Grammar-Quizzes › Noun Phrases › Nouns › Pronouns › Interrogative Pronouns
Look at that squirrel! She's sitting there and staring at us. Maybe she thinks that we will feed her. I've seen her before. She looks ready to have another litter of kits. Perhaps, she is nesting. She has been collecting acorns. She hides them nearby. She even hid some in my garden shoes. Somehow, she finds the acorns again later. I've also seen her eating birdseed from bird feeders. She has managed to survive for several years and has had several litters of kits.
acorn (N) – a nut from an oak tree
gather (V) – collect, bring things together into a group
kit (N) – a squirrel baby is called a kit (kitten) or pup.
litter (N) – group of babies born together, often for dogs and cats
manage (V) – work hard or struggle to do something, achieve a goal
nest (V) – prepare a safe place to have babies (often in trees or bushes)
(s)he v. it – small animals are often called it unless the gender is easy to identify
seed (N) – the tiny round object from which a new plant grows
stare (V) – look at something for a long time without moving the eyes
survive (V) – live through very difficult circumstances or climate.
whose — is the genitive (possessive) form of who, and it is followed by a noun
YES / NO QUESTIONS |
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Questions that begin with be, do or have allow us to ask for information that can be answered by "yes" or "no". They are called closed interrogatives because the response is limited. |
"BE" AUXILIARY |
Is the squirrel looking at us? Yes, she is. / No, she isn't |
"DO" AUXILIARY |
Does the squirrel expect us to feed her? Yes, she does. / No, she doesn't. |
"HAVE" AUXILIARY |
Has the squirrel put away food for the winter? Yes, she has. / No, she hasn't. |
MODAL AUXILIARY |
Will she have her babies before winter starts? Yes, she will. / No, she won't. |
WH- QUESTIONS |
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Interrogative pronouns such as who, what, where, why, when and how allow us to ask a question which accepts a wide range of answers. These are called open interrogatives because response is not limited. |
"BE" AUXILIARY |
What is the squirrel looking at? She is looking at us for some reason. |
"DO" AUXILIARY |
Why does the squirrel expect us to feed her? Because¹ neighbors often leave her nuts. |
"HAVE" AUXILIARY |
Where has the squirrel been hiding acorns for the winter? She has been hiding them in the ground near her tree. |
MODAL AUXILIARY |
When will she have her babies? She will have her babies soon. She is rather big. |
¹ because occurs at the beginning of a response in shortened informal speech. A full and more formal response would connect the response to a main clause: "She expects us to feed her because neighbors often leave her nuts."
² when is also used used as (1) a connective for a subordinate wh- clause (indirect questions). I don't know [when she will have her babies.] and (2) a connective preposition for the relative timing of events (same time) . The mother will use up her cache of acorns [when the babies are young.] See Comparison of Wh- (below).
Modals: will, can, may, might, must, could, would, should
Open interrogative – a question that begins with a wh- pronoun: who, what, which, where, when, why, how, how much, what kind, etc. and is not limited to "yes" or "no" (polar) responses. The response can contain more information. (Huddleston 10 §7.1-8)
Closed interrogative – a question that begins with a be, do, have or modal auxiliary verb, and is limited to "yes" or "no" (polar) responses. (Huddleston 10 §6.1-3)
(Azar 443) (Murphy 50) (Swan 480, 619-28)
Interrogative Modifiers: emotive modifiers – in grammar, are modifying words that come after a question word and which express the speaker's surprise or inability to explain the situation stated in the clause: What ever, What the hell/ heck/ blazes/ dickens, Who else/ on earth, What exactly/ precisely, What in tarnation (damnation), WTF… are they here for? (Huddleston 10 §7.13)
— Why ever
DECLARATIVE |
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When asking for unknown information, the unknown "something" may occur in the subject or object position with who and what, but only in the object/complement position with when, where, why and how. (Passive sentences are exceptions.) |
SUBJECT "WHO" OR "WHAT" |
Someone is attracting the squirrel's attention. Something is attracting the squirrel's attention. Something funny is attracting the squirrel's attention. |
OBJECT (OF THE VERB) |
The squirrel is watching something. |
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE |
The squirrel is looking at something. |
|
BE + IDENTIFYING NOUN PHRASE |
It is something. |
It is some kind of squirrel. (type, species, variety, etc.) |
INTERROGATIVE |
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In the question form, the pronoun that replaces the unknown "something" is placed at the front of the clause followed by the auxiliary verb. (For subject who or what, no change is needed.) If the unknown thing occurs in a phrase, the whole phrase is "fronted". |
SUBJECT — NO CHANGE REQUIRED |
Who is attracting the squirrel's attention? What is attracting the squirrel's attention? What funny thing is attracting the squirrel's attention? |
OBJECT PRONOUN MOVED TO FRONT |
What is the squirrel watching ___? |
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE MOVED TO FRONT |
At what is the squirrel looking ____? (formal) |
What is the squirrel looking at ____ ? (standard usage) |
IDENTIFYING NOUN PHRASE MOVED TO FRONT |
What is it ____? |
What kind of squirrel is it ____? |
Is it wrong to end a sentence with a preposition? Ending with a Preposition (Read options and what grammarians have to say on this traditional taboo.)
