We use an interrogative sentence when we ask a question. To help you remember the term interrogative, think about how police arrest a suspect and interrogate them – they ask questions.
Always put a question mark (?) at the end of an interrogative sentence.
Notice that the order of the subject and verb changes in an interrogative sentence. A declarative sentence begins with the subject of the sentence. An interrogative sentence begins with a question word.
Look at these interrogative sentences. Notice that each one begins with a question word.
Where did John go last night?
Why is the dog barking?
When are we getting together for dinner?
What color is your new dress?
Who dropped this scarf?
How can we fix this?
When we answer each question, we will use a declarative sentence to make a statement.
An interrogative sentence asks a question. Interrogative sentences begin with a question word and end with a question mark.
▶Now you try it. Look at this declarative sentence. The boy’s name is John. Turn it into an interrogative sentence. Make it into a question. Did you figure it out? Did you begin your interrogative sentence with a question word? Good for you!