D Context Write: Put in When?, Where?, Which?, Who? or Whose? WHO DID WHAT AND WHEN?

What we believe depends on our view of the world. For example, if we ask: '1 When was America discovered?', most of us would think ofChristopher Columbus in 1492. But Chinese children learn that Hui Shen, a Buddhist monk, got to America 1000 years earlier than Columbus. 2… was printing invented by and 3… year was it invented? You immediately think of Gutenberg in 1436, but Chinese children learn that it was invented by Bi Shen in 1041. 4… invention is spaghetti? It's the invention of the Italians, you will say. Wrong again. The Chinese had it before them.5… and 6… was the compass invented? Answer: in China in 200 B.C.7… was silk-making invented? Not in Persia, as you might think, but in China. 8…was the first country to put a man into space and 9…was he? The Soviet Union, you will say and the man's name was Yuri Gagarin. But according to the Chinese, Wan Hu made an attempt long before Yuri. 10… do you think? - In A.D. 1500! He sat in a chair attached to 47 rockets, holding a giant kite which would help him return to earth. He never came back!

 

13.7 Question-word questions (3): 'Why?', 'How?'

13.7A 'Why...?' as a question-word [> LEG 13.37]

1 Why...? asks for a reason and we answer with Because (Not *Why*) or a to-infinitive.

2 We can use What... for? in place of Why?: What did you do that for? (= Why did you do that?)

3 We use Why don't/doesn't...? (Why don't you?/ Why doesn't she?) to make suggestions.

4 We may use Why? or Why not? + bare infinitive: Why wait for him? Why not wait a bit?

Write: Write suitable questions with Why? Match A: to fit the answers B:.Think of possible combinations with Why?: Why don't...?, Why not...? Why (wait)...? etc.

A:1 Why are you still downstairs? Because I want to watch the late-night film. 2 Why …? 3 Why…? 4 Why…? 5 Why…? 6 Why…?

7 Why…? 8 Why…? 9 Why…? B: That's a good idea. Because I didn't want to trouble you. I phoned to let him know I had arrived. I'm sorry I shouted at you. To find out his address. I'm already late for my appointment. All right. I'll put the job off till tomorrow. To check that I had locked the back door.

 

13.7B 'How...?' as a question-word; 'How much?/How many?' [> LEG 13.40]

1 We use How?, basically, to ask about manner:

How did you get on in the exam? - Quite well, I hope!

How combines with much, many, and with adjectives and adverbs (How far? etc.).

2 We use How much? + uncountable to ask about quantity: How much bread/milk/time?

We also use How much? to refer to cost: How much does this cost? How much is it?

3 We use How many? + plural noun to ask about number: How many people/books...?

Write: Use How much...? or How many...? in these sentences.

1 … How much time do we have? 2 … coffee do you drink every day? 3 …times do I have to tell you? 4 … did that car cost you? 5 … people came to the meeting? 6 … slices of bread do you want?

 

13.7C 'How' + adjective or adverb: 'How far?' [> LEG 13.40.2,13.34.8,6.16]

We can use How+ adjective (How long?) in place of What+ noun (What length?): How long is that skirt? What length is that skirt?

Write: Change these What+ noun questions into How+ adjective questions.

1 What's the age of this building? How old…? 2 What's the depth of this pool? How…? 3 What distance is Rome from here? How…? 4 What size is your briefcase? How…? 5 What length is this room? How…? 6 What height is this house? How…?

 

13.7D 'How long... (for)?' and 'How long ago?' [> LEG 13.40.5]

How long...? (with or without for) asks about duration: How long are you here (for)?

How long ago? + past tense refers to a point of time: How long ago did it happen? [> 7 3A]

Write: Supply How long... (for)? or How long ago?

1 … are you here? 2 …was the great fire of London? 3 … did Queen Victoria die? 4 … did the Victorian age last?

 

13.7E Social uses of 'How...?' [> LEG 13.40.6] How...? We ask questions with How...? for:

- introductions: How do you do?, answered by How do you do? (Not e.g. 'Fine, thanks')

- health: How are you? How have you been?, answered by e.g Fine, thanks.

- personal reactions: How was the film? (= What was the film like?)

- offers and suggestions: How about a drink? (= What about a drink?)

Write: Match the questions A with the answers B:

A: 1 How do you do d? 2 How are you …? 3 How have you been …? 4 How's life …? 5 How's the garden …? 6 How about going to the cinema …? 7 How was the concert …? 8 How would you like to have lunch with us …?

B: a) I'd love to. That's very kind of you. b) It was very enjoyable. c) Not bad, but I had a cold last week. d) How do you do? e) Yes, that's a nice idea Let's. f) Coming along nicely. The tulips are just coming out. g) Very well, thank you. And you? h) Fine! How's life with you?