Verbless Anchors and Noun/Adjective Phrases as Questions
In English, verbless anchors and noun/adjective phrases can function as questions, often with the help of question tags or rising intonation. Let’s explore these structures in detail.
Verbless Anchors with Question Tags
When a sentence lacks a verb but describes a state or condition, it can be followed by a question tag using be + 3rd person pronoun. This structure is commonly used in conversational English to seek agreement or confirmation.
✧ Lovely day, isn’t it?
✧ Beautiful ship, isn’t she?
Here, the verbless anchor (Lovely day, Beautiful ship) is paired with a question tag to form a complete thought. The tag ensures the listener engages with the statement.
Noun and Adjective Phrases as Yes-No Questions
Noun and adjective phrases, when spoken with rising intonation, can function as yes-no questions. These are often used in informal contexts to inquire about something briefly and directly.
These phrases are concise and rely on context and intonation to convey their meaning. For example, New hat? implies Is that a new hat?, while Good flight?
Noun Phrases with Question Tags
In place of standalone noun or adjective phrases, you can use a noun phrase followed by a question tag. This adds clarity and makes the question more explicit.
Here, the noun phrase (Too hot, New hat, Good flight) is paired with a question tag to form a complete question. This structure is particularly useful when you want to confirm or clarify something.
Key Notes
- Verbless anchors rely on question tags to complete their meaning.
- Noun and adjective phrases can function as questions when spoken with rising intonation.
- Adding a question tag to a noun phrase makes the question more explicit and conversational.
