13.5 Question-word questions (1): 'Who(m)?', 'What?'13.5C 'What...?' as a question-word [> LEG 13.34]
1 What...?asks for a whole sentence: What are you doing?- I'm reading.
or for the object of a sentence: What are you reading? - 'Gone with the Wind'.2 What...? also combines with nouns:
What book/books? What boy/boys? What girl/girls? [compare Which? > 13.6B]3 We can use What? on its own ( What do you prefer?) orina variety of combinations:
What('s)... like?, What('s)... called? What make ...? What nationality?,
What... do (for a living)?, What time/date/year?, What('s)... for?,
What kind(s)/sort(s) of... ?, What colour...?, What size ...?.Write: Complete the questions on the left to fit the answers on the right.
Think about the combinations you can make with What's ...? or What...?.1 What
2 What
3 What(^4) What
5 What
6 What
7 What
8 What
9 What
10 What
11 What
I work as an assistant in a book shop.
I use 'Woodland' shampoo. It's lovely.
She's good-looking, but very unpleasant.
Wonderful! Lots of sunshine and no rain.
It's called a 'spade' in English.
It's a Saab.
He's Nigerian.
I think they're leaving at 9.00.
It's March 13th.
It's for scraping paint off windows.
13.5D Context
Write: Supply questions with Who(m)...? and What...?.
TAKING RISKS
MAGISTRATE:
POLICEMAN:
MAGISTRATE:
POLICEMAN:
MAGISTRATE:
POLICEMAN:
MAGISTRATE:
POLICEMAN:
I don't mind the risk!(What/his name?)
James Denyer.
Not Denyer again! If he's not in gaol, he's in and out of
of this court. (What/he/do this time?)^2
He stole 25 pence.
( Who(m)/steal it/from ?)^3
An old lady. He took it out of her purse.
(Whatdate/it?)^4
March 24th.
MAGISTRATE (to Denyer): ( What/do that for?)^5
DENYER: I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again.
MAGISTRATE (to policeman): (What/the chances)^6
if I let him go?
It would be a risk, sir.
Do you hear, Denyer? It would be a risk. (What/say)(^7) to that?'
It's a risk I'd be glad to take. Honest, I don't mind the risk!
( The court falls about with laughter.)
MAGISTRATE: In that case, I'd better let you go!