13.37.1 'Why...?': reason and purpose [> 1.48, 1.51]
Why questions may ask for a reason or reasons which can be supplied with Because (Not "Why *)
Why didn't you tell me John had left you?
- Because I didn t want to burden you with my troubles Because is often omitted (and therefore implied) in responses A to-infinitive or because can answer Why? [purpose > 16.12.1]
Why did you go this way? - To save time ('because I wanted to')
Particular question words and their uses
.37.2 Why don't/doesn't...?' and Why not?'
Why + don for doesn't can be used to make suggestions
/ don t like this wallpaper - Then why don't you change i t? Why not followed by a bare infinitive can be used in the same way
Why not wait till the winter sales to buy a new coat7 Why not? (in place of a Why question) can ask for a reason
/' m not going to work today - Why not? or can be used in response to suggestions
Let's eat out tonight - Yes why not? It can be used defensively in
Are you really going to sue them? - Yes why not?
13.37.3 Some functional uses of 'Why...?'
Why + verb often conveys the meaning of 'It's not worth the trouble to ' or 'I don't think you should' / think I ought to tidy this place up
- Why bother? (i e it's not worth bothering to)
You re fully insured so why worry?
Why combines with modals to convey a variety of emotions, etc
- anger Why can't you shut up?
- irritation/complaint Why should I do i t?
- failure to understand Why should the boiling point of water
be lower at the top of a mountain?
Where...?' as a question-word
Where is used to inquire about place (either precise references or general ones) The answers to Where questions can be whole sentences, phrases or single words
Where is he? - He's over there. Over there! There!
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Where did you get that ladder from? - From the garage. In everyday speech Where's can combine with a plural subject
Where s your keys? - They re here [compare Here's > 7.59.1 ]
Where from? asks for the origin of people or things
Where are you from?/Where do you come from? - Spain
That s a lovely vase Where's it from? - China