own lifetime; a link in the chain; a look in sb’s
eyes; a loophole in a law; a loophole in an Act; a loophole in
legislation; a loophole in rules; a lull in the conversation; a lull
in the fighting; a lump in your throat; a majority in Parliament; a
man in your life; a marked change in sb/sth; a marked difference
in sb/sth; a marked improvement in sb/sth; a marked increase in
sth; a mission in life; a move in the right direction; a niche in the
market; a nod in sb/sth’s directions.
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
place in history; a point in time; a reduction in cost; a reduction

in expenditure; a reduction in fares; a reduction in manpower;
a reduction in numbers; a reduction in price; a reduction in
productivity; a reduction in rate; a reduction in real terms;
a reduction in risk; a reduction in spending; a reduction in
subsidies; a reduction in tariff(s); a reduction in the amount of
sth; a reduction in the number of sth; a reduction in the size of
sth; a reduction in the standard of living; a reduction in value; a
rift in a party; a rise in consumption; a rise in demand; a rise in
expenditure; a rise in exports; a rise in fares; a rise in imports; a
rise in income; a rise in inflation; a rise in mortgage rates; a rise
in numbers; a rise in output; a rise in popularity; a rise in price;
a rise in production; a rise in profits; a rise in salary; a rise in
sales; a rise in spending; a rise in stature; a rise in temperature;
a rise in the standard (of sth); a rise in the standard of living; a
rise in tourism; a rise in turnover; a rise in unemployment; a rise
in value; a rise in wages; a role in shaping sth.
a seat in Parliament; a shift in attitude; a shift in policy; a shift
in public opinion; a shift in sb’s thinking; a shortfall in supply; a
slap in the face; a slump in production; a slump in sales; a slump
in the economy; a slump in trade; a sneer in your voice; a soul in
torment; a sparkle in your eyes; a specialist in the field; a spring
in your step; a stage in the development of sth; a stage in the
process; a stage in/of (your) life; a star in the making; a stay
in hospital; a steep decline in sth; a step in the (right/wrong)
direction; a stranger in these parts; a strike in protest at sth; a
surge in crime; a surge in popularity; a surge in rate; a surge in
sales; a switch in a policy; a turning-point in history; a turning-
point in life; a turning-point in sb’s illness; a twinkle in sb’s eye;
a twist in the plot; a variation in temperature; a woman in your
life; a word in sb’s ear; advances in technology; an argument in
sb/sth’s favour; an entry in a diary; an entry in a notebook; an
entry in a register; an entry in an encyclopedia; an expert in the
field of sth; an improvement in productivity; an improvement in
relations; an increase in the annual dividend; an increase in cost;
an increase in crime; an increase in expenditure; an increase in

exports; an increase in fares; an increase in funding; an increase
in inflation; an increase in mortality; an increase in numbers;
an increase in output; an increase in popularity; an increase in
population; an increase in price; an increase in production; an
increase in productivity; an increase in profitability; an increase
in profits; an increase in risk; an increase in salary; an increase in
sales; an increase in spending; an increase in supply; an increase
in temperature; an increase in the incidence of sth; an increase
in the standard (of sth); an increase in tourism; an increase in
trade; an increase in turnout; an increase in turnover; an increase
in unemployment; an increase in value; an increase in wages.
an obstacle in the path/way (of sb/sth); an upsurge in crime;
an upsurge in demand; an upsurge in popularity; an upsurge
in violence; an upturn in demand; an upturn in economy; an
upturn in sales; big name in advertising/films etc.; boom in
demand; boom in popularity; boom in price; boom in sales;
breakthrough in negotiations; butterflies in your stomach; cash
in advance; cash in hand; changes in fashion; compensation
in money; confirmation in writing; cuts in spending; defects
in nature; defects in the system; difference in age; drop in the
unemployment figures; everything in sb/sth’s path; evidence in
favour of sth; evidence in support of sth; faith in God; first thing
in the morning; improvement in condition; improvement in
health; improvement in the standard of living; lapse in security;
obstacles in sb/sth’s path; our man in Delhi etc.; payment in
advance; payment in cash; payment in kind; provision in a lease;
recognition in sb’s eyes; researchers in the field; shortcomings
in/of the system; sticking-point in negotiations; surprises in
store; taste in music; tears in your eyes; temperatures in the
30s etc.; tenderness in sb’s eyes; tenderness in sb’s voice; sb’s
term in office; the beast in sb; the easiest thing in the world; the
expression in sb’s eyes; the first in a series; the first in line; the
growth in/of tourism; the last in a series; the matter in hand;
the odds are in favour of sb/sth; the odds are in sb’s favour; the
person in charge; the rise in nationalism; the second in a series;

