ASKING FOR INFORMATION

Sometimes we need a help from other people to find, get or know something. Especially if we don't know the information about it. There are a number of formulas used when asking for information in English. 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..  
• (Excuse me) can could you tell me (the way to the station/...) 
• Do you know (if they are here / when they leave /...) 
• Could you give me some information about ... 
• Is it true that (they have moved /...) 
• Have you got an idea of (when they leave / ...) 
• I'd like to know (what he does / ...) 

These two forms are used for asking for information on the telephone :

• I'm calling to find out...
• I'm calling about... 

We can used appropriate Wh- words to making simple information questions in English.

Wh- Questions allow a speaker to find out more information about topics. They are as follows:

When? Where? Who? Why? How? What?

Time Place Person Reason Manner Object/Idea/Action

Other words can also be used to inquire about specific information:

Which (one)? Whose? Whom? How much? How many? How long? How often? How far? What kind (of)?

Choice of alternatives Possession Person (objective formal) Price, amount (non-count) Quantity (count) Duration Frequency Distance Description

The "grammar" used with wh- questions depends on whether the topic being asked about is the "subject" or "predicate" of a sentence. For the subject pattern, simply replace the person or thing being asked about with the appropriate wh-word.

(Someone has my baseball.) (Something is bothering you.)

Who has my baseball? What is bothering you?

Learn more click here and more exemples