Also see Identifying "be".
In linguistics, "fronting" is the moving of elements or phrases to the beginning of the clause. ("Fronting and Zeroing" Wikipedia)
DECLARATIVE | ||
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In a declarative clause, unknown information can be expressed with—someone, something, somewhere, some reason, some time, some manner. In the following examples, these words are in a non-subject position of the clause. |
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SUBJECT | PREDICATE | COMP/ OBJ |
NP | V / VP | NP / PP / INFIN |
Someone |
is watching |
the squirrel. |
The squirrel |
is watching |
someone. |
The squirrel |
was hiding |
something. |
Her acorns |
are buried¹ |
somewhere. |
The squirrels |
are looking |
at us for some reason. |
The squirrels |
were burying |
their acorns some time ago. |
The squirrels |
are going |
to find their acorns by some manner. |
The squirrels |
are fighting |
over their acorns. |
INTERROGATIVE | |||
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In an interrogative in which the unknown information is not the subject of the declarative clause, the interrogative pronoun—who, what, which, where, why, when, whose, or how— is fronted (placed at the beginning of the clause) followed by the inversion of the subject and auxiliary . |
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WH– | PREDICATE | SUBJ | PRED / COMP |
PRN | AUX V | NP | V / GER / PPART |
→ |
|
Who |
is watching the squirrel? |
Who |
is |
the squirrel |
watching? |
What |
was |
the squirrel |
hiding? |
Where |
are |
his acorns |
buried? |
Why |
are |
they |
looking at us? |
When |
were |
they |
burying their acorns? |
How |
are |
the squirrels |
going to find them again? |
Whose acorns |
are |
the squirrels |
fighting over²? |
acorn (N) – the nut of an oak tree
¹ bury (V) is buried (passive) – put in the ground and covered with soil; buried (Participial Adj) underground, The pirates looked for the buried treasure.
² ending with a preposition – a preposition may be included with the interrogative pronoun or left at the end. See Ending with a Preposition.
Word Categories: N – noun / pronoun; NP – noun phrase; V – verb; VP – verb phrase; Adv – adverb; PP – prepositional phrase; GER – gerund; INFIN – infinitive clause; PPart – past participle
Grammatical Functions: SUBJ – subject, PRED – predicate, COMP – complement, ADJU – adjunct (DO) direct object, (IO) indirect object.. See Subject–Predicate–Complement.
