ABSTRACT
Logical differences between yes-no, alternative and word questions are determ ined, it has been seen, solely by the presupposition of the question. But it has also been noted how a question of one of these types can be recast as a question of a different type: occasionally a yes-no question can be worded as an alternative question — in everyday life, not merely at the behest of some theory; and an alternative question can readily be rephrased as a which question. It follows that a yes-no question can be recast as a which question. The converse of each of these points does not hold. Tritely, if an alternative question is reduced to one of its alternatives so as to become a yes-no question, it ceases to be an alternative quest ion. And if a which question as such is recast as an alternative question, the presup position of the question thereby becomes more restrictive and may no longer be acceptable. More significantly, the tempting proposal to construe a which question as a series of conjoined yes-no questions will be seen to be a misconstruction.
