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INTERROGATIVES

The document explains interrogatives, which are words that introduce questions requiring detailed answers, particularly using WH- questions. It categorizes interrogatives into three types: interrogative determiners, pronouns, and adverbs, providing examples for each. Additionally, it addresses common issues in using interrogatives, such as confusing 'who' and 'whom,' and the incorrect use of question marks after non-questions.

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John Mark Butacan
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5 views

INTERROGATIVES

The document explains interrogatives, which are words that introduce questions requiring detailed answers, particularly using WH- questions. It categorizes interrogatives into three types: interrogative determiners, pronouns, and adverbs, providing examples for each. Additionally, it addresses common issues in using interrogatives, such as confusing 'who' and 'whom,' and the incorrect use of question marks after non-questions.

Uploaded by

John Mark Butacan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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INTERROGATIVES

Interrogatives
(also known as an interrogative word) is a word that introduces a question
which cannot be simply answered with yes or no.

WH – Questions
When you want to get a detailed answer, not just yes or no, you must use a
WH- question (or 'non-polar' question), which allows for many possible answers.
The words who, whom, whose, what, which, when, where, why, and how are used
to form this sort of question.

TYPES OF INTERROGATIVE
1. Interrogative Determiners ("What," "Which," and "Whose")
An interrogative determiner is a word that modifies a noun by asking a
question. Also called "interrogative adjectives".

Examples: What time is it?


Which shoes shall I wear?
Whose bag is this?
*(Notice that these interrogative determiners all modify nouns ("time," "shoes, and
"bag").)

2. Interrogative Pronouns ("What " "Which," "Who," ''Whom," and


"Whose")
Stand alone; i.e., they do not modify nouns.
Examples: What is the capital of Peru?
Which should I use?
Who is that boy?
Whom are you with?
(Notice that these interrogative pronouns do not modify nouns. Also, notice that
they would be answered by a noun or, more likely, a noun phrase)

3. Interrogative Adverbs ("Why " "Where," "When," and "How")


- it will be a reason (answering "why"), a place (answering "where"), a time
(answering "when"), or a manner (answering "how").

Examples: Why should I believe you?


When will the bus arrive?
(Notice that these interrogative adverbs would all be answered by an adverb or,
more likely, some words functioning as an adverb, i.e., an adverbial phrase or an
adverbial clause)

Issues on Use of Interrogatives


Issue 1: Do not confuse "who's" and "whose.“

"Who's" is a contraction. It is short for "who is" or "who has." If you cannot
expand your "who's" to "who is" or "who has," then it is wrong. "Whose," as we've
covered, is either an interrogative determiner (in which case, it will modify a noun)
or an interrogative pronoun (in which case, it will stand alone).

Example:
Correct: Whose cake is this? (Here, "whose" is an interrogative
Whose is this? (Here, "whose" determiner.)is an interrogative pronoun.
Incorrect: Who's cake is this? (You can't expand this "who's" to to "who is," so it is
wrong. It
should be "whose.

Issue 2: Avoid errors with "who" and "whom.“

By far the biggest issue with interrogative pronouns is confusing "who" and
"whom." You can only use "who" when it is the subject of the verb. If not the
subject of a verb, you should be using "whom."

Example:
Correct: Who saw the play? (The subject of "saw" is "who." "Who" is correct.)
Incorrect: Who did you sit with? (The subject of "did sit with" is you not "who."
"Who" is wrong.)

Issue 3: Do not use a question mark after a non-question.

A common issue related to interrogatives is writers thinking a non-question is a


question and using a question mark.
Example:
Incorrect: I want to know if it's true?
I wonder if I'll ever see them again?

Note: These are not questions but statements. They should end in periods (full
stops).) This error typically occurs when the statement contains an indirect
question. An indirect question is a direct question embedded inside a statement or
another question. Here, the embedded direct questions are "Is it true?" and "Will I
ever see them again?"

MIDTERM REQUIREMENT
Submit the 80 Common Usage Problems

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