In
linguistics, an
interrogative word is a
function word used for the item interrupted in an information statement. Interrogative words are sometimes also called
wh-words because most of
English interrogative words start with
wh-. In English, they are used in
questions (
Where is he going?) and
interrogative content clauses (
I wonder where he is going); their forms are also used as
relative pronouns in certain
relative clauses (
The country where he was born) and certain
adverb clauses (
I go where he goes). These uses are all found in various other languages as well.
List of interrogative words in English:
- interrogative determiner
- which, what
- whose (interrogative possessive determiner)
- interrogative pro-form
- interrogative pronoun
- who, whom (human)
- what, which (nonhuman)
- interrogative pro-adverb
- where (location)
- whence (source)
- whither (goal)
- when (time)
- how (manner)
- why, wherefore (reason)
- whether (choice between alternatives)
A frequent class of interrogative words in several other languages is the interrogative pro-verb:
Korean: Nalssi-ga eotteoh-seumni-kka? Weather-nominative be_how-politeness fifth level-interrogative suffix "How's the weather?"
Mongolian: Chi yaa-vch jaahan huuhed bish gej bi bod-jii-ne You do_what-concessive small child not that I think-progressive-nonpast "Whatever you do, I think you’re not a small child." (Example taken from an Internet forum)
See also
