interrogative

American  

[in-tuh-rog-uh-tiv] / ˌɪn təˈrɒg ə tɪv /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or conveying a question.

2. Grammar. forming, constituting, or used in or to form a question.

   an interrogative pronoun, suffix, particle, or sentence.

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noun

1. Grammar. an interrogative word, element, or construction, as who? and what?

interrogative British  

/ ˌɪntəˈrɒɡətɪv /

adjective

1. asking or having the nature of a question

2. denoting a form or construction used in asking a question

3. denoting or belonging to a class of words, such as which and whom, that are determiners, adjectives, or pronouns and serve to question which individual referent or referents are intended Compare demonstrative relative

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noun

1. an interrogative word, phrase, sentence, or construction

2. a question mark

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• uninterrogatively
  adverb
• interrogatively
  adverb
• uninterrogative
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of interrogative

From the Late Latin word interrogātīvus, dating back to 1510–20. See interrogate, -ive

Explanation

Interrogative describes something questioning or that asks a question — like the interrogative tone of a cop grilling a suspect. It’s likely you first met the word interrogative in elementary school along with its pals — declaratory, exclamatory, and imperative. It can be an adjective or noun, but it always has to do with questions or being questioning. An interrogative sentence is one like "What time is it?" If your voice goes up at the end of a sentence because you're seeking information, your tone is interrogative. If you keep asking question after question, you've being extremely interrogative.

Example Sentences

Interrogative self-talk, he adds, would be asking themselves what were the sacrifices it took for them to be prepared to make an upcoming play.

From Washington Times • Aug. 22, 2015

Is there then no case in which the Interrogative may follow the gender of the subject?

From Elements of Gaelic Grammar by Stewart, Alexander

The Moods are five: the Affirmative or Indicative, the Negative or Interrogative, the Subjunctive, the Imperative, and the Infinitive.

From Elements of Gaelic Grammar by Stewart, Alexander

I deal with it by the Analytic-Synthetic, and also by the Interrogative Analysis methods.

From Assimilative Memory or, How to Attend and Never Forget by Loisette, A. (Alphonse)

On the same principle, and in the same sense, a Gaelic writer must say, 'Ciod e urnuigh?' the Interrogative Ciod e referring not to urnuigh but to some higher genus.

From Elements of Gaelic Grammar by Stewart, Alexander