a question to a sentence

[Profy]

There's a sentence in a book. And, I would like to make a question to it . (I have a problem with making a correct questions..) The buses run every hour. possible questions: 1. What runes every hour? 2. How many buses run every hour? Is there any errors?

[Casiopea]

Welcome, Profy.

The buses run every hour.
1. What runs every hour? <spelling note, runs, not runes>
2. How many buses run every hour? <Mind you, the answer to that question is not provided>

Correction
Are there any errors?

[Ben_Adam]

Casiopea, would it make more sense:

When do the busses run?
?

I mean, don't get me wrong, I am not saying that ''What runs every hour?'' is incorrect. It's just that that would be more... Well ''common'' question to that sentence.

[Philly]

Another very typical question would be:

How often do the buses run?

But there is certainly nothing wrong with the question "What runs every hour?"
Perhaps the person asking the question isn't sure whether it is the train or the bus that runs hourly.

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by Ben_Adam

When do the busses run?

I mean, don't get me wrong, I am not saying that ''What runs every hour?'' is incorrect. It's just that that would be more... Well ''common'' question to that sentence.

It's a great question; it's just not one of the ones Profy provided.

Moreover, notice the grammar isn't all that straightforward here:

Q: What runs? <singlar subject>
A: The busses run. <plural subject>

In order to answer the question correctly, the student needs to know that what is by default singular in number, which is why it takes a singular verb. It's a fabulous trick question, in a way, because a student might see the singular verb and think the answer too should have a singular subject and verb,

A: A bus runs every hour.

The above is grammatically correct but semantically incorrect given the statement the buses run every hour.

Hope that helps.

__________________________
Please be reminded (this being your second notice), you need to state clearly that you are not a teacher (one statement per thread should suffice).

[Ben_Adam]

I am a moron... I'll do what I have said to you im my PM... Omg!