Interrogative Sentence: Definition, Types, Examples & Rules

What Is an Interrogative Sentence?

An interrogative sentence is a sentence that asks a question. It is used to get information, check something, clarify an idea, or ask someone to choose between options.

An interrogative sentence usually ends with a question mark (?) when it is a direct question.

Simple Definition

An interrogative sentence is a sentence used to ask a question.

Examples:

• What is your name?

• Where do you live?

• Are you ready?

• Did you finish your homework?

• Which book do you want?

The first three examples ask for information or confirmation, while the last example asks someone to choose.

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Interrogative Sentence Meaning

The word interrogative relates to asking questions.

In simple English, an interrogative sentence is a question sentence. It asks something rather than simply stating information.

Compare:

Statement: She is your teacher.

Question: Is she your teacher?

The first sentence gives information. The second sentence asks for information, so it is an interrogative sentence.

Definition of Interrogative Sentence

An interrogative sentence is a type of sentence that asks a question.

It can begin with:

• a question word such as what, where, when, who, why, which, whose, or how

• an auxiliary or helping verb such as is, are, do, does, did, can, will, have, or should

Examples:

• What are you doing?

• Where is my bag?

• Do you like mangoes?

• Can you swim?

• Have you finished your work?

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10 Interrogative Sentences With Answers

Here are 10 simple interrogative sentences with possible answers.

The answers can change depending on the situation. The important point is that each sentence asks a question.

10 Easy Interrogative Sentence Examples

1. What are you doing?

2. Where is your school?

3. Who is at the door?

4. Why are you laughing?

5. When will you come home?

6. Do you like ice cream?

7. Are you ready for school?

8. Can you help me?

9. Did you eat breakfast?

10. Which dress do you prefer?

Types of Interrogative Sentences

Interrogative sentences can be grouped in different ways. For school-level grammar, the most useful types are:

1. Yes-or-no questions

2. Wh-questions

3. Choice questions

4. Alternative questions

Direct and indirect questions are another useful distinction and are explained separately below.

Read More: List of Difficult Words in English

1. Yes-or-No Interrogative Sentences

A yes-or-no question is a question that can usually be answered with yes or no.

Examples:

• Are you hungry?

• Is this your book?

• Do you play football?

• Did she call you?

• Can he swim?

• Will they come tomorrow?

Structure

A common structure is:

Helping verb + subject + main verb/complement + ?

Examples:

• Are + you + ready?

• Can + she + dance?

• Did + they + arrive?

For simple present questions with most verbs:

Do/Does + subject + base verb + ?

Examples:

• Do you like music?

• Does he play cricket?

For simple past questions:

Did + subject + base verb + ?

Example:

• Did you finish your work?

2. Wh-Questions

Wh-questions ask for specific information rather than a simple yes or no.

Common question words include:

Examples of Wh-Questions

• What are you reading?

• Where did you put my pencil?

• When does the class start?

• Who helped you?

• Why are you upset?

• Which subject do you like?

• Whose notebook is this?

• How did you solve the problem?

Is "How" an Interrogative Word?

Yes. How is commonly used as an interrogative word to ask about the manner, condition, degree, quantity or other information.

Examples:

• How are you?

• How did you make this?

• How far is the school?

• How many books do you have?

• How much water do you need?

Although how does not begin with “wh,” it is still commonly grouped with question words.

3. Choice Questions

A choice question gives two or more options and asks the person to choose.

Examples:

• Do you want tea or coffee?

• Would you like rice or noodles?

• Should we walk or take the bus?

• Which do you prefer, summer or winter?

These questions may not be answered with only yes or no. The person usually chooses one of the options.

4. Alternative Questions

An alternative question also presents alternatives, but the alternatives can be more specific or complex.

Examples:

• Are you travelling by train or by bus?

• Will you study science or mathematics?

• Would you like to read a book or watch a movie?

In school grammar, choice questions and alternative questions are sometimes treated as the same category.

Read More: Daily Use Vocabulary Words for Spoken English

Direct Interrogative Sentences

A direct interrogative sentence asks a question directly and normally ends with a question mark.

Examples:

• Where are you going?

• What is your name?

• Are you coming with us?

• Did you complete the project?

The word order usually differs from that of a statement.

Statement: You are coming with us.

Direct question: Are you coming with us?

Indirect Interrogative Sentences

An indirect question reports or includes a question inside another sentence. The embedded question normally does not use the question word order of a direct question.

Examples:

Direct: Where does she live?

Indirect: Can you tell me where she lives?

Notice the difference:

• Direct: Where does she live?

• Indirect: where she lives

An indirect question can be part of a larger sentence.

More examples:

• Could you tell me where the station is?

• I wonder what he wants.

• Do you know when the meeting starts?

• Can you tell me why she left?

An indirect question does not automatically end with a question mark. If the whole sentence is a question, it normally ends with a question mark.

Example:

Can you tell me where the station is?

If the whole sentence is a statement, it ends with a full stop.

I wonder where the station is.

How to Make an Interrogative Sentence

The structure of a question depends on the type of question and the verb being used.

1. Using a Helping Verb

A helping verb can come before the subject.

Statement: She is happy.

Question: Is she happy?

Statement: They are playing.

