How soon introduces questions about ....

Question

Hi teachers,Could you tell me what does that question word introduces?How soon introduces questions about ....Thanks in advance.

KrisBlueNZ · Accepted Answer

I'm not sure I understand the question.
Are you asking about questions that start with "How soon ..."?
For example, "How soon will the job be done?"
That question is asking when the job will be done, with an added implication that the person asking the question wants it done soon.

Cool Breeze · Answer

It took me a while to understand your question, TS. I think you mean to ask: Could you tell me what kind/type of questions the words "how soon" introduce?

Answer: They introduce temporal questions / questions about time.
Example: "How soon can you do it?" "(I can do it) tomorrow."

You mention in your profile that you teach elementary and intermediate level English. I don't see any point in asking the students this kind of questions if the objective is to learn English. Before I retired, I taught English for about 35 years and pondering what kind of questions "how soon" introduces never crossed my mind. As far as learning the basic grammar of English is concerned, this is totally irrelevant.

In my opinion, you should teach the students basic things like forming direct and indirect questions: What does that question word introduce? (Not: introduces)

Indirect: Could you tell me what kind of questions it introduces?

CB

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi KrisBlueNZ,

Thank you for your reply.
That is the chart I did for some questions words. I would like to add a definition for 'how soon'.

TS

Fivejedjon · Answer

I don't really see the point of such a list. If you are going to have one, you might as well include how far, how old, how ill, how funny, etc. The list could be endless. Why not just make sure your learners understand the word 'how'?

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Cool BreezeIt took me a while to understand your question, TS

Hi Cool Breeze,
So sorry for that.

Now I have attached a chart about what I meant. I hope it is enough clear now.
If not please do tell me.

Though I think this one is the answer, 'They introduce temporal questions / questions about time.'
Could it be like this too?
'They introduce temporal questions about time.'

Doesn't "How soon" carry the implication that the questioner expects that the event will be in the very near future (that is, soon).

TS

Tenacious Learner · Answer

fivejedjonI don't really see the point of such a list. If you are going to have one, you might as well include how far, how old, how ill, how funny, etc. The list could be endless. Why not just make sure your learners understand the word 'how'?

Hi fivejedjon,
You may not see the point. But believe me, for the students it is very helpful for many exercises. They use that list a lot. As a matter of fact I made it because they asked me to.

TS

Cool Breeze · Answer

Thinking SpainCould it be like this too?'They introduce temporal questions about time.'

No. Leave out "about time". All temporal questions are about time. There are no other kind of temporal questions. 'Temporal' derives from Latin 'temporalis', which is the adjective corresponding to 'tempus' (time ).

Either: They introduce temporal questions.
Or: They introduce questions about time.

CB

PS There's a bug somewhere. I can't separate all from temporal!

PS 2 I succeeded on the third attempt!

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Cool BreezeEither: They introduce temporal questions.
Or: They introduce questions about time.

Hi Cool Breeze,
Thanks for the explanation.
But when does too. Isn't when completely neutral on this point?

Cool BreezePS 2 I succeeded on the third attempt! Great! It's just a matter of perseverance.

There's a bug = There'an error? Can I use that for every other error?
TS

Surfer · Answer

Thinking SpainHi teachers,Could you tell me what does that question word introduces?How soon introduces questions about ....Thanks in advance.

Hello TS.

I think How soon introduces questions about the points in time in which events are to occur, when those events are being perceived from earliness point of view. This could possibly indicate eagerness and/or anticipation in the asker towards the event in question.

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi Surfer,
That's quite an explanation! Thanks a lot!!

Then, this one isn't that wrong, is it?
Doesn't "How soon" carry the implication that the questioner expects that the event will be in the very near future.
(that is, soon).

TS

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