Interrogative Content Clauses Flashcards
(17 cards)
Closed interrogative content clauses include :
ubordinators whether & if as markers of subordination
What type of clause is the head of the closed interrogative content clause?
– declarative content clause
Properties:
The subordinate clause looks like a declarative clause.
as it has:
No subject-auxiliary inversion
No do support
(this is typical of interrogative content clauses)
Properties:
Markers of interrogative content clauses are:
If or whether (category - marker)
If - started as a preposition and has developed to a subordinator
Properties:
Difference between markers of that-content clause and interrogative content clauses.
Unlike “that” – if and whether are always obligatory
otherwise the sentence is a declarative content clause
Properties:
When are the markers whether and if, interchangeable
when the clause functions as complement in a VP
there are exceptions
Properties:
The markers “whether and if” - are not interchangeable when they function:
As complement of be (in some dialects)
EG: The question is whether/#if it works.
Properties:
The markers “whether and if” - are not interchangeable
When followed immediately by or not.
EG: I wonder whether/*if or not they’re OK.
EG: I wonder whether/if they’re OK or not.
Properties:
The markers “whether and if” - are not interchangeable when they function
when the clause functions as subject, only whether is possible
whether/*if it works has not been determined.
The most common verbs taking closed-interrogative content-clause complements:
be wonder determine decide see question ask
say (usually negative or in a question)
EG:(can we say whether it was true or not or I couldn’t say whether it was true or not)
know (usually negative or in a question)
matter (usually negative or in a question)
EG:(it doesn’t matter whether …)
Properties:
when do we not have do - support or subject auxiliary inversion?
when the question focus is the subject
Properties:
what do open interrogative content clauses start with
they start with one of the interrogative words
who, what, which, where, when, why, how
What’s the category of each if the interrogative words?
Pronouns: who & what Determinatives: which & what Prepositions: when & where Adverbs: why & how Adjective: how
Properties:
how the interrogative words appear in clauses?
Who and what - can be subjects
Which and what - can appear in subjects (eg; which subject is offered by the college)
Properties:
When can the question and the open-interrogative content clause differ in form?
When the question focus is NOT the subject,
EG: (I wonder what he speaks)
Properties:
when do Open-interrogative content clauses have a gap?
when the focus is the subject.
Properties:
How is the open interrogative content clause different from the open questions?
Open interrogative content clauses differ from open questions in that that don’t apply do support or inversion.
