Pronunciation insight 5

Intonation in wh- and yes / no questions

In English, there are two main types of questions.
We use wh- questions to ask for information. These questions contain a question word (who, what, where, why, how, which, etc.)
We use yes / no questions to ask for yes or no answers. These questions do not contain question words.

1Complete the second question in each pair with the question words in the box. Use each question word only once. 

MOVE
• how long
• how many
• when
• where
• who
• why

• 1Are you afraid of spiders?

    are you afraid of them?

• 2Have you ever been to New York?

    did you go there?

• 3Is she going on holiday this summer?

    is she going to stay?

• 4Has he written any books?

    books has he written?

• 5Do you live in a bungalow?

    have you lived there?

• 6Did you go to the concert last night?

    did you go with?

 

2Play the recording, listen to the questions and complete the rules for intonation. Choose up or down. Then listen again and repeat. 

• 
  

• 1At the end of wh- questions, the voice goes updown.

• 2At the end of yes / no questions, the voice goes updown.

3Write questions for the underlined parts of the sentences. Play the recording, listen and check. Then listen again and repeat. Pay attention to the intonation. 

You need to use normal letters and capital letters correctly in this task. You also need to use correct punctuation.

• 1

  No, I've never done a bungee jump.

• 2

  I've known my best friend for ten years.

• 3

  I learned how to ski when I was six.

• 4

  Yes, I really enjoyed go-karting last weekend.

• 5

  I go rock climbing in the mountains.

• 6

  Yes, I do. I really like windsurfing.

• 7

  No, I can't. I've never ridden a horse.

• 8

  I'm writing to my friend Tom.

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