DECLARATIVE | ||
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In a declarative, the standard word order is: subject – predicate – complement and possibly some additional information called adjuncts. |
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SUBJECT | PREDICATE | COMPLEMENT / OBJ |
NP | V / VP | NP / PP / INFIN |
Robert |
likes |
squirrels. |
Squirrels |
fear |
people. |
A squirrel |
hides |
food for the winter. |
Squirrels |
hide |
acorns in different places. |
Squirrels |
look |
at people for a variety of reasons. |
Squirrels |
buried |
their acorns last fall. |
A squirrel |
finds |
acorns by memory and scent. |
A squirrel |
put |
acorns in my shoe. |
INTERROGATIVE | |||
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In an interrogative, the word order is: wh-pronoun – auxiliary – subject –remainder of predicate – the rest (complements and adjuncts). |
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WH– | AUX | SUBJ | PRED + COMP |
PRN | AUX V | NP | V + COMPLEMENT |
→ |
Who |
likes squirrels? |
|
Who |
do |
squirrels |
fear? |
What |
does |
a squirrel |
hide? |
Where |
do |
squirrel |
hide acorns? |
Why |
do |
they |
look at us? |
When |
did |
they |
bury their acorns? |
How |
does |
a squirrel |
remember the location of a buried acorn? |
Whose shoe |
did |
a squirrel |
put its acorns in². |
scent (N) – odor, smell
"do" support – For a present tense (nonprogressive) statement, "do" support is used when forming a question. The present auxiliaries are do (does 3rd person singular) and the past auxiliary is did.
² ending with a preposition – a preposition may be included with the interrogative pronoun or left at the end. See Ending with a Preposition.
DECLARATIVE | ||
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In a declarative, the standard word order is: subject – predicate – complement and possibly some additional information called adjuncts. |
||
SUBJ | PRED | COMP / OBJ |
NP | V / VP | NP / PP / INFIN |
We |
have seen |
the squirrel's nest. |
The mother |
have been begging |
us for food. |
The squirrel |
has kept |
her young in the hole of an old oak tree. |
The squirrel |
has not let |
the babies out. |
This squirrel |
had lost |
one of her young due to an owl attack earlier this year. |
INTERROGATIVE | |||
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In an interrogative, the word order is: wh-pronoun – auxiliary – subject –remainder of predicate + the rest (complements and adjuncts). |
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WH– | PRED AUX | SUBJ | PRED / COMP |
PRN | AUX V | NP | PPART/ NP / PP |
→ |
|
Who |
has seen the squirrel's nest? |
Who |
has |
the mother |
been begging for food? |
Where |
has |
the mother |
kept her young? |
Why |
has |
she |
not let them out? |
How |
had |
the mother squirrel |
lost a young one? |
squirrel baby – young are called "kit" or "pup". A female squirrel is a "doe" and a male squirrel is a "buck".
DECLARATIVE | ||
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In a declarative, the standard word order is: subject – predicate – complement and possibly some additional information called adjuncts. |
||
SUBJ | PRED | COMP / OBJ |
NP | V / VP | NP / PP / INFIN |
We |
can see |
the babies in the nest. |
The squirrels |
can see |
us. |
The nest |
might be |
in the hole of an old oak tree. |
The squirrel |
should be |
careful. |
The squirrel |
couldn't see |
the owl nearby. |
INTERROGATIVE | |||
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In an interrogative, the word order is: wh-pronoun – auxiliary – subject –remainder of predicate – the rest (complements + adjuncts). |
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WH– | PRED AUX | SUBJ | PRED / COMP |
PRN | AUX V | NP | V / NP / PP |
→ |
|
Who |
can see the squirrel's nest? |
Who |
can |
squirrels |
see? |
Where |
might |
the squirrel's nest |
be? |
Why |
should |
she |
be careful? |
How |
could |
the squirrel |
see the owl nearby? |
Modals: will, can, may, might, must, could, would, should
WHICH & WHAT IN STANDARD WORD ORDER | ||
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Interrogatives which and what can also serve as determiners before a noun. Which and what are mostly interchangeable: which is preferred for limited choices and what for unlimited (more than two) choices. |
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SUBJECT PREDICATE | INTERROGATIVE PHRASE | |
NP–V | INTERROG. | N |
You want |
which what |
one? color? (type, flavor, size, shape) |
It is |
which what |
one? color? (kind, variety, brand, way¹) |
You have |
what size² what color² what flavor² what kind of |
shoes? paper? ice cream? dog? |
You have |
whose³ |
dog? |
WHICH & WHAT IN QUESTION WORD ORDER | ||
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An interrogative what or which phrase is "fronted" (brought to the beginning of the clause) and is followed by subject–auxiliary inversion. Which and what phrases occur only as the object of a clause, not as the subject. |
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INTERROGATIVE PHRASE | AUXILIARY–SUBJ | |
INTERROG. | N | V–N–V |
Which What |
one color (type, flavor, size, shape) |
do you want? |
Which |
one color (kind, variety, brand, way¹) |
is it? |
What size² What color² What flavor² What kind of |
shoes paper ice cream dog |
do you have? |
Whose |
dog |
do you have? |
¹ The phrase what way is not used.
