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Interrogative sentences ask a question and are punctuated with question marks. In English sentences, sentences have been classified into four categories according to their function. An interrogative sentence is one among them, and in this article, we will learn about the different types of interrogative sentences and its example for a better understanding of the topic. In general words, we can say an interrogative sentence asks the direct question and starts in a capital letter and ends up with the question mark. There is an inversion of subject and predicate in the interrogative sentence, which means that the verb comes before the subject.
Interrogative Sentences: Examples
- Where are you coming from?
- Would you like some coffee?
- What are you wearing?
- Aren’t you going there?
- Would you like to have tea or coffee?
- Did John buy a present for the birthday party?
Point to remember: The interrogative sentences will often start with one of the below words
- How
- When
- Did
- Who
- Where
- Why
- Do/ Did?
- What
Uses of Interrogative Sentences
This type of sentence is often used to collect information and seek something or provide some recommendations. Using the interrogative sentence, we can ask people to perform an activity or task. We can understand it better by taking the help of verbs like shall, Can, may etc.
- Shall we go by road? ( Recommendations)
- Can I borrow your notes? ( Requesting)
- Can I carry the luggage for you? ( Offering)
- May I make a report from your obtained information? ( Seeking permission)
Types of Interrogative Sentences
Interrogative sentences have been classified into four types
- Wh- interrogatives
- Alternative interrogatives
- Yes/ No interrogatives
- Tag questions
Wh-interrogatives
This question starts with the question words. The interrogative word or question word refers to the function work that helps ask a question. There are 9 question words available in the English language and are known as wh-words because excluding “how”, all other question words start with wh-.
Question words
When, why, who. Which, what, where, whom, whose and how are called question words because they are mostly used to inquire about a query. These words can be an object, subject, adverbial or complement.
Questions that start with the word “who”
“Who “refers to a person, and because it is a pronoun, it doesn’t come before a noun. When “ who” is the object, we can instead use whom; however, the “who” question word is quite common in everyday conversation.
Examples:
- Who was the judge? (Subject)
- Who were you talking to? (object of the preposition)
Questions start with “where.
To get information regarding the location or position, we use the “where” as an adverbial that possibly is the object of a preposition.
Examples
- Where should I deliver the birthday greeting? (position)
- Where does this pet come from? (Object of the preposition,)
Questions that begin with “when.”
“When” is used to determine the occasion, time, etc.
Examples:
- When will he reach the stadium?
- When did the chief guest arrive?
Questions starting with “why” and “why don’t”
“Why “is used to understand the reason or seek an explanation; however “, why don’t “is used to provide a recommendation.
Examples:
- Why are you feeling low?
- Why didn’t you come to play yesterday?
Questions were starting with “what.”
“What” is a pronoun, which can be a subject or object. We need to understand that there will be no inversion of the subject and verb when the question words are the subject.
Examples:
- What smells foul? (subject, no inversion)
- What train can you board? (determiner)
- What do you understand by learning? Pronoun, object, inversion)
Questions starting with “which.”
“Which” can be used as a pronoun and determiner.
Examples:
- Which colour do you like? (determiner)
- Which of these outdoors do you prefer to play?
- Which one is the most lovable cartoon character?
Questions that begin with “whose.”
“Whose” refers to the pronoun possessive form, i.e. “ who.”
Examples:
- Whose mobile phone is that?
- Whose house is more luxurious?
Questions that begin with “how.”
“How” is used to ask both direct and indirect direct questions to obtain valuable knowledge regarding the amount of distance for expressing the degree level.
Examples:
- How many students are there in this playing cricket team?
- How much money does John require a month?
- How was your day?
Alternative Interrogatives
These are the questions that provide the listener with a choice of selecting two or more responses for the asked question.
Examples:
- Do you want to go to Shimla or Mathura?
- Will you have a soft drink or a health drink?
- Will you come with me now or go with Marian Brooks afterwards?
Yes/No Interrogatives
These are the questions that can be responded to with either “yes” or “ No”. These types of questions can be formed with formed using the auxiliary verbs,
Examples:
Do you go to the school auditorium daily?
Did you meet your school friend yesterday?
May I come with you?
Tag Questions
These types of questions are formed by attaching the question tags to the end of the declarative sentences. When the statement is positive, we will put the negative tag and vice versa.
Examples:
- He should run fast to win the race, shouldn’t he?
- He cannot come, can he?
- He tries hard, doesn’t he?
Indirect questions/embedded questions
We can say that some of the declarative sentences include the question embedded, which might not be treated as a question and question marks should not be put at the end. However, if the indirect question is inside the question, it is needed to put the question mark at the end.
Examples:
- Could you let me know where the shopping mall is? (“Where the shopping mall is” is embedded in the question; therefore the question mark is put at the end.
Conclusion
Interrogative sentences are used in our daily tongue to ask a direct question, inquire about information or demand something. There are different types of questions that can be formed using ‘wh’-words as well as auxiliary verbs. One must be careful in placing the verb before the subject and end with a question mark to indicate an interrogative sentence.
