Certainly! Let's go through each question one by one, providing insight into how to choose and read them with proper intonation.
Who can sing and dance well?
- Intonation and Emphasis: When reading this question, the intonation should rise towards the end, as it is a yes/no question. Emphasize "who" to indicate that you are asking about a specific person or group.
- Example: "Who can sing and dance well?"
What colours are the Tigers?
- Intonation and Emphasis: This is an information-seeking question, so your intonation should remain steady and fall slightly at the end. Emphasize "what colours" to draw attention to the specific characteristic you are asking about.
- Example: "What colours are the Tigers?"
Where is Fred right now?
- Intonation and Emphasis: For this question, use a rising intonation at the beginning and a falling intonation at the end. Emphasize "where" to indicate that you are asking about a location.
- Example: "Where is Fred right now?"
Is his school in England?
- Intonation and Emphasis: This is a yes/no question, so the intonation should rise at the end. Emphasize "is" and "England" to highlight the main parts of the question.
- Example: "Is his school in England?"
Where's my umbrella?
- Intonation and Emphasis: Use a rising intonation at the beginning and a falling intonation at the end. Emphasize "where's" to indicate that you are asking about the location of the umbrella.
- Example: "Where's my umbrella?"
Can he ride a bicycle?
- Intonation and Emphasis: This is another yes/no question, so it should have a rising intonation at the end. Emphasize "can" and "bicycle" to highlight the main action and object.
- Example: "Can he ride a bicycle?"
Each question requires a specific intonation pattern to convey the right meaning and expectation of a response. Rising intonations are typically used for yes/no questions, indicating that an answer is anticipated. Falling intonations are used for wh-questions (who, what, where, etc.), indicating that specific information is being sought. Proper emphasis on keywords helps clarify the main focus of the question.