²A few words do not require "of" in an interrogative phrase. What size (of) shoes do you wear?
³ whose is the genitive or possessive form for who. Note that who's is not used as a possessive form, only as an auxiliary contraction. Who's coming?
HOW IN STANDARD WORD ORDER | ||
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How also occurs in an interrogative phrase with a quantifier, adverb or adjective. How phrases occur as the subject or the object of a clause. |
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SUBJECT | PRED–COMP | |
INTERROG. PHRASE | NP | V + NP / PP |
How many |
squirrels |
live in that oak tree? |
SUBJ– PRED | OBJ INTERROG PHRASE | |
NP – V | HOW + QUANTIFIER | N |
You saw |
how many / few how much / little |
squirrels? water? |
NP + V | HOW + ADJ | N / PP |
The squirrel selects |
how big / wide / high / tall / old |
a tree? of a tree? |
NP + "BE" | HOW + ADJ | |
The tree is |
how old / young / far / near / wide / narrow / high / low? |
|
NP + V | HOW + ADV FREQ. | |
A litter of kits occurs |
how often / frequently / rarely? |
|
NP + V | HOW + ADV MANNER | |
A squirrel runs |
how fast / quickly / skillfully, agilely? |
|
HOW IN QUESTION WORD ORDER | ||
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The how phrase is "fronted" (brought to the beginning of the clause) and is followed by the question. |
||
SUBJECT | PRED–COMP | |
INTERROG. PHRASE | NP | V + NP / PP |
How many |
squirrels |
live in that oak tree? |
FRONTED INTERROG PHRASE | SUBJECT PREDICATE | |
HOW + QUANTIFIER | N | AUX–NP–V |
How many / few How much / little |
squirrels water |
can you count? |
HOW + ADJ | N | AUX–NP–V |
How big / wide / high / tall / old |
a tree |
does the squirrel select? |
HOW + ADJ | NP + "BE" | |
How old / young / far / near / wide / narrow / high / low? |
|
is the tree? |
HOW + ADV FREQ. | AUX–NP–V | |
How often / frequently / rarely? |
|
does a litter of kits occur? |
HOW + ADV MANNER | AUX–NP–V | |
How fast / quickly / skillfully, agilely |
|
does a squirrel run? |
agilely (Adv) – in a manner that is quick and well-coordinated in movement
litter of kits – the group of baby squirrels born to a mother. The babies are called "kits" or "pups".
how about – is an informal phrase often used to put forward information on a subject. How about trying something else? How about a cup of tea?
how come? – informal why?
how do you do? – a formal greeting
how is it that…? – a question asking about the reasoning behind someone's actions. How is it that we are still trying to solve the same old problem?
Also see Whatever Determiners and Whose Clauses.
