Interrogative Sentence

What is an Interrogative Sentence?

An interrogative sentence is that sentence which asks a question. These sentences always end with a question mark (?). We expect some information from these sentences but we get it according to the form of a question. Sometimes we expect only yes / no answer or sometimes complete explanation. We use a sentence to get some information, that is, interrogative sentence.

We shall take some examples of interrogative sentences.

  • What did he do yesterday?
  • Do you agree with this?
  • It is so beautiful, isn’t it?
  • Which pen will you take, blue or red?

Types of Interrogative sentence

 There are four types of interrogative sentences according to the answer we expect,

Those are –

  • Wh-questions
  • Rhetorical questions (yes/ no)
  • Tag questions
  • Alternative questions

♦ Wh- questions

In these questions, we use wh-words to ask a question. The response to this question is an explanation or an appropriate answer.

Examples

  • Who is participating (present participle) in a singing competition?
  • What do you do?
  • Where are you going?
  • Which subjects do you like the most?
  • Where will you stay?

♦ Rhetorical questions

Rhetorical questions are those questions in which answers we get only yes or no. Every day we use these types of questions.

Examples

  • Did you learn the answers to those questions?
  • Have you done (past participle) your work given to you?
  • Are you OK?
  • Did you meet your boss today?
  • Can you do me a favor?

In all the above questions we expect the response in yes or no.

♦ Question tags

The question tag type sentences are used to confirm the explanation we have. In this example, a statement is confirmed with a question tag.

Examples of question tag

  • You need to improve yourself, don’t you?
  • It’s raining, isn’t it?
  • He is switching his job, isn’t he?
  • She doesn’t work for that company, does she?
  • They are not quarreling with each other, are they?

♦ Alternative interrogative

 We ask these types of questions when we provide choice. There are two or more answers to these questions.

Examples of Alternative interrogatives

  • Should I text or call?
  • Would you like to have tea or coffee?
  • Will you prefer to travel by car or train?
  • Is she coming or going?
  • Are you joining us or not?

You may also like the links given below. Those are types of sentences.

Assertive sentence
Imperative sentence
Exclamatory Sentence