1. A computer-implemented method comprising: providing, to a plurality of users of a search system, a statement that references a particular attribute of a particular topic; in response to providing the statement to the plurality of users of the search system, obtaining, from the plurality of users, a collection of candidate query patterns that each include one or more query terms that are indicated by the plurality of users as terms that are useful for obtaining a value for the particular attribute of the particular topic referenced in the statement; selecting a subset of the candidate query patterns of the collection; generalizing one or more of the query patterns to generate one or more generalized query patterns that are useful for obtaining a value for the particular attribute of other topics in addition to the particular topic; and associating the one or more generalized query patterns with the particular topic as well as one or more other topics that include the particular attribute.