(Huddleston 10 §7.9-10) (Swan 252 "how", 622 "which, what and who")
INTERROGATIVE PRONOUN | RELATIVE PRONOUN |
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An interrogative pronoun in a question is the placeholder for a subject (nominative) or object (accusative). It represents an unknown noun. |
A relative pronoun in a modifying clause relates the content of the relative clause to the noun directly before it. The relative clause adds descriptive information that helps identify "which noun". |
Who is feeding the squirrels? Who(m) did you see? (Obj) |
My son [who likes squirrels] is giving them nuts. My son [who(m) you met ] is giving them nuts. |
Whose tree do they live in? (genitive / possessive) |
The person [whose tree they used to live in] was Mr. Kramer. |
What eats squirrels? What do owls eat? |
The owl [*what / that¹ lives in a nearby tree] is killing squirrels. The owl [*what / that¹ lives in a nearby tree] ate a baby squirrel. |
When do squirrels breed? (Obj) |
The times [when squirrels breed] is spring and summer. |
Where does this squirrels make its nest? (Obj) |
The place [where this squirrel makes its nest] is in my oak tree. |
Why are smaller? (Obj) |
The reason [why I ordered a salad] is that I prefer eating light. |
How do squirrels climb so easily? (Obj) |
The manner [I ordered a salad] is that I prefer eating light. |
CONNECTIVE PRONOUN | CONNECTIVE PREPOSITION |
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An interrogative pronoun also functions as the connector between the main clause and the subordinated question. It relates the information in the question to the main clause. (Indirect Questions) |
The word when can also function as a connective preposition (He laughed when I tickled him.) When joins an adjunct (optional) clause that relates the timing of two events. (It is called a "temporal preposition".) |
I can tell you [who is feeding the squirrels.] I can tell you [who(m) I saw feeding the squirrels.] |
|
I have no idea [whose tree they are living in now.] |
|
I can tell you [what has been killing squirrels.] I can tell you [what the owl ate.] |
|
I know [when squirrels breed.] |
I smile [when² I see squirrels.] I will let you know [when I see one]. When: same-time v. after |
Can you tell me [where squirrels make their nests] ? |
|
He asked [why I ordered a salad] ? |
|
He asked [why I ordered a salad] ? |
clausal head – a pronoun such as who, what, where, when, why, or how is called a clausal head because of (1) its primary position in the clause, and (2) its primary role in the meaning of the clause. (It carries meaning as part of the clause, and it cannot be omitted.)
relative pronoun – a pronoun that relates a descriptive clause to a noun phrase is a relative pronoun. (The man [who called] wants an interview.)
connective pronoun – a pronoun that heads an interrogative clause becomes a connective pronoun when the interrogative clause is subordinated within another (main) clause. (You know him. You know [who he is]. Can you ask him [where we are going]?)
subordinator – a subordinator that, if or whether marks the subordination of the clause that follows it; it is not actually part of the clause it subordinates. That carries no meaning and can be omitted. Compare: *I know who the president is. I know that the president is a nit-wit. I don't know if the president thinks logically.
¹ The relative pronoun that not what is used in the relative clause.
² In this example, when expresses whenever or anytime.
adjunct – optional modifiers with additional information about the situation such as manner, timing, location, reason, goal, condition, and so on. See Connective Preposition or Adjunct.
connect (v) – join, add, attach
ERROR |
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*Who she is? (requires Auxiliary–Subject inversion) |
*Where the library? (missing verb) |
*How do he do that? (number agreement) |
*Whose he? (incorrect pronoun) |
* Who's pants are these? (whose v. who is) |
*Where's it at. |
*I don't know where is it. |
SOLUTION |
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Who is she? |
Where is the library? |
How does he do that? |
Who is he. Whose friend is he? See Whose Clauses. |
Whose pants are these? |
Where is it? (at is unnecessary) |
I don't know where it is. See Subordinate Wh- Questions. |
Related page How vs. What — exclamations.
TRADITIONAL GRAMMAR |
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Intonation Questions A rising intonation may be used to ask a question. Depending on which word is the focus, the intonation rises . In such a case, no question word is included and no auxiliary change occurs. (Swan 481) You fed the squirrels? ↑ You↑ fed the squirrels? You fed↑ the squirrels? Tag-Questions A question may be asked with a declarative statement and a small question at the end, usually with just the auxiliary and the subject noun (or pronoun). The tag question is negative if the declarative is positive (polarity) , or visa versa. (Swan 487)
Yes or No Questions Yes/ No and Information Questions – a question that may be answered yes or no. If the verb is the simple present use does (with he, she, it) or do (with I, you, we, they) in the question. If the verb is simple past, use did. The main verb is simple form; there is no final -s or -ed Wh- Questions
(Swan 480) |
LINGUISTIC DESCRIPTION |
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Closed interrogatives have subject–auxiliary inversion, which may include a "do" support structure if no other auxiliary verb is present. A closed interrogative accepts an affirmative or negative response, usually with "yes" or "no" (limited). Declarative: It is a dog. It barks. The dog is sleeping. It has been sleeping. Closed interrogative: Is it a dog? Does it bark? Is it sleeping? Has it been sleeping?