the street in the left/right; the task in hand; your place/rank in
society; your purpose in life.
on-nominals
Here’s a collection of nominal expressions in which the word on
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
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
to sb/sth’s integrity; a threat to sb/sth’s supremacy; a threat

to the survival of sth; a train to catch; a turn to the left/right;
access to a community; access to data; access to funds; access
to information; access to resources; access to schooling; access
to the media; access to the records; access to your savings; all
approaches to the prison; an ability to respond (to sth); an action
to combat sth; an action to prevent sth; an aid to navigation; an
amendment to a constitution; an appeal to reason; an innovative
approach to teaching.
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
to secure sth; an effort to strengthen sth; an end to the strife;

an end to violence; an exception to the norm/rule; an heir to an
estate; an incentive to improve sth; an insult to sb’s intelligence;
an invitation to join sb/sth; an obligation to obey; an obstacle to
peace; an opportunity to discover sth; an opportunity to discuss
sth; an opportunity to express sth; an opportunity to observe sb/
sth; an opportunity to regain sth; an opportunity to renew sth;
attempts to reform sth; attention to detail; conspiracy to commit
(a crime); conspiracy to murder sb; conspiracy to overthrow (a
government etc.); contrary to (all/sb’s) expectations; contrary
to popular belief; contrary to popular myth; dedication to duty;
delegates to a convention; determination to succeed/win;
devotion to a cause; devotion to duty; efforts to combat sth;
efforts to ensure sth; efforts to promote sth; efforts to reform
sth; everything from sth to sth; failure to observe sth; failure to
perform sth; failure to recognize sth; failure to respect sth; failure
to thrive; freedom to travel; leave to appeal; little regard to sb/
sth; measures to combat sth; measures to curb sth; measures to
ensure sth; measures to prevent sth; measures to promote sth;
measures to protect sb/sth; measures to reduce sth; measures to
restore sth; measures to restrict sth; measures to strengthen sth;
notice to quit; an important point to note; policies to combat sth;
proposals to reform sth; resistance to a disease; resistance to an
infection; room to manoeuvre; sources/a source close to sb.
the ability to adapt (to sth); the ability to manipulate sb/sth;
the ability to pay; the ability to pursue sth; the ability to relate
to sb/sth; the answer to (all) sb’s prayers; the approach to a
problem; the closest (thing) to sth; the days to come; the duty to
maintain sth; the entrance to a cave; the entrance to a harbour;
the first to arrive; the freedom to pursue sth; the freedom to
roam; the heir to the throne; the heir to a legacy; the heir to
the crown; the heir/heiress to a fortune; the key to a puzzle;
the key to success; the last to arrive; the need to maintain sth;
the power to nominate sb; the power to suspend sth; the power
to transform sb/sth; the power to veto sth; the right to life; the
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
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
for help; a request for information; a reward for your efforts; a

