REPEAT PLEASE QUESTION

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Because intonation is so important in forming questions in English, some example questions in this entry are accompanied by diagrams that show their intonation patterns. The diagram is a line that traces the pitch movement throughout the question.

Introducton to Repeat Please Questions

Repeat please questions are often uttered when the asker either did not hear or understand the information he or she was given or is having difficulty accepting it. This type of wh- questionOpens in new window frequently functions as a request for verification.

Repeat please questions can have two word orders:

  • question word order with the “wh-” word fronted, as in 1a), or
  • normal declarative statement word order, shown in 1b).

Both have rising intonation. A greater degree of stress on the “wh-” word and a higher rise in the intonation patterns signal a greater degree of surprise on the part of the asker.

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  • References
    • The Teacher's Grammar of English with Answers: A Course Book and Reference Guide (Negation [2008:66-69]) By Ron Cowan

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