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Mary, would you ask a question?. Mary would you make a question?

Mary, would you ask a question?. Mary would you make a question?

3
votes

Mary, would you ask a question?. Mary would you make a question? ¿cual es la diferencia?

1656 views
updated Aug 3, 2011
posted by tomasxenix

4 Answers

4
votes

I can't really think of a situation where a native English speaker would say, "Mary, would you make a question?" You could probably think of some situation where it might make sense, but it would not be at all typical of normal conversation.

updated Aug 3, 2011
posted by Jeremias
likely an english teacher would provide scrambled words to construct a sentence - allanfernanda, Aug 2, 2011
Then the english teacher would probably use "form" a question instead of "make" a question. In my 56 years I've never heard anyone ever say "make a question" - Jack-OBrien, Aug 2, 2011
Amen, Jack :) - Sabor, Aug 2, 2011
3
votes

Basically, saying "make a question" in English is akin to saying "construct," "create," or "build a question." It would refer to the creation of a question, not its utilization.

It could also refer to the process of turning something into a question (which in and of itself seems a rather odd thought wink).


Básicamente, decir "make a question" en inglés es similar a decir "construir" o "crear una pregunta". Refiere a la creación de una pregunta y no su utilización.

La frase también puede referir al proceso de convertir algo en una pregunta (cual es un pensamiento rarísimo wink).

updated Aug 3, 2011
posted by freeze10108
thanks for the translation. - MrSillyInc, Aug 3, 2011
3
votes

If Mary "asks" a question, she should vocalise a question. If Mary "makes" a question, she could just construct it in her mind or on paper. In a classroom situation, a native English teacher would most likely tell Mary to "ask" a question if she wants Mary to speak out loud. The teacher could tell Mary to "make" a question if she had a list of words to put together.

updated Aug 3, 2011
posted by MrSillyInc
such a precise and direct resonse. congrats mrsillyinc - allanfernanda, Aug 2, 2011
1
vote
  1. preguntar (inquire about)

    to ask somebody something -> preguntar algo a alguien

    to ask (somebody) a question -> hacer una pregunta (a alguien)

updated Aug 3, 2011
edited by Maria-Russell
posted by Maria-Russell
This is what is in our spanishdict dictionary. What does hacer una pregunta mean? - Maria-Russell, Aug 2, 2011
Like the dictionary says, "hacer una pregunta" means "to ask a question." If you think about "preguntar" meaning to ask (in terms of a question) and "pregunta" meaning "quesiton," "preguntar una pregunta" doesn't sound very good. - freeze10108, Aug 3, 2011
: ) - Maria-Russell, Aug 3, 2011