There are some questions
that we ask, but we are not really asking for information. In English, a
question with an obvious answer can be used as a way of trying to get attention
to something. We call those kind of questions RHETORICAL QUESTIONS. We do not
expect an answer.
This figure of speech, as I said,
does not require a direct answer. Sometimes, rhetorical questions may be
intended to start a discussion or at least draw an acknowledgement that the
listener understands the message. Moreover, rhetorical questions might also be the
ones that have obvious answers. We ask the question to make a point, to persuade
or for literary effect.
Here are some answers of
rhetorical questions:
·
Do you know what
time it is? (Meaning that the person is late.)
· Who’s a lovely
baby? (Talking to the person and showing that the person is obviously the
lovely baby.)
·
Is the pope
catholic? (asked to emphasize a point.)
·
Are you stupid?
ATTENTION
Sometimes we may use why/how
should…? But it can be a bit aggressive:
John is unhappy,
but why should I care?
Or
Why should I know? (especially in American
English it is an aggressive reply to a question.
Do you have a good example to share?
PORTAL DA
LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the
persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites
referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such
websites are, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
In some
instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here;
therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so.
Thank you very much.
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direct comments and questions to me at bruno_coriolano@hotmail.com
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