Question: Are they playing?

2. Using Do, Does or Did

Use do, does or did with the appropriate verb forms.

Simple Present:

• Do you play cricket?

• Does he play cricket?

Simple Past:

• Did you play cricket?

• Did she visit the museum?

Remember that after do, does or did, the main verb normally stays in its base form.

Incorrect: Does he plays cricket?

Correct: Does he play cricket?

Incorrect: Did she went home?

Correct: Did she go home?

3. Using a Modal Verb

Modal verbs such as can, could, may, might, should, would and will can be placed before the subject.

Examples:

• Can you help me?

• Could you open the door?

• Should we start now?

• Will they arrive today?

• Would you like some water?

4. Using a Question Word

A question word can come before the rest of the question.

Examples:

• What do you want?

• Where does she live?

• Why are they laughing?

• When will you arrive?

• How did you solve it?

Interrogative Sentence Structure

Here are some common structures.

CuriousJr helps students understand that the exact structure can change with the tense and type of verb.

Rules for Interrogative Sentences

Rule 1: Start with a Capital Letter

Begin the sentence with a capital letter.

Correct:

Where are you going?

Rule 2: Use the Correct Question Structure

The auxiliary verb and subject often change position in direct questions.

Statement:

She is happy.

Question:

Is she happy?

Rule 3: Use the Correct Helping Verb

Use the helping verb that matches the tense and subject.

Examples:

• Do you like apples?

• Does he like apples?

• Did they like the movie?

Rule 4: Use the Base Verb After Do, Does and Did

Correct:

• Does she play tennis?

• Did he finish his work?

Not:

• Does she plays tennis?

• Did he finished his work?

Rule 5: Use a Question Mark for Direct Questions

Correct:

Where is my bag?

Not:

Where is my bag.

How to Identify an Interrogative Sentence

Use these simple steps:

1. Check whether the sentence asks something.

2. Look for a question word or helping verb where appropriate.

3. Check the word order.

4. Look for a question mark if it is a direct question.

Examples:

Where is your brother?
Interrogative sentence: Yes

She is reading a book.
Interrogative sentence: No

Can you help me?
Interrogative sentence: Yes

The children are playing outside.
Interrogative sentence: No

Change Statements Into Interrogative Sentences

A statement can often be changed into a question by changing the word order and using the appropriate auxiliary verb.

Example 1

Statement: You are ready.

Interrogative: Are you ready?

Example 2

Statement: She is coming.

Interrogative: Is she coming?

Example 3

Statement: He plays football.

Interrogative: Does he play football?

Example 4

Statement: They visited the zoo.

Interrogative: Did they visit the zoo?

Example 5

Statement: You can swim.

Interrogative: Can you swim?

Common Mistakes in Interrogative Sentences

Mistake 1: Incorrect Word Order

Wrong: You are coming to school?

Correct: Are you coming to school?

In informal speech, the first version can sometimes be heard as an echo or confirmation question, but the standard school-grammar form is the second.

Mistake 2: Using Does With a Third-Person -s Verb

Wrong: Does she likes music?

Correct: Does she like music?

Mistake 3: Using Did With the Past Form

Wrong: Did he went home?

Correct: Did he go home?

Mistake 4: Using Do With a Modal Verb

Wrong: Do you can swim?

Correct: Can you swim?

Mistake 5: Forgetting the Question Mark

Wrong: Where are my shoes

Correct: Where are my shoes?

Mistake 6: Confusing a Direct Question With an Indirect Question

Wrong:

Can you tell me where does she live?

Correct:

Can you tell me where she lives?

Interrogative Sentences for Class 5

For Class 5 students, interrogative sentences can be practised using simple question words and helping verbs.

Examples:

• What is your favourite subject?

• Where do you keep your books?

• When does your school start?

• Who is your best friend?

• Why are you smiling?

• Do you like drawing?

• Can you solve this question?

• Did you finish your homework?

• Which game do you like?

• Whose pencil is this?

Interrogative Sentence Practice

A. Identify the Interrogative Sentences

1. What time is it?

2. I have a new bag.

3. Do you like mangoes?

4. The dog is sleeping.

5. Where are my shoes?

6. She reads every day.

7. Can you help me?

Answers

1. Interrogative

2. Not interrogative

3. Interrogative

4. Not interrogative

5. Interrogative

6. Not interrogative

7. Interrogative

B. Change Into Interrogative Sentences

1. She is your sister.

2. They are ready.

3. He plays cricket.

4. You finished your homework.

5. She can dance.

Answers

1. Is she your sister?

2. Are they ready?

3. Does he play cricket?

4. Did you finish your homework?

5. Can she dance?

Quick Revision

• An interrogative sentence asks a question.

• A direct interrogative sentence normally ends with a question mark (?).

• Common question words include what, where, when, who, why, which, whose and how.

• Yes-or-no questions can usually be answered with yes or no.

• Choice questions give two or more options.

• Do, does and did are commonly used to form questions with ordinary verbs.

• After does and did, use the base form of the main verb.

• Modal verbs such as can, could, should and will can begin questions.

• In indirect questions, the embedded question usually follows statement word order.

• Clear word order and the correct auxiliary verb are important when forming questions.