Dictionary Definition
interrogative adj
1 relating to verbs in the so-called
interrogative mood; "not all questions have an interrogative
construction"
2 relating to the use of or having the nature of
an interrogation [syn: interrogatory, asking(a)] [ant:
declarative,
declarative]
Noun
1 a sentence of inquiry that asks for a reply;
"he asked a direct question"; "he had trouble phrasing his
interrogations" [syn: question, interrogation, interrogative
sentence]
2 some linguists consider interrogative sentences
to constitute a mood [syn: interrogative
mood]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Etymology
From Late Latin interrogativus.Pronunciation
- RP: /ˌɪntəˈrɒgətɪv/
Adjective
interrogativeQuotations
- 1877: William
Dwight Whitney, Essentials of English Grammar for the Use of
Schools §470
- The regular place of the interrogative word, of whatever kind, is at the beginning of the sentence, or as near it as possible.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
asking or denoting a question
- Czech: tázací
- Dutch: vragend
- Greek: ερωτηματικός
Noun
interrogative- A word (pronoun, pronominal adjective, or adverb) implying interrogation, or used for asking a question: why, who, when, etc.
- A question; an interrogation.
Quotations
- 1819: Sir Walter
Scott, A Legend of Montrose, xii
- "Who are you, sir, and what is your business?" demanded the Marquis... "That is a fair interrogative, my lord," answered Dalgetty.
Translations
a word implying interrogation
- Dutch: vraagwoord, interrogatief
a question
- Dutch: vraag
References
Century 1911}}Italian
Adjective
interrogative pExtensive Definition
In linguistics, an
interrogative word is a function
word used for the item interrupted in an information statement.
Interrogative words are sometimes also called wh-words because most
of English
interrogative words start with wh-. In English, they are used in
questions (Where is he
going?) and
interrogative content clauses (I wonder where he is going);
their forms are also used as relative
pronouns in certain relative
clauses (The country where he was born) and certain adverb
clauses (I go where he goes). These uses are all found in
various other languages as well.
List of interrogative words in English:
- interrogative determiner
- which, what
- whose (interrogative possessive determiner)
- interrogative pro-form
- interrogative pronoun
- who, whom (human)
- what, which (nonhuman)
- interrogative pro-adverb
- where (location)
- whence (source)
- whither (goal)
- when (time)
- how (manner)
- why, wherefore (reason)
- whether (choice between alternatives)
- interrogative pronoun
A frequent class of interrogative words in
several other languages is the interrogative pro-verb:
Korean:
Nalssi-ga eotteoh-seumni-kka? Weather-nominative be_how-politeness
fifth level-interrogative suffix "How's the weather?"
Mongolian:
Chi yaa-vch jaahan huuhed bish gej bi bod-jii-ne You
do_what-concessive small child not that I think-progressive-nonpast
"Whatever you do, I think you’re not a small child." (Example taken
from an Internet forum)
See also
interrogative in Breton: Ger goulenn
interrogative in German:
Interrogativpronomen
interrogative in Croatian: Upitne
zamjenice
interrogative in Dutch: Vragend
voornaamwoord
interrogative in Japanese: 疑問詞
interrogative in Quechua: Tapukuq sutip
rantin
interrogative in Serbo-Croatian: Upitne
zamjenice
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
bone of contention, catechism,
cross-interrogatory, cross-question, debating point, demand, feeler, inquiry, interrogation, interrogatory, issue, leader, leading question, moot
point, point at issue, point in question, problem, query, question, question at issue,
question mark, quodlibet, topic, trial balloon, vexed
question