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RULE I.

Direct questions, or those which may be answered by yes or no, usually take the rising inflection; but their answers, generally, the falling.

EXAMPLES.

1 Will you meet me at the depot′? Yes`; or, I will`.

2 Did you intend to visit Boston′? No`; or, I did not`.

3 Can you explain this difficult sentence′? Yes`; I can.

4 Are they willing to remain at home′? They are`.

5 Is this a time for imbecility and inaction′? By no means`.

6 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets′? I know that thou believest`.

7 Were the tribes of this country, when first discovered, making any progress in arts and civilization′? By no means`.

8 To purchase heaven has gold the power′? Can gold remove the mortal hour′? In life, can love be bought with gold′? Are friendship's pleasures to be sold′? No`; all that's worth a wish, a thought, Fair virtue gives unbribed, unbought.

9 What would content you`? Talents′? No`. Enterprise′? No`. Courage′? No`. Reputation'? No`. Virtue′? No`. The man whom you would select, should possess not one, but all of these`.

NOTE I.—When the direct question becomes an appeal, and the reply to it is anticipated, it takes the intense falling inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1 Is` he not a bold and eloquent speaker`?

2 Can` such inconsistent measures be adopted`?

3 Did` you ever hear of such cruel barbarities`?

4 Is this reason`? Is` it law`? Is it humanity`?

5 Was` not the gentleman's argument conclusive`?

RULE II.

Indirect questions, or those which can not be answered by yes or no, usually take the falling inflection, and their answers the same.

1 How far did you travel yesterday`? Forty miles`.

2 Which of you brought this beautiful bouquet`? Julia`.

3 Where do you intend to spend the summer`? At Saratoga`.

4 When will Charles graduate at college`? Next year`.

5 What is one of the most delightful emotions of the heart`? Gratitude`.

NOTE I.—When the indirect question is one asking a repetition of what was not, at first, understood, it takes the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1 When do you expect to return? Next week. When did you say′? Next week.

2 Where did you say William had gone′? To New York.

NOTE II.—Answers to questions, whether direct or indirect, when expressive of indifference, take the rising inflection, or the circumflex.

EXAMPLES.

1 Did you admire his discourse? Not much′.

2 Which way shall we walk? I am not particular′.

3 Can Henry go with us? If he chooses′.

4 What color do you prefer? I have no particular choice′.

NOTE III.—In some instances, direct questions become indirect by a change of the inflection from the rising to the falling.

EXAMPLES.

1 Will you come to-morrow′ or next day′? Yes.

2 Will you come to-morrow,′ or next day`? I will come to-morrow.

REMARK.—The first question asks if the person addressed will come within the two days, and may be answered by yes or no; but the second asks on which of the two days he will come, and it can not be thus answered.