safe bet for long-term growth; a scramble for power; a search
for identity; a search for knowledge; a search for perfection; a
sneaking admiration/respect for sb; a struggle for liberation;
a struggle for supremacy; a struggle for survival; a subject for
discussion; a target for abuse; a target for repression; a target
for ridicule; a thirst for knowledge; a thirst for power; a thirst
for vengeance; a timetable for reform; a topic for discussion; a
treatment for burns/asthma etc.; a treatment for depression etc.;
a vision for the future; a voracious appetite for sth; a warrant for
sb’s arrest; a witness for the defence/prosecution; a zest for life;
a zest for winning; an action for damages; an agent for change;
an appeal for calm/restraint; an appeal for help; an appeal for
unity; an application for (political) asylum; an application for
bail; an application for registration; an area for improvement; an
eye for detail; an ingredient for success; an occasion for rejoicing;
an outlet for your energy.
body blow to/for the ruling party; complete disregard for sth;
concern for the individual; counsel for the defence/prosecution;
food for thought; ground(s) for expulsion; grounds for complaint;
grounds for concern; grounds for disagreement; grounds for
dismissal; grounds for divorce; grounds for optimism; grounds
for satisfaction; grounds for settlement; grounds for suspicion;
little regard for sb/sth; nostalgia for the past; potential for
dispute; potential for expansion; preparation for parenthood;
reckless disregard for sth; respect for law; respect for the
individual; respect for the rules; respect for tradition; responsible
for the upkeep of a building etc.; room for disagreement; room
for expansion; room for improvement; room for manoeuvre;
room for misunderstanding; room for negotiation; room for
optimism; scope for creativity; scope for disagreement; scope for
dispute; scope for expansion; scope for improvement; scope for
innovation; scope for misunderstanding; security for a loan; space
for expansion; springboard for a career; support for a policy; the
(last) date for receipt of sth; the case for the prosecution/the
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
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
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
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
The point is this: The kind of knowledge and practice that

help you with your exams or with writing done at your leisure
won’t help you much with achieving fluency in speech.
What you need is the mastery of a skill : The skill of being
able to produce the verb+preposition combinations you need
easily and naturally as you speak. So here’s what you must
understand: This skill comes only from the experience of using
the verb+preposition combinations as single units. And here’s
the most important kind of practice that begins to give you this
experience: Do with the essential verb+preposition combinations
the same kind of oral practice as you’ve been doing with other
word combinations. When you have done this kind of oral practice
many times, the essential verb+preposition combinations you
need begin to occur to you as single units easily and naturally.
And remember this: This kind of experience alone will make
your organs of speech produce the verb+preposition combinations
without hesitation.
Here’s a list of prepositions that normally follow frequently-
used verbs:
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, like, of, off, on, onto, out of, over, round, through, to,
towards, under, up, upon, with, within, without.
To speak English fluently, you must have a good mastery of the
combinations of frequently-needed verbs and these prepositions.
This chapter and the next will give you comprehensive preposition-
wise lists of these verb+preposition combinations.
This chapter covers these prepositions:
ahead of, among, apart from, around/round, as, at, before,
behind, beside, between, beyond, by, down, in favour of, for,
from, in, into.
Verb -and -preposition clusters- Part 1 99
And the next chapter will cover these prepositions:

like, of, off, on, onto, out of, over, round/around, through, to,
towards, under, up, upon, with, within, without.
Now go through the lists of verb+preposition combinations
given below. Pick up each word combination and say it ALOUD
several times. Saying these word combinations as single units
becomes second nature to you after a while.
Here’s something you should note before you start your
practice: The word combinations given below contain the
abbreviations sb, sth and sw. Here are the words they stand for:
sb stands for somebody (usually, an individual, and sometimes,
a group or several people); sth stands for something (usually, a
single thing – an object, action, activity, event, situation, fact,
etc. – and sometimes, a group of things or people, like an
organization); sw stands for somewhere.
For example, “forget about sb/sth” must be said as “forget
about somebody/something”. The word somebody stands for
a person (him/her, etc.), and the word something stands for a
thing (like the meeting, the medicine, her birthday, etc. depending
on the context). Wherever you’re not sure what words or word
groups can take the place of somebody/something, consult your
dictionary (Dictionary meant for Advanced Learners). In fact, the
oral practice you do with the word groups in the various books
in this Fluentzy series will be preparing your brain to supply you
with what to say in place of sb and sth (from context to context)
when you’re speaking in real time.
Here we go:
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.
• complain to sb (about sth). • complain about sth. • concern

yourself with/about sth. • convince sb of/about sth. • dream of/
about sth. • feel happy/bad, etc. about sth. • fight about/over
sth. • forget about sb/sth. • go about sth. • hang about/around
sw. • hear about sb/sth. • inform sb about/of sth. • keep on
about sth. • know about sth. • know about/of sth. • laugh at/
about sth. • learn about sth. • lie to sb about sth. • press sb
about/on sth. • protest at/about/against sth. • question sb about
sth. • read about sth. • remind sb about/of sth. • row with sb
about/over sth. • say sth to sb about sth. • say sth about sb/sth.
• say sth on/about sth (= a topic). • see sb about sth. • set about
doing sth. • speak about/of sth. • speak to/with sb about sb/sth.
• talk about/on/of sth. • tell sb about sth. • tell sb sth about sth.
• think of/about sb/sth. • warn sb of/about sth. • wonder about
sb/sth. • worry about sb/sth.
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.
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.
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. •
rate sb as sth. • read sth as sth. • receive sb as sth. • recognize

