How do you make a sentence into an interrogative sentence?

To transform a sentence into an interrogative (question) sentence, the primary method involves rearranging its structure, often by interchanging the positions of the subject and an auxiliary verb. This reordering signals that the sentence is posing a question rather than making a statement