Mots Interrogatifs

Interrogative Words

• Interrogative words are used to ask questions, crucial for extracting information.
• Common interrogative words include: who, what, when, where, why, and how.

Types of Questions Formed

• These words form different question types:
  • Yes/no questions: Answerable with "yes" or "no," e.g., "Are you hungry?"
  • Wh-questions: Begin with "who," "what," "when," "where," "why," or "how," seeking specific information, e.g., "What is your name?"

Function of Interrogative Words

• Act as the subject, object, or part of a phrase within a question.

Examples of Interrogative Words in Sentences

• Who broke the vase?
• What is your favorite color?
• When will you be home?
• Where did you leave your keys?
• Why are you sad?
• How are you today?

Distinguishing Characteristics of Interrogative Words

• Their primary function is eliciting an answer, guiding the speaker's desired knowledge.

Contextual Usage

• The chosen interrogative word depends on the needed information. "Who" for people, "what" for things, "when" for time, and so on.

Variations and Modifications

• These words can form complex phrases to refine information requests, e.g., plural forms like "Who are the students?"

Relationship to Other Sentence Elements

• Can appear in positions typical of nouns or pronouns (subject or object), maintaining their question-asking function.

Grammatical Role Within a Question

• Grammatical role changes based on question type and sentence structure; some are subjects, some are objects, etc.
• Not always nouns; can vary between languages or question types.

Emphasis and Intonation

• Intonation significantly impacts meaning and conversation direction when asking questions with interrogative words.

Cultural Variations

• Interrogative word use might differ in tone, form, or frequency across cultures.

Synonyms and Related Terms

• Similar words or phrases can ask questions, but not all synonyms have the same grammatical functions.