What is an Interrogative Sentence?

Interrogative sentences ask questions or make enquiries. These sentences end with a question mark (?).

Interrogative sentences are of two types:

1. Questions Starting with Auxiliaries

These questions are framed to confirm the truth behind a(n) action, condition, possession or quality.

Examples:

1. Does a lion eat grass?
2. Do you ever take part in poetry recitation?
3. Did the teacher finish the lession in one period?
4. Could you do me a little favour?
5. Will he not mend his ways?

The above examples start with auxiliaries Does, Do, Did, Could, and Will. Each of the questions above can be transformed into negative by introducing ‘not’ after the subject, e.g. Does a lion not eat grass?

The questions starting with auxiliaries are always answered in Yes or No.

2. Questions Starting with Wh-family Words

These questions enquire about various elements of a sentence. In these sentences, How and the Wh-family words – Who, What, Whom, Where, When, Why, etc. – appear at the start of the sentence.

Examples:

1. Who prepares food for you?
2. What does a priest do in the temple?
3. What are the children making with clay?
4. Whom did your classmates choose the monitor.
5. Where do honeybees store their honey?

Unlike the questions starting with auxiliaries or helping verbs, these questions are to be answered differently as they cater to different purposes.