I’m researching declarative question.
I want to know difference between use of declarative and interrogative, so I’d like to ask you some question:
1. Which sentence below (declarative or interrogative) you use in conversation?
2. Why you chose them?
In addition, I’d like answers of native speakers.
So, if you don’t mind, could you tell me your homeland?
Question:
1. a. You are short of money?
b. Are you short of money?
2. a. He didn’t finish the race?
b. Didn’t he finish the race?
2007-06-30 04:00:25 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
As a UK English speaker I would choose (b) in each case. This is probably because I find those declaratory questions somewhat too confrontational. If you are trying to find out if somebody is hard up, tact is needed. As far as the race is concerned, one is eliciting information, rather than trying to give the impression that one is on top of the subject and knows all about the race.
2007-06-30 04:09:41 · answer #1 · answered by Doethineb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm from Canada.
1. Neither question sounds particulary polite...I would use a if the person normally has lots of money and I'm surprised to learn that now s/he's short. I would use b if I wasn't surprised that the person was short of money.
2. In both cases, I'd be surprised to have heard that he didn't finish the race. (If it was a simple question for information I'd say "Did he finish the race?") In a I would have just heard it from the person I was talking to, in a somewhat unclear way, and I'd be asking for confirmation. In b, I'd have been under the impression that he had finished the race, and the person I was talking to would have told me he didn't. I'd be expressing surprise, not doubt.
2007-06-30 13:40:45 · answer #2 · answered by Goddess of Grammar 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In both questions, you use a) when you are sure (or nearly sure) that you know the answer and are therefore asking for confirmation. You do this by switching the word order and using rising intonation at the end of the sentence. You would use b) when it's 'real' question in which the answer is unknown.
2007-06-30 11:23:42 · answer #3 · answered by KatyaThe Gooner 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
US
I'd use b, generally. I'd only use the a question to express astonishment. He didn't finish the race? What happened? Why didn't he finish?
2007-06-30 11:13:27 · answer #4 · answered by frauholzer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
UK - I would normally choose 'b' rather than a declarative, unless bad-tempered and talking to one of my (grown-up) children in a jocular manner.
2007-06-30 12:55:35 · answer #5 · answered by JJ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