[Grammar] Questions structure

[prog.tiago]

Hello, everyone.

In my lessons class I have learnt the basic structure for questions is:

Verb + subject + complement.

But recently I read "Round the World in Eighty Days" published by Penguin Readers for ESL learners and there I read the sentence:

"This man is your servant?"

And another:

"You have come from London?"

For me, the correct is "Is this man your servant?" and "Have you come from London?"

Can someone help me with this grammar point?

Thanks so much

 

[GoesStation]

Hi, and welcome to the forum! :hi:

You learned the correct structure for questions in written English. In the spoken language (and in dialog in texts like yours), we often form a question by making a declarative statement with a rising intonation. This is indicated with a question mark in the quoted text.

 

[Yankee]

The structure as quoted is sometimes used to confirm a previous comment as in, (A) "It has been a long day. I left London at 6 AM." (B) "You have come from London?" OR (A)"I'm hungry. I didn't eat breakfast this morning." (B) You haven't eaten since last night?".

 

[Tarheel]

As always, it depends on context.