Interrogative sentences are sentences that ask a query, usually to request info. They’re recognized by the query mark (?) that comes on the finish of the sentence as a substitute of a interval.
The tough factor about interrogative sentences is that they don’t observe the identical guidelines as different sentences. Their phrase order and use of auxiliary verbs are totally different, which may result in confusion.
So under, we clarify the foundations on easy methods to use them and share some interrogative sentence examples so you’ll be able to see how they work. However first, let’s take a more in-depth take a look at the interrogative sentence definition.
What’s an interrogative sentence?
If you wish to ask a query, you continue to must phrase your phrases as a correct sentence. Sentences that ask a query are referred to as interrogative sentences.
What’s complicated you?
Are you free this weekend?
Do you want ballet?
Interrogative sentences are one of many 4 varieties of sentences, together with declarative, exclamatory, and crucial. Whereas every of the sentence varieties is exclusive, solely interrogative sentences change the everyday phrase order of a sentence and make use of the auxiliary verb do, which we clarify under.
What’s the goal of an interrogative sentence?
The aim of interrogative sentences and questions generally is to request info. The speaker wish to know one thing, so that they ask a query to study the reply.
The place are we assembly?
Interrogative sentences may make your viewers assume extra about what you’re saying and grow to be extra engaged together with your concepts. On this sense, interrogative sentences make nice matter sentences to introduce a brand new idea.
Who was financing the lobbyists? Our reporters tracked down the supply of the funds . . .
Though a query’s foremost purpose is to request info, questions will also be rhetorical. Not like different interrogative sentences, rhetorical questions will not be meant to be answered. As a substitute, they’re requested to make a degree or produce a dramatic impact.
Wouldn’t you have fun too if you happen to gained?
Guidelines for interrogative sentences, with examples
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Interrogative sentences all the time finish in a query mark
In writing, interrogative sentences are straightforward to determine as a result of all of them finish with the identical punctuation: the query mark.
When does the sport begin?
Watch out of oblique questions, nevertheless. These will not be truly questions however statements about folks asking questions. As statements, they finish in a interval.
She desires to know when the sport begins.
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If there are not any auxiliary verbs or the verb be, use the auxiliary verb do
Interrogative sentences normally have an auxiliary verb or use the verb be. In the event that they don’t, it’s important to add a type of the auxiliary verb do.
As a result of be is probably the most used verb in English, a whole lot of questions use it as both the primary verb or an auxiliary verb. That features all its kinds: am, is, and are and its previous tense, was and had been.
Is this your card?
Who was on the door?
Within the examples above, the primary verb is a type of be, so we don’t want so as to add any new phrases.
This additionally works for the continual tenses, which use be as an auxiliary verb.
Are you trying for somebody?
When had been you planning on telling me?
Within the first instance, the primary verb is look, however as a result of it makes use of the current steady tense, the verb be is current as an auxiliary verb. Once more, we don’t want so as to add any new phrases. The second instance is comparable however makes use of the previous steady.
If an interrogative sentence makes use of another verb in addition to be, and if there’s no different auxiliary verb, you will need to add a type of do. That features its third-person singular, does; its previous tense, did; and its previous participle, finished.
Did you see my put up?
The place does the rainbow finish?
Within the first instance, the primary verb is see. Nevertheless, as a result of the sentence doesn’t embody be or an auxiliary verb, we should add a type of do (on this case, the previous tense did).
Even if you happen to use the phrase do as the primary verb, you continue to want so as to add a second do as an auxiliary verb to questions.
Do you do your individual nails?
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The auxiliary verb comes first, then the topic, adopted by the primary verb
The construction of interrogative sentences is maybe probably the most complicated half. For different sentences, the topic comes earlier than the verb, however with interrogative sentences, the auxiliary verb comes earlier than the topic, and the primary verb goes after.
[auxiliary verb] + [subject] + [main verb]
Let’s take a look at a traditional declarative sentence, the place the topic comes earlier than the verb. This sentence has the current good tense, which makes use of the auxiliary verb has.
Kayla has stayed house since faculty ended.
To show that sentence right into a query, we have now to rearrange the phrases, placing the auxiliary verb first however leaving the primary verb final. The remainder of the sentence is unchanged.
Has Kayla stayed house since faculty ended?
If the sentence makes use of a type of do as an auxiliary verb, place it earlier than the topic.
Does Kayla keep house usually?
If the sentence makes use of a modal auxiliary verb like ought to, can, or would possibly, place the modal verb earlier than the topic, identical to different auxiliary verbs.
Ought to we go to Kayla?
If the sentence makes use of be as its foremost verb with out auxiliary verbs, then you definitely nonetheless place it earlier than the topic.
Is Kayla house?
Loads of verb tenses in English use auxiliary verbs, together with the straightforward future (will), good tenses (have, has, and had), and the continual tenses (be). You’ll be able to see a full checklist of auxiliary verbs right here.
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Use query phrases for the a part of the interrogative sentence that’s unknown
Interrogative sentences normally contain a bit of knowledge that’s unknown—in spite of everything, that’s why somebody is asking a query. To fill in these unknown elements when asking a query, we use query phrases like what or why, also referred to as interrogative phrases or WH phrases.
Every query phrase represents a distinct kind of unknown info. Whenever you’re asking a query, simply change the lacking info with the proper kind of WH phrase from the checklist under. (You’ll discover that how additionally counts as a WH phrase as a result of it has each h and w, and elicits info.)
