Question

A question (/ˈkwes.ʧən/) or interrogative (/ɪnˈte.rə.gə.tɪv/) is a sentence or utterance which typically functions as a request for information.

Types of Questions

Types of question include:

• auxiliary questions and modal questions - questions beginning with auxiliary verbs, or modal verbs specifically
• biographical questions - questions about people
• compound questions
• conditional questions - questions using conditional clauses
• determinative questions - questions used to determine the subject that a predicate refers to
• direct questions and indirect questions - questions asked directly or indirectly
• discussion questions - questions for academic discussions
• interview questions - questions used to practice interviews
• negative questions - questions involving negation
• polar questions - questions with an expected answer of "yes" or "no"
• reported questions - sentences reporting questions
• rhetorical questions - questions asked for affect
• starter questions and follow-up questions - questions for different stages of a conversation
• tag questions - questions that end in question tags
• topical questions - questions revolving around specific topics
• wh- questions - questions starting with wh- words

Pedagogy

Lessons on questions focus on topics such as:

• The syntax of questions

• Question marks
• Answers to questions
• Critical thinking and asking questions
• The role of questions in rhetoric
• Question etiquette
• High-frequency contexts and colloquialisms

Questions are also tools that teachers use in language teaching. Questions are used for:

• initiating speaking and writing practice
• icebreaking
• assessing reading and listening comprehension
• assessing conceptual understanding
• showing examples of vocabulary use