sb/sth as sth. • recommend sb/sth as sth. • refer to sb/sth as sth.
• regard sb/sth as sth. • replace sb as sth. • represent sb/sth as
sth. • resign as sb. • respect sb as sth. • reveal sth as sth. • see
sb as sth. • see sb/sth as sth. • serve as sth. • show sth as sth. •
sit as sth. • start (off) as sth. • strike sb as being sth. • succeed as
sth. • succeed sb as sth. • suggest sb/sth as sth. • survive as sth.
• train as/for sth. • treat sb like/as sth. • treat sth as sth. • use
sth as sth. • welcome sth as sth. • work as sth.
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.
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.
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.
• 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/
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. •
tell sb from sb. • transfer from sw/sth to sw/sth. • transport sb

to/from sth. • turn from sth to sth. • turn sth from sth into sth. •
vary from sth to sth. • view sth from sth. • walk away from sth.
• want sth from sb/of sb. • withdraw from sw/sth. • withdraw
sb/sth from sth.
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
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:
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
sth of/from sb/yourself. • die of/from sth. • dream of/about sth.

• expect sth of/from sb. • free sb/sth of sth. • hear of sb/sth. •
inform sb about/of sth. • know about/of sth. • learn of sth. •
make sth of sb. • make sth of sth. • remind sb about/of sth. •
remind sb of sb/sth. • satisfy sb of sth. • speak about/of sth. •
suspect sb of sth. • suspect sb of doing sth. • talk about/on/of
sth. • think of/about sb/sth. • want sth from sb/of sb. • warn sb
of/about sth.
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
exist on sth. • expand on/upon sth. • experiment with/on sth. •

fall back on sth. • feature sb/sth on sth. • feed sth (= an animal)
on/with sth. • feed on/off sth. • fill sb in on sth. • fix on sth. •
fix sth on/upon sb/sth. • focus sth on sb/sth. • force sth on/upon
sb. • gain on sb/sth. • give up on sb/sth. • go back on sth. • go
easy on sth. • go on/into sth. • grow on sb. • hang on sth. • hear
sb on sth. • hit on sth. • impose on/upon sb. • impose sth on/
upon sb. • impose yourself on/upon sb/sth. • improve on/upon
sth. • include sb/sth in/on sth. • inform on sb. • insist on sth.
• insist on/upon doing sth. • insist on/upon having sth. • judge
sth on/by sth. • judge sb/sth on sth. • knock on/at sth. • launch
sb on sth. • lay sth on/upon sb. • lay sth on/upon sth. • lean on
sb. • let sb into/in on sth. • live on sth. • look back on sth. • look
down on sb/sth. • look on/upon sb/sth as sth. • lose (sth) on sth.
• manage on sth. • miss out on sth. • model sth on sth. • move in
on sw/sb. • operate on sb (for sth). • pick on sb. • place sth on/
upon sb. • plan on doing sth. • plant sth on sb. • play on/upon
sth. • press ahead/on with sth. • press sb about/on sth. • press
sth on/upon sb. • pull on/at sth. • push sth on/onto/upon sb. •
put sth on sth. • read up on sth. • reckon on/upon sth. • reflect
well/badly on sb/sth. • reflect on/over/upon sth. • rely on/upon
sb/sth. • report back on sth. • report on/upon sth. • rest on/
upon sb/sth. • rule on sth. • save on sth. • save sth on sth. • say
sth on/about sth (= a topic). • sell sb on sth. • serve sth on sb. •
set sb off on sth. • set sb/sth on/upon sb. • set sth on sth. • settle
for/on sth. • settle sb into/in/on sth. • sit in on sth (= a class/
meeting, etc.). • sit on sth (= a board/committee, etc.). • spend
sth on sth. • spread sth on/over sth. • spring sth on sb. • stake
sth on/upon sth. • start on sth. • strike on sth. • strike sb/sth on
sth. • survive on sth. • take sb up on sth. • take sth out on sb. •
talk about/on/of sth. • test sb on sth. • test sth on sb/sth. • touch
on sth. • trade on sth. • train sth on sb/sth. • try sth on sb. • try
sth out on sb. • turn on sb. • turn on sth. • turn sth on sb/sth.
• vote on sth. • wait on sb. • walk in on sb. • walk out on sb. •
waste sth on sb/sth. • work on/at sth. • write sth on sth.
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.
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
(up/over) to sb. • deny sth to sb. • describe sb/sth to/for sb. •

