Interrogative tool

In Grammar, a interrogative tool is a category of Mot-outil being used to mark:

- is a interrogative sentence, i.e., a direct question (followed by a question mark, therefore):

Paul will it come?

- is a interrogative subordinate clause, i.e., a indirect question (without question mark, therefore):

I ask for myself si Paul viendra.

the interrogative tools are frequently associated with the exclamative tools because they share with the latter a certain number of common features.

General information

An interrogative function word can belong to the one of the three following categories: interrogative adjective (or interrogative determinant), interrogative pronoun or interrogative adverb.

  • an adverb is normally a lexical word, a full word , but when one deals with interrogative adverb, this one can be analyzed like true a function word .

  • In the indirect question, all the interrogative function words, whatever their category (adjective, pronoun or adverb) must be analyzed like subordinating interrogative.

  • Between the three various categories constituting the interrogative function words, the border is often fuzzy. In particular, the difference between the interrogative pronoun and the interrogative adverb, are not always easy to establish, and some grammairiens tend to in the broad sense gather these various subcategories under the name of “ interrogative pronoun ”. It appears however preferable to speak, of interrogative function word , a general way, and more precisely, of subordinating interrogative , in the case of the indirect question.

  • Some remarks.

1. A direct question can take three forms, the simple form , the long form (reinforced with the phrase “”), and the reversed form (with inversion of the prone pronoun).

2. It is advisable carefully to distinguish, on the one hand, the total interrogation , bearing on the totality of the statement, and whose awaited answer can be only “ yes ” or “ not ”, on the other hand, the partial interrogation , relating only to part of the statement, and whose awaited answer is other than “ yes ” or “ not ”.

Total interrogation

the total interrogation (also called, total interrogation ), can be direct or indirect .

Direct total interrogation

the direct total interrogation can be simple, reversed or reinforced, but only this last form uses an interrogative function word, namely, the phrase “ ”. Let us recall that this one excludes simultaneous employment from the inversion of the prone pronoun: will

< U > Paul come? < will U > il come?

Indirect total interrogation

the indirect total interrogation uses one subordinating interrogative, “ if ”:

I ask for myself si Paul will come. I ask for myself s'il will come.

  • the interrogative function word “ if ” poses a catégoriel problem : it is sometimes analyzed like a interrogative adverb, and other times, like a Subordinating conjunction. Let us repeat that it seems more practical to simply analyze this function word like an interrogative subordinating .

Partial interrogation

the partial interrogation also can, it, being direct or indirect .

Direct partial interrogation

Interrogative function words used

The direct partial interrogation uses obligatorily an interrogative tool (adjectival, pronoun or adverb):

  • Interrogative adjective: which (which, which, which), how much :

Quelles flowers do you prefer?
How much flowers did you gather?
In these two examples, two interrogative adjectives “ Which ” and “ How much ” determines the name core “ flowers ”.

  • interrogative Pronoun: which (which, which, which, of which, of which, to which, to which), which (which, which, which), which, that, what, where :

Laquelle do you prefer?
Quelle is this flower?
Qui is there?
Que does she want?
With quoi do you refer?
Où do they live?

  • Interrogative adverb: how much, how, why, when, that :

Combien that costs?
Comment do you make?
Pourquoi didn't it come? /What didn't it come?
Quand will we leave?

Forms of the direct partial interrogation

Following the example direct total interrogation, the direct partial interrogation can take three forms, the simple form , the long form and the reversed form :

Où do you go? / Where do you go? /Où you go?

  • According to the circumstances, the three forms are not always practicable:

Qui is there?
simple Form. Here, the reversed form ( Which is it there? ) would not be possible.

  • In the case of the simple form, it is frequent that the interrogative tool is rejected at the end of the sentence. In several cases, it is this rejection which allows the use of the simple form:

Où you go? /You go où?
You will come quand?
simple Form with rejection of the interrogative function word. The solution “ When you come ” would not have been possible.

  • In the case of the simple form with rejection of the function word, the pronoun “ that ” becomes “ what ”:

You want quoi?
Here, the solutions “Which you want? ”, “What do you want? ” or “You want that? ” would not have been possible.

Use of the long form

Just like in the direct total interrogation, the phrase “ ” can be used in the direct partial interrogation, in combination with an interrogative function word ( what, where, which, which, how, how much, how much, why and when ) with an aim of reinforcing this one: do

has quoi you think? How did you make? Pourquoi do you say that?

But, when the function word used is “ which ” or “ that ”, this phrase can be put in competition with one second phrase, namely “ is this which ”.

  • Indeed, contrary to what occurs in the field from the relative pronouns, words tools interrogative “ which ” and “ that ” is not associated with a function ( which = prone, and that = complement of object, for example), but states simply that the referent is human (“ which ”) or a thing (“ that ”):

Qui speaks? Qui do you see?

the interrogative pronoun “ which ” represents an animated being, human, in the two examples, but in the first, it is prone verb “ speaks ”, while in the second, it is C.O.D. of the verb “ see ”.

Que is worth me such an amount of honor? Que do you see?

the interrogative pronoun “ that ” represents an inanimate being, a thing, in the two examples, but in the first, it is prone verb “ is worth ”, in the second, it is C.O.D. of the verb “ see ”.

  • In order to avoid any ambiguity as for their function, one took the practice to add to these two interrogative function words, on the one hand the phrase “ is this which ” to mark the function subject, on the other hand phrase “ ” to mark any other function (including, prone reality). Consequently, we will lay out, no longer of two, but of four reinforced function words:

Who speaks?

the phrase “ Who ” represents human fulfilling the function subject of the verb “ speaks ”.

Who do I hear?

the phrase “ Who ” represents human fulfilling another function (here, COD of the verb “ hear ”).

What shines in the sky?

the phrase “ What ” represents a thing fulfilling the function subject of the verb “ shines ”.

< U > What do I see in the sky?

the phrase “ What ” represents a thing fulfilling another function (here, COD of the verb “ see ”).

  • Rappelons that the use of the one of these two phrases of course prohibits the interrogative form with inversion of the subject:

Which will you préférez ? Which vous préférez? Which you prefer?
And not “ Which do prefer you? ”.

Indirect partial interrogation

Subordinating interrogative indirect interrogation partial are same the interrogative function words (adjectives, pronouns or adverbs) which mark the direct interrogation partial, except the phrases “ ” and “ is this which ”, which disappears, since they are exclusively associated with the long direct question.

  • Consequently:

- the phrase “ what ”, as well as the function words “ that ” and “ what ”, is replaced by the pronominal interrogative phrase “ what ”:

< U > What do you make? Que do you make? You make quoi? /I ask for myself ce que you make.

- the phrase “ what ”, is replaced by the pronominal phrase interrogative “ what ”.

What interests you? /I ask for myself what interests you.

  • Some examples:

Dis me quelle shirt you prefer.

Among these shirts, I am unaware of laquelle you prefer.
They do not know où you go.
I would like to know quand they will be of return.
Try to guess comment I made.
We ask for ourselves combien that will cost.
I will tell you pourquoi it does not speak myself more.

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