Interrogative NEB class 12 unit 6

Definition of Interrogative

An interrogative is a sentence or word used to ask a question. It always seeks information and usually ends with a question mark (?).

---

Types of Interrogative Sentences:

There are five main types of interrogative sentences:

---

1. Yes/No Questions

These questions can be answered with "yes" or "no".

Structure:
Auxiliary/Modal + Subject + Main Verb...?

Examples:

• Are you hungry?
• Can she swim?
• Do you like coffee?

---

2. Wh- Questions

These questions begin with wh- words like what, when, where, who, whom, which, whose, why, and how.
They need more information in the answer.

Examples:

• What is your name?
• Where do you live?
• Why are you late?
• How does this work?

---

3. Choice Questions

These offer two or more options to choose from.

Structure:
Auxiliary/Modal + Subject + Verb + Option A or Option B...?

Examples:

• Do you want tea or coffee?
• Will you go by bus or train?

---

4. Tag Questions

These are statements followed by a short question, used to confirm something.

Structure:
Statement + Question tag

Examples:

• You're coming, aren't you?
• She doesn't like pizza, does she?

---

5. Rhetorical Questions

These are asked for effect, not to get an actual answer.

Examples:

• Who doesn't love holidays?
• Is the sky not blue?

---

Summary Table

Type	Example	Purpose
Yes/No	Do you speak English?	Confirm or deny
Wh- Questions	Where are you going?	Ask for specific info
Choice	Would you like tea or coffee?	Choose between options
Tag Questions	She is happy, isn’t she?	Confirm a statement
Rhetorical	Isn’t life beautiful?	Make a point or express idea

 

Grammar

A. Look at the following questions and say what type of questions they are.

a. Do you like this country?

Yes/No Question

b. Where is she from?

Wh Question

c. How many eggs do we need for this cake?

Wh Question

d. Whose children are playing in the yard?

Wh Question

e. Does she like ice cream or sweets?

Choice Question

f. She sent him an invitation, didn’t she?

Tag Question

g. Could you tell me if the doctor is available?

Indirect Question

h. Do you know how tall they are?

Yes/No Question

B. Choose the correct words from the box to complete the sentences.

a. Is your friend a scientist? – No, he’s an artist.
b. Does Naresh live in Kathmandu? – No, he lives in Pokhara.
c. When did you get home? – I got home yesterday.
d. What time do you get up? – I get up at 6:00.
e. Did the children go to the part? – Yes, they went there after school.
f. Are you going to school? – No, I’m going home.
g. Can you speak Chinese? – Just a little.
h. Where did you grow up? – I grew up in Okhaldhunga.

C. Make wh-questions so that the words in bold become the answer.

a. Romeo loves Juliet.

Whom does Romeo love?

b. My mother made a delicious bread yesterday.

What did your mother make yesterday?

c. The music was composed by Narayan Gopal.

Who composed the music?

d. I’m looking for a new book.

What are you looking for?

e. They were talking about the new movie.

What were they talking about?

f. She got the idea from a story.

Where did she get the idea?

g. She always goes to school on foot.

How does she go to school?

h. She sometimes goes to the cinema.

How often does she go to the cinema?

i. They have been waiting for three years.

How long have they been waiting for?

D. Change these indirect questions into direct ones.

a. Could you tell me where the Market Street is?

Where is Market Street?

b. I’m longing to know what time the bank opens.

What time does the bank open?

c. Do you have any idea how he’s managed to get in shape so quickly?

How has he managed to get in shape so quickly?

d. I’d like to know how much this motorcycle costs these days.

How much does this motorcycle cost these days?

e. Did you notice if he had left the car in the park?

Had he left the car in the park?

f. Have you found out if the train has left?

Has the train left?

g. I was wondering if they speak English well.

Could they speak English well?

h. Would you tell us how we can get to the post office from here?

How can we get to the post office from here?

i. Do you remember if I locked the front door?

Did I lock the front door?

Practice set 1

Make wh-questions so that the words in bold become the answer.

1. She bought a red dress from the store.
→ 

2. They went to the zoo last Saturday.
→

3. He writes letters every evening.
→ 

4. My brother lives in Pokhara.
→

5. The children are playing football in the ground.
→ 

6. She invited all her friends to the party.
→

7. We met the principal in the corridor.
→ 

8. The plane landed at 9:00 PM.
→ 

9. I borrowed this book from the library.
→

10. She was crying because she lost her pet.
→ 

Answers

1. She bought a red dress from the store.
What did she buy from the store?

2. They went to the zoo last Saturday.
When did they go to the zoo?

3. He writes letters every evening.
When does he write letters?

4. My brother lives in Pokhara.
Where does your brother live?

5. The children are playing football in the ground.
What are the children playing in the ground?

6. She invited all her friends to the party.
Whom did she invite to the party?
(Or: Who did she invite to the party?)

7. We met the principal in the corridor.
Whom did you meet in the corridor?

8. The plane landed at 9:00 PM.
When did the plane land?

9. I borrowed this book from the library.
Where did you borrow this book from?

10. She was crying because she lost her pet.
Why was she crying?

 

Practice set 2

Change these indirect questions into direct ones.

1. Can you tell me what her name is?
→

2. I’d like to know when the movie starts.
→

3. Do you know where he has gone?
→

4. Could you tell me why they canceled the event?
→

5. I’m curious to know how far the nearest hotel is.
→

6. Have you found out whether she is coming to the meeting?
→

7. I was wondering if we need to bring our ID cards.
→

8. Would you mind telling me how old her son is?
→

9. Do you know if it’s going to rain today?
→

10. I’d like to ask whether this bus goes to Kathmandu.
→

Answers

1. Can you tell me what her name is?
What is her name?

 

2. I’d like to know when the movie starts.
When does the movie start?

3. Do you know where he has gone?
Where has he gone?

4. Could you tell me why they canceled the event?
Why did they cancel the event?

5. I’m curious to know how far the nearest hotel is.
How far is the nearest hotel?

6. Have you found out whether she is coming to the meeting?
Is she coming to the meeting?

7. I was wondering if we need to bring our ID cards.
Do we need to bring our ID cards?

8. Would you mind telling me how old her son is?
How old is her son?

9. Do you know if it’s going to rain today?
Is it going to rain today?

10. I’d like to ask whether this bus goes to Kathmandu.
Does this bus go to Kathmandu?