- who represents folks
- what represents issues and actions
- the place represents locations
- when represents time
- why represents causes
- which represents choices in a alternative
- whose represents a particular person with reference to possession or possession
- how represents technique or method
- how + an adjective or adverb represents a diploma or quantity
- how a lot or what number of symbolize a quantity or amount
Should you’re utilizing a query phrase in your interrogative sentence, you continue to use the Auxiliary Verb–Topic–Principal Verb construction. Nevertheless, the query phrase comes at the start, as in What are you doing?
[WH word] + [auxiliary verb] + [subject] + [main verb]
What + are + you + doing?
Should you ever get confused in regards to the right construction of an interrogative sentence, use
our free sentence checker to see any errors and discover ways to right them.
Forms of interrogative sentences
There are 4 varieties of interrogative sentences or questions, every with a specific construction. Usually the sort you utilize will depend on what info you need, corresponding to a sure/no or a range from selections. We talk about the main points under, however right here’s a fast checklist of the 4 varieties of interrogative sentences:
- Sure/no questions
- Or questions
- Open-ended questions
- Tag questions
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Sure/no questions
As you’ll be able to guess, sure/no interrogative sentences are questions the place the reply is both sure or no. The remainder of the knowledge, corresponding to the topic and motion, is thought, however the speaker is requesting both an affirmative or detrimental response.
Sure/no questions all the time begin with both the verb be or an auxiliary verb, corresponding to do, have, can, or will. As a result of the query just isn’t searching for new info however as a substitute seeking to affirm or deny what’s already identified, sure/no questions don’t use WH phrases.
[Auxiliary verb or be] + [subject] + [main verb]
Do + you + converse Tagalog?
Sure/no interrogative sentence examples
Are you going to the present later?
Have you ever been understanding?
Can I enable you with that?
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Or questions
Interrogative sentences with the conjunction or provide a alternative and request a range. They’re structured like sure/no questions, with or separating the choices.
Would you like the dressing on the salad or the aspect?
When you have greater than two choices, use or solely earlier than the ultimate one.
Ought to we get pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers, or plain?
Or questions will also be compound sentences if the selection includes two separate clauses. On this case, every clause follows the identical Auxiliary Verb–Topic–Principal Verb construction as sure/no questions.
Are you able to stroll, or ought to I carry you?
Needless to say if you happen to use both or neither, it’s a sure/no query. With both/neither, no alternative is obtainable.
Q: Have you ever both graduated highschool or handed your GED take a look at?
A: Sure, I did a type of.
Or interrogative sentence examples
Are you speaking to him or me?
Ought to I keep or go now?
Will you hang around with us willingly, or do I would like to pull you?
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Open-ended questions
Open-ended questions request sure unknown info, which is changed by a WH phrase within the interrogative sentence. You’ll be able to overview the checklist above to see which WH phrases change what sort of info. As a result of any info might be unknown, the reply to open-ended questions may probably be something besides sure or no.
Open-ended questions observe the identical Auxiliary Verb–Topic–Principal Verb construction as different questions, nevertheless the WH phrase normally comes first, earlier than the auxiliary verb.
[WH word] + [auxiliary verb or be] + [subject] + [main verb]
What + does + this button + do?
Open-ended interrogative sentence examples
The place is Timbuktu on a map?
When did you get a haircut?
How do you learn so quick?
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Tag questions
Tag questions are totally different from different varieties of interrogative sentences. They’re used if you assume one thing is right however need affirmation. What makes them totally different is that they’re structured like regular declarative sentences, with a fast query “tagged on” on the finish.
You’ve ridden a horse earlier than, haven’t you?
To make a tag query, begin with a daily assertion. You’ll be able to create the tag through the use of an auxiliary verb or the verb be and a pronoun for the topic. Don’t neglect so as to add a comma between the assertion and the tag.
[statement] + , + [auxiliary verb or be] + [subject pronoun]
You’re not my Tinder date, are you?
If the primary verb just isn’t be and there are not any different auxiliary verbs, use do within the tag like different interrogative sentences.
His mother drives him to high school, doesn’t she?
The tag additionally makes use of the identical tense because the assertion. If the assertion is up to now tense, use phrases like did, had, was, or had been within the tag.
His mother drove him to high school, didn’t she?
There are three vital guidelines to recollect with tag questions. First, the positivity and negativity of the assertion and tag are reversed. If the assertion is constructive, the tag is detrimental; if the assertion is detrimental, the tag is constructive.
You wouldn’t inform on me, would you?
Second, use a contraction if the tag is detrimental.
My sister will watch the recital, gained’t she?
Third, if the topic is the pronoun I and the tag is detrimental, use aren’t as a substitute of amn’t.
I’m within the fallacious classroom, aren’t I?
Nevertheless, if the tag makes use of I and is constructive, you’ll be able to nonetheless use am.
I’m not within the fallacious classroom, am I?
Tag query examples
You low-key like learning, don’t you?
We’re assembly on the clock tower, aren’t we?
I shouldn’t textual content first, ought to I?
Interrogative sentences FAQs
What’s an interrogative sentence?
An interrogative sentence is a sentence that asks a query.
What’s the goal of an interrogative sentence?
Like all questions, interrogative sentences are primarily for requesting info. You too can use them to additional interact your viewers by making them assume extra about what you’re saying. Rhetorical questions, which aren’t meant to be answered, can be utilized to make a degree or produce a dramatic impact.
How are interrogative sentences structured?
Not like in different sentences, in interrogative sentences the auxiliary verb comes first, then the topic, and final the primary verb. If there’s a query phrase like who or what, that normally goes at the start, earlier than the auxiliary verb.
What are some examples of interrogative sentences?
What are you doing? Did you break my favourite mug? Will you glue it again collectively?
