Understanding the function of an interrogative sentence is a way to improve your grammar. This sentence is identified by the question mark at the end of its sentence.
Compared to other types of sentences, the interrogative doesn’t follow the same rule – which is quite tricky for some. To understand more about this type of sentence, you should read the explanation of interrogative sentences below.
What is an Interrogative Sentence?
Asking questions, more than anything, requires you to phrase the words properly. This is something that you call interrogative sentences.
Among the four types of sentences, the interrogative type is quite unique and has a different word order. Other than that, interrogative sentences utilize the auxiliary verb “do” to make a proper sentence.
The Purpose of Interrogative Sentences
As mentioned earlier, the main function of interrogative sentences is to gain information or ask questions.
Other than asking questions, you can use this sentence to make your audience pay closer attention to something that you are saying. More than anything, using interrogative sentences is a way to engage with one’s ideas.
However, even though most people use this sentence to ask a question, it can be rhetorical – something you don’t need to answer. Rhetorical questions, on the other hand, are great when it comes to making a point or creating something dramatic.
Make sure you remember these points before using or creating interrogative sentences. Here are the aspects you have to keep in mind.
- Put a question mark at the end of the sentence.
- Start the sentence with a modal verb, an auxiliary verb, or even a ‘Wh’ question word. Make sure the word starts with a capital letter.
- Interrogative sentences have a reversed structure of declarative sentences.
Similar to learning grammar in general, practicing interrogative sentence exercises helps you to improve your ability to understand this term.
Different Types of Interrogative Sentences and Examples
Interrogative sentences come in four types along with a different structure on each. Check out the details and interrogative sentence examples of each type below.
1. Yes/No Questions
As the name suggests, this type of question requires a yes or no answer only. Commonly, this type of interrogative sentences start with an auxiliary verb or the verb ‘be’.
There is no new information needed. All the speaker looks for is the affirmative or negative response, after all. Here are the examples:
- Do you eat pork?
- Can she hit the highest note of Jessie J’s song?
- Will you be my valentine’s date?
The yes/no question can also be applied on complex interrogative sentences, such as:
- When mother arrives, can you pass her this letter?
2. Open-Ended Questions
This type of question is seeking new information. Since the information might be unknown yet, the answers would be anything but yes or no, after all. Check out a few examples below.
- Why did you put the towel on the railing?
- What is the name of your haircut?
- How do you look so gorgeous?
3. Or Questions
The presence of the conjunction ‘or’ allows a choice as well as asking for a selection. Here is how you use this type of interrogative sentences.
- Do you like it hot or with ice?
- Should I order pizza or fries?
- Can you carry the bag, or should I call the porter?
4. Tag Questions
Meanwhile, tag questions are used to confirm whether or not the prior information is correct. The structure is almost similar to declarative sentences but a question mark is needed at the end of the sentence.
- You went home late last night, didn’t you?
- My mom would come to my recital, wouldn’t she?
Conclusion
We use interrogative sentences daily to ask questions or to gain information about something. Other than that, you shouldn’t forget to put a question mark at the end of the question.
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You will learn about the interrogative sentence along with other aspects needed to hone your pronunciation skills.