ASKING FOR INFORMATION

Asking for Information With Questions

   

 

Definitio of information

Data that has been verified to be accurate and timely.  The concept of information is closely related to notions of constraint, communication, control, data, form, instruction, knowledge, meaning, mental stimulus, pattern, perception, representation, and especially entropy.

WH Question Words

We use question words to ask certain types of questions (question word questions). We often refer to them as WH words because they include the letters WH (for example WHy, HoW).

 

Question Word	Function	Example
what	asking for information about something	What is your name?
what...for	asking for a reason, asking why	What did you do that for?
when	asking about time	When did he leave?
where	asking in or at what place or position	Where do they live?
which	asking about choice	Which colour do you want?
who	asking what or which person or people (subject)	Who opened the door?
whom	asking what or which person or people (object)	Whom did you see?
whose	asking about ownership	Whose are these keys? Whose turn is it?
why	asking for reason, asking what...for	Why do you say that?
why don't	making a suggestion	Why don't I help you?
how	asking about manner	How does this work?
how + adj/adv	asking about extent or degree	see examples below
how far	distance	How far is Pattaya from Bangkok?
how long	length (time or space)	How long will it take?
how many	quantity (countable)	How many cars are there?
how much	quantity (uncountable)	How much money do you have?
how old	age	How old are you?
how come (informal)	asking for reason, asking why	How come I can't see her?

Combined with to be
What is ……. Your name?
When was ……. He born?
Where are ………. The tickets?
Why were …………. They here?
Who are ……….. Those people?
How is ……. Helen?

Combined with auxiliary verbs or Modals
What do …………
When did …………
Where shall ……..
Why does ……..
Who might ……
How could …….
etc

Asking for information:
I’d like to know about this novel
I’m interested in the characters
Could you tell me more about it?
Do you know the plot?
Could you find out the solution?
Could I ask about the conflict?
Do you happen to know the writer?

Guessing:
I’d say … I know where to find the book
It could be … somewhere in the library
Perhaps it’s … on the top of the shelf
I think it’s … not there anymore
It looks like … someone has taken the book
It’s difficult to say, but I’d guess …
It’s being borrowed by a student

Here are some of the most common:
· Could you tell me…?
· Do you know…?
· Do you happen to know…?
· I’d like to know…
· Could you find out…?
· I’m interested in…
· I’m looking for...

These two forms are used for asking for information on the telephone:
· I’m calling to find out…
· I’m calling about…

Here are some sample phrases and sentences for asking information in English
1. What is this? This is a table
2. What is that? That is a chair.
3. What’s this? It’s a pen.
4. What’s that? It’s an apple.
5. What are these? These are pencils.
6. What are those? Those are books.
7. Where is Mr. King? He is over there.
8. Where is Ms. Knight? She’s (right) here.
9. Where’s Johnny? He’s in the house.
10. When’s the movie? It’s at 9:00.
11. When’s lunch? Lunch is at noon.
12. How is the food? It’s delicious.

Information about company
What does your company do?
What is your specialty?
What do you specialize in?
What is your main line of business?

Information about products
Could you give me some (more) information on this?
What can you tell me about this (product)?
Tell me about this one/model.

Information about Price
What are you asking for this?
What does this sell for?
How much is it?
How much does it run?

Dialogue :
Fena : Excuse me. Can you help me? I'm looking for the windsurfing centre.
Eva   : Ah, yes, the windsurfing centre is at Platja D'aro beach. Do you know the beach?
Fena : Not really, no.
Eva   : Let me show you on the map. It's here, look.
Fena : Ok. Great. And where's the cinema?
Eva   : Erm, there's a cinema in Girona, next to the Hospital Bufill.
 Fena: Ok, great. Thanks very much.