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.
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. 6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the statement is selected to cause one or more query patterns to be obtained that include the particular attribute for which associations for the one or more generalized query patterns that include the particular attribute are needed.