develop from sth to/into sth. • direct sb to sw. • direct sth at/to/
towards sth. • drink to sb/sth. • drive sb to/into sth. • drive sb
to/from sth. • elect sb to sth. • entitle sb to sth. • escape from sw
to sw. • explain sth to sb. • export sth from X (= one country) to
Y (= another). • export sth to/from X (= a country). • extend
sth to sb. • extend to sth. • face up to sth. • fall from X to Y. • fall
to sb. • feed sth to sth (= an animal). • fit sth to sth. • follow sb
to/into/through sth. • get down to sth. • get on to sth. • get on to
sb. • get round to doing sth. • get through to sb. • get to sb. • get
up to sth. • give in to sb/sth. • give sth over to sb. • give sth to
sb/sth. • give sth up to sth. • grant sth to sb. • hand sth on/over
to sb. • hand sth to sb. • hand sth back to sb. • happen to sb/sth.
• help sb to sth. • hold on to sth. • hold to sth. • indicate sb/sth
to sb. • indicate sth to sb. • introduce sb to sth. • introduce sth to
sb. • introduce sb/yourself to sb. • introduce sth into/to sw/sth.
• invite sb to/for sth. • issue sth to sb. • join X to Y. • keep to sth.
• kick sth to/towards sth. • lead to sth. • lead to/into sth. • lead
up to sth. • leave sb to it. • leave sth to sb (in your will). • leave
sth with/to sb (for them to do sth). • lie to sb about sth. • lift
sth to sth. • limit yourself/sth to sth. • link sb/sth to sth. • link
sth with/to sth. • listen to sb/to sth. • listen to sb/sth. • live up
to sth. • look forward to sth. • look to sb for sth. • look up to sb.
• lose (sth) to sb. • lose sth to sb. • make sth (= a bill/cheque)
out to sb. • make sth over to sb. • marry sb to sb. • marry sth to/
with sth. • match sth with/to sth. • match up to sth. • mean sth
to sb. • measure up to sth. • mention sth to sb. • move from sw
to sw. • move on to sth. • name sb to sth. • narrow sth down to
sth. • nod to sb/at sb. • object to sth. • occur to sb. • offer sth to
sb. • open sth to sb. • owe sth to sb. • owe sth to sb (for sth). •
owe sth to sb/sth. • own up to doing sth. • pass sth on to sb. •
pass sth to sb. • point at/to sb/sth. • point to sb/sth. • prefer sb/
sth to sb/sth. • present sth to sb. • present sb to sb. • press sth to
sth. • progress to sth. • promote sb (from sth) to sth. • promote
sb from sth (to sth). • prove sth to sb. • prove yourself to sb. •
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.
• point sth at/towards sb/sth. • show sth to/towards sb. • speed

towards sw. • tend towards sth. • work for/towards sth.
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.
• arrange sth with sb. • assist sb in/with sth. • associate with

