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Interrogative Sentence

What Is an Interrogative Sentence? (with Examples)

An interrogative sentence is one that asks a direct question and always ends in a question mark.

The term interrogative sentence is another name for a question.

Examples of Interrogative Sentences

Here are some examples of interrogative sentences:

• Has anyone seen my torch?
• What's the capital of Peru?
• Shall we ask Simon or Jonesy?

Beware Sentences with Indirect Questions

A statement with an indirect question is a declarative sentence and not an interrogative sentence. For example:

• I wonder if I'll ever find my torch.
• Sarah asked whether anybody had seen her torch.

These are declarative sentences. They are statements not questions.

An indirect question can form part of an interrogative sentence. For example:

• Can you tell me what material she likes?
(Direct-question version: What material does she like?)
• Could you fetch me when the alarm beeps?
(Direct-question version: When will the alarm beep?)
• Did she ask whether I found my torch?
(Direct-question version: Did I find my torch?)

Types of Question

There are three main types of question:

• Yes/No Questions.
  
  Example: Is it raining?
(The answer to a yes/no question will be yes or no.)
(Answer to this question: No.)
• "Question Word" Questions.
  
  Example: Why are you bored?
(The answer to a "question word" question will be information.)
(Answer: I've seen this film before.)
• Choice Questions.
  
  Example: Do you want salsa dip or cheese dip?
(The answer to a choice question will be in the question.)
(Answer: salsa dip)

Read more about forming direct questions.

Other Sentence Types

Here are some examples of other sentence types:

Imperative Sentence
An imperative sentence is a command or a polite request. It ends with an exclamation mark (!) or a full stop / period. For example:

• Get out!
• Please depart when the doors open.

Declarative Sentence
A declarative sentence states a fact or an argument and ends with a
full stop () / period (). For example:

• Lima is the capital of Peru.

Exclamatory Sentence
An exclamatory sentence expresses excitement or emotion. It ends with an exclamation mark (!). For example:

• This is ridiculous!
• I love it!

A Quick Test

• This test has questions.
• You will score at least 5 points for a correct answer.
• You will score bonus points for answering the questions quickly.
• Be careful though. Wrong answers score 0 points.
• The maximum score is .

Scoring System

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