Open interrogatives include an interrogative phrase with how, who, whom, what, when, whose, where, why, or which. The phrase serves as a replacement for an unknown element in the declarative clause. An open interrogative accepts a wide variety of responses (not limited). Declarative: Bill went to the store this morning to buy some milk. Open interrogative: Who went to the store? Where did Bill go? When did Bill go? Why did Bill go? An interrogative phrase that is not in the subject of the declarative clause is usually fronted (moved to the beginning of the clause), which triggers the subject–auxiliary inversion. Subject interrogative: Bill likes Jill. Who likes Jill? Non-subject interrogative: Bill likes Jill. Who(m) does Bill like? Non-fronted interrogative: Bill likes who? Infinitival interrogative: Why make a big deal of it? (plain infinitive) Reduced interrogative phrase: What color? Which one? (Huddleston 10 §2) Interrogative Modifiers: emotive modifiers – in grammar, are modifying words that come after a question word and which express the speaker's surprise or inability to explain the situation stated in the clause: What ever, What the hell/ heck/ blazes/ dickens, Who else/ on earth, What exactly/ precisely, What in tarnation (damnation), WTF… are they here for? (Huddleston 10 §7.13) |
Western gray squirrels make their nests in trees. They only come down to forage for food, usually during the morning or late afternoon. They feed on seeds and nuts such as pine nuts and acorns. They will also eat berries, fungi and insects. They prefer acorns because the nuts are high in oil and carbohydrates, which help them to put on fat for the winter. Squirrels collect and bury acorns and then find them again later using their sense of smell. Those that they don't manage to find grow into new plants or trees.
Squirrel nests are built high in the branches of trees. Nests are made from sticks, leaves and grasses. Nesting mothers will make a covered nests and line them with lichen and tail hair. Nests must be hidden from predators such as coyotes, cougars, bobcats, hawks, owls, and domestic cats and dogs. Squirrels rely on speed, expert climbing skills and camouflage to escape predators. Fur on their stomachs is light-colored like the sky, and fur on their backs and heads is gray-brown like the color of tree bark.
bark (N) – the exterior surface of a tree trunk or limb.
bury (V) – dig a hole and place something underground.
camouflage (N) – having patterns and coloring of surrounding trees, plants and ground.
carbohydrates (N) –a substance that is in foods such as sugar, bread, and potatoes, which provides energy to the body.
forage (V) – search or hunt for food in nature.
lichen (N) – a tiny, gray, green, or yellow plant that spreads over the surface of stones and tree branches.
line (V) – put an interior layer of something to make the inside warmer.
nest (N) – a squirrel home built of sticks, leaves and grasses, also called "drey".
predator (N) – an animal that hunts and kills another animal for food.
skill (N) – an ability to do something well either naturally or through practice.
The western gray squirrel was listed as a threatened species in Washington state in 1993 due to urbanization and wild fires. Also, a disease carried by mites caused a large number of squirrels to die. The situation was made worse by the introduction of other species of squirrels into the area of gray squirrels. Due to these threats, wildlife experts have been tracking the movement of gray squirrels out of the suburbs and into mountains.
The western gray squirrel can be saved if open spaces in parks and forests are kept for them. Squirrels help the environment by carrying off seeds and burying them away from the shade of the parent tree. Squirrels bury acorns deep enough in the ground for the acorns to take root. A great number of oak and other trees exist because squirrels buried acorns and were unable to relocate their cache of nuts and seeds.
acorn (N) – seed or nut from an oak tree
benefit (N) – advantage; benefit (V) – do good for
bury (V) – dig a hold and put underground
cache (N) – a collection of things in storage, often hidden
environment (N) – surrounding things, conditions; ecology: air, water, nature
expert (N) – an experienced, educated person in a particular field or activity
mite (N) – a tiny insect that lives on birds and animals and weakens them
shade (N) – a location where sunlight does not reach
species (N) – a scientific category of animals below sub-genus.
suburb (N) – area outside of a city where neighborhoods are located
take root (expression) – grow; develop roots that reach into the soil
track (V) – follow and record data about findings
threat (N) – a harm or a danger
threaten (V) – harm or endanger
urban (N) – area within a big city; urbanization (N) – becoming a big city
wild fire (N) – large rapidly spreading, uncontrollable forest fire