Phrases III

[EnglishStudent]

Hi friends

As you realized, I have made several questions about phrases; this is because I have found them in my readings and I don´t undertand their meaning. Could you help me again?

Here they are:

* These kids are driving me bananas

* During the first day Victoria and me dated, we were on cloud nine

Also, I have a question about the use of "do" in the next sentences, why is necessary?

* Why do we have trouble...

* ...not only do you miss...

* We really do need one...

* Not only did God bring him through...

Thanks

[Tomisimo]

* These kids are driving me bananas
Estos chamacos me están volviendo loco

* During the first day Victoria and me dated, we were on cloud nine
El primer día en que Victoria y yo salimos, estabamos super contentos

Also, I have a question about the use of "do" in the next sentences, why is necessary?
* Why do we have trouble...
Do is necessary to make this a question.

* ...not only do you miss...
* Not only did God bring him through...
Do is used in these two, because they are dependant clauses (as part of another sentence)

* We really do need one...
Do is used here for emphasis. They had already said they needed one, then someone else questioned them again, and they are affirming that they really do need one.
"De verdad que sí necesitamos uno"

[EnglishStudent]

So, always I want to make a question with "Why" I need to use "do"?

Only with "why"?

[Tomisimo]

The "question" words are why, where, who, what, when, which, how .. and maybe a few more. Basically you need to use the verb "to do" when forming the question unless the verb of the sentence is "to be" or one of the "modal" verbs- may, might, can, could, will, would etc.

Questions:

With to be: (Don't use "do")
Are you going to the store?
Are you a Canadian?
Were you at the club last night?
With question words:
Why are you going to the store?
Where were you in the club last night?

With modals: (Don't use "do")
Will you take me to work?
Can you give me a ride?
Could you help me with this problem?
Would you be able to stop by my house tonight?
May I go to the restroom?
With question words:
How can you say that?
When can you give me a ride?
Where could you help me with this problem?

With any other verb (Use "to do")
Did you go to the store?
Do you speak Greek?
Do you have $10?
Did you say you were blind?
Do you ride the bus?
Did you cut this piece of paper?
With question words:
When did you go to the store?
Where do you have your $10?
Why did you say you were blind?
How did you cut the paper if you don't have scissors?



With the verb "to be" and the modal verbs you switch the order of the subject and verb to form a question.
"You can go to the store" is a simple statement. "Can you go to the store?" is a question. If you're dealing with any other verb (to cut, to walk, to type, to read, to sing etc.), Instead of changing the order, You simply put "do" or "did" before the subject.

If you have any other questions, just ask

[Archemorus]

Actually, the verb do, used in those sentences, forms the Emphatic Tense. Spanish doesn't have that.

You speak English?

and

Yes, I speak English.

Those are both correct; however, you can use the emphatic tense to make the question and answer more forceful.

Do you speak English?

Yes, I do speak English.

[Tomisimo]

Good observation Arch, you are 100% correct, except I'm not sure that it would be called a tense since a tense refers to time.

As a side note, I'd translate these like this:

Yes, I speak English.
Yes, I do speak English.

Sí, hablo inglés.
Sí, yo sí hablo inglés.