Writing & StyleRule guide

Interrogative Sentence

An interrogative sentence is a sentence form used to ask a question or seek information. It should be distinguished from embedded questions and from requests phrased as imperatives or declaratives.

Quick answer

An interrogative sentence asks a question or requests information; direct interrogatives are conventionally written with a question mark.

Key details

Core Issueidentifying sentence forms used to ask questions or request information
Registergeneral English
Rule Familysentence types and questions

Important caveats

Scope Boundary

Not every request is grammatically interrogative, and embedded or indirect questions can appear inside declarative sentences without taking direct-question word order.

Further guidance

Application

Use interrogative structure when the sentence directly asks for information; in writing, direct questions conventionally end with a question mark.

Core Rule

An interrogative sentence is a sentence used to ask a question or request information.

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

  1. INTERROGATIVE SENTENCE — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press & Assessment · Direct grammar definition of an interrogative sentence as a sentence that asks a question or requests information.

Explore the topic