15 - Q&A: getting facts and solutions (PSE)
15 - Q&A: getting facts and solutions (PSE)
The Buddha says:
"There are these four ways of answering questions. Which four? There are questions that should be answered categorically [straightforwardly yes, no, this, that]. There are questions that should be answered with an analytical (qualified) answer [defining or redefining the terms]. There are questions that should be answered with a counter-question. There are questions that should be put aside (not answered). These are the four ways of answering questions."
What is a question?
A question is a construct (a pattern or an arrangement) of words. A question is used to get information (facts or knowledge) or things we want.
What is an answer?
In a simple way, an answer is a respond (or a reaction) to a question.
We can now see that we use questions to ask for what we want. We usually get answers or things back for what we ask.
How do we construct questions?
One simple way to ask some questions is like this:
You want an ice-cream, 'right? (high note on "right")
He has a ticket, 'yes?
They are here now, no?
We just add the word that we expect to hear in the answer to a simple sentence.
Do we have in our boxes these words:
What, Who, (Which,) When, Where, Why, How
Do, Does(ด๊าส), Has, Have, Is, Are, Will, May, Can
and (their time-signal-added forms)
Did, Had, Was, Were, Would(วู้ด), Could(คู้ด), Should...?
These are words we use to construct or make questions. Most questions begin with one of these words and end in a musically high note or high a pitch sound. For examples:
What is "this thing? (stress the word 'this')
Who is "that girl? (stress the word 'that')
Which of these "fruits do you like?
When can we "go?
Where did you find the "cat?
Why did he "jump?
How do we "eat green mangoes?
Do you have a "bag?
Does she play "soccer?
Has Jan a "team shirt to wear?
Have we any "room for more?
Is she "pretty?
Am I "mad?
Are they "ET? (ee tee)
May we "leave, Sir?
Can he run "faster?
We usually stress or pronounce a word (or a group of words) clearly in a question to signal what is the thing we are interested in.
How do we answer questions?
Questions that begin with one of these words
Do, Does, Has, Have, Is, Am, Are, May, Can,
usually get answers that confirm (Yes) or deny (No).
Questions that begin with one of these words
What, Who, Which, When, Where, Why, How
usually get answers that tell names or places or time (nouns words for what, who, which and a time for when) or actions (verbs words for how).
Which questions are used to ask to choose one of many choices; like in (a multiple-choice exam question):
'which of these is correct?'
a:... b:... c:... d:...
Why questions are difficult to answer.
If we don't know enough about the thing we are asked,
we should answer "I don't know why".
May questions are usually used to ask for "a permission" to do something. We can expect "Yes" or "No" answers.
Can questions are used to get an opinion or assessment of ability. We usually expect "Yes" or "No" answers.
There are more...
[Dear Teachers
We can practice PSE by drawing a word from 'nouns' box and a word from 'verbs' box and construct a simple sentence, then construct questions using the patterns above and discuss what possible answers may be.
For example: (we draw 2 words "cat" and "sleep").
- We first construct 2 possible simple sentences using 'add-a-spice': 1) a cat sleeps. and 2) Cats sleep.
The we make simple questions like:
A cat sleeps, right?
Cats sleep, yes? Cats sleep, no?
- we now construct questions with the 2 words:
Does a cat sleep? Do cats sleep?
Can a cat sleep? Will cats sleep?
When does a cat sleep? Where do cats sleep?
Why would a cat sleep? How could cats sleep?
...
(Not all patterns above can be used to construct 'good-to-use' questions. Please allow students to discuss why some patterns are not good-to-use.)
It is also good to let students work out what possible answers to the questions we have constructed are.
The list of 'questions' words is of course not complete. We should look for more 'questions' words. There are also more ways we can use to construct questions. Please, collect them and 'experience' them.
Note.
There are questions like:
Would you pass the pepper?
Could you give me more rice?
They are not really questions but they are 'commands' or requests. We use certain 'question forms' to show politeness. ]
ความเห็น (7)
Could I add some of information that a bit off ?
-> Dear teacher, I have a question - what should be more polite between "Could", "Would" and "May" Recently, I heard about the project "English speaking day = speak english without worry about grammar one day a week" coined by Thai Ministry of Education. This sound good in order to promote english as a second language in our country, however, what's about -Practice does not make perfect. Only practice make perfect. In my opinion, we do need a good role model of english speaker not only tell students to speak "Thailish" (as I am).
PS. I was reccomend an artificial role model here
to help me use more sense of "A cat sleep, right" :-)
Sorry for my mistake.
Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice make perfect.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Doctor ป.
> Could I add some of information that a bit off ?
Yes, You can add some information -- whether it is a bit odd or a bit on ;-)
> what should be more polite between "Could", "Would" and "May"
It may come as a big surprise to some people, "words by themselves are not really more or less polite. The way we say our questions or requests, the tone of our voice, the look in our eyes,... and our body language come together to make our questions or requests polite".
> Recently, I heard about the project "English speaking day = speak english without worry about grammar one day a week" coined by Thai Ministry of Education. This sound good in order to promote english as a second language in our country, however, what's about -Practice does not make perfect. Only practice make perfect. In my opinion, we do need a good role model of english speaker not only tell students to speak "Thailish" (as I am).
PS. I was reccomend an artificial role model here
to help me use more sense of "A cat sleep, right" :-)
I read about that (English speaking day) in a Thai newspaper. It is a desparate mean to get Thailand ready for ASEAN. Some of us may have heard our Prime Minister speak to important overseas visitors. Imagine if we have to speak like that all day!
I had a go with the "Text to Speech" you have been recommended. I found it deal with the question "a cat sleeps, right?" accurately.
I tested the program by typing in
"A cat sleeps"
"A cat sleeps, right" (No question mark '?')
"A cat sleeps, right?" (with a question mark)
"A cat sleeps, yes?"
"John is home, no?"
"John is home, isn't he?"
"where does the cat sleep"
"where does the cat sleep?"
The questions with '?' sounded correct as they should be. "A cat sleeps, right" (without '?') also sounded correct. It is not a question without a '?'.
I did not tested more, but I would be interested to hear from other 'testers'. Go and give it some work to do ;-)
> Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice make perfect.
With enough practice we can train our 'speaker box' to speak 'good=understandable' English. We may sound like an American in one word, an Australian in the next word and a Thai for the rest in one sentence. But if we don't speak at all we would sound like a mute.
Thank you มนัญญา ~ natachoei ( หน้าตาเฉย)
and a very Happy New Year to you.
Thank you for your answers and kindly blessing for the holiday season.
I would like to happy christmas and new year to you too.
I am appreciate your toughtful comment and many posts that ignite life long learning.
May I share my hand made "karaoke" video. It is an easy sing along song.
Thank you
I have a very slow Internet connection where I live and that makes streaming videos on the browser go in 'slow motion'. I can't wait for Australia's 'National Broadband Network' to go bush (to where we are).