sb. • associate sth with sb/sth. • attack sb with sth. • balance
sth with/against sth. • bother sb about/with sth. • bother with/
about sth. • break with sb/sth. • bring sb/sth with you (to sw).
• catch up with sb (a thief, etc.). • catch up with sb. • charge
sb with sth. • check with sb (that…). • combine sth with sth. •
combine with sth. • combine sth and/with sth. • come out with
sth. • come up with sth. • compare sb to/with sb. • compare
sth to/with sth. • compete against/with sb. • concern yourself
with/about sth. • conclude with sth. • conclude sth with sth. •
conclude sth with sb. • connect sb to/with sb/sth. • connect sth
to/with sb/sth. • connect with sth. • connect with sb. • continue
with sth. • contrast sth with/to sth. • cope with sth. • cover sth
with sth. • cover sb/sth with sth. • credit sb/sth with sth. • cross
sth with sth. • dance with sb. • deal with sth. • debate with sb.
• discuss sth with sb. • dispute with sb over sth. • end with sth.
• end with/in sth. • establish sth with sb/sth. • exchange sth
with sb. • experiment with sth. • experiment with/on sth. • fall
behind with sth. • fall in with sb. • fall in with sth. • fall out with
sb. • feed sth (= an animal) on/with sth. • feed sb with sth. •
feed sth with sth. • fight with/against sb. • fight with sb. • fill sb
with sth. • fill sth with sth. • fill sw with sth. • finish with sb/sth.
• finish with/by doing sth. • fit in with sth. • fit sb out with sth.
• fit sb with sth. • fit sth into/with sth. • fit sth out with sth. • fix
sb up with sth. • follow X (up) with Y. • get along with sb. • get
away with sth. • get in with sb. • get on with sb. • get on with
sth. • go ahead with sth. • go along with sb/sth. • go down with
sth. • go on with sth. • go out with sb. • go through with sth. •
go with sth. • hang around with sb. • have sb with you. • help
sb with sth. • hit sb with sth. • hit sth with sth. • identify sb/sth
with sb/sth. • identify with sb. • illustrate sth with sth. • invest
sb/sth with sth. • issue sb with sth. • join up with sb/sth. • keep
in with sb. • keep up with sb/sth. • land sb with sth. • lead sth
off with sth. • leave sb with sth. • leave sth (= a document, etc.)
with sb. • leave sth with/to sb (for them to do sth). • level with
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
sth. • do sth without sb. • do sth without sth. • go (sw) without

sb. • go without sth. • go out without sth. • leave sb without
sth. • live without sb. • manage with/without sb/sth. • reckon
without sth. • see without sth.
That’s it. Bye for now.
***
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1

Prof. Kev Nair was born in Kerala, South India, in 1949.

that comfort and ease in speech with his specialised fluency

Fluent English Dictionaries1 by Kev Nair

Books by Kev Nair making up

Prof. Kev Nair

Adult Faculties Council TM

Fluency in asking questions.

Chapter 2: Statements into yes-no questions, 18

Chapter 3: Everyday yes-no questions for practice, 26

Chapter 5: Everyday wh-questions for practice, 39

Chapter 6: Question-initiator word groups, 44

Chapter 7: Tag questions, 58

Chapter 8: Tag questions for practice, 68

Chapter 9: Rhythm drill with questions, 75

Preface to the 5th edition

Here’s the latest edition of this book.

How to make questions

you aren’t fluent in asking questions in English?

Difficulty in framing questions

Chief reason for the difficulty

For example, when you say, “John is a good boy”, you’re

shall: shall, should.

list? • May I see your boarding pass? • May I see your ID

Five types of statements

2) Statements NOT containing any auxiliary

3) Statements containing ‘be’ as a main verb

4) Statements containing ‘do’ as a main verb

phrase that can function as the operator. So these statements

5) Statements containing ‘have’ as a main verb

your house etc.

As a state verb: do-forms

• He doesn’t have any change for the phone. (Avoid: He

As a state verb: ‘have got’ forms

Responses to yes-no questions

you another model? ~ Forget it. • Is he going to come? ~ I

Negative yes-no questions

Everyday Yes-No Questions

having fun yet? • Are we ready to leave?

have to leave us? • D’you have vegetarian dishes? • D’you

mix your plans? • Did the children behave? • Did the

drink? • Could I come over later today? • Could I get by,

• Whose is this purse? • Whose is the new bike?

Conversion of statements into

wh-element as the Object

wh-element as the Complement

wh-element as the Adverbial

mother are you? • Whose side are you on?

Why me? Why can’t someone else do it?

Questions with modified wh-word

wh-word modified in other ways:

How clearly could you hear it?

“Why don’t you/Why not” questions

principal and interest payments? • How goes it with you?

• A yes-no question type

• A wh-type yes-no question.

The options that the question gives may be in the form of

(a) Phrases as options

(b) Clauses as options

Question-initiator word groups

sign the…? • Could you spare…? • Could you wait a…? •

anybody in…? • Do you know how far it is to…? • Do you

• Has somebody mended that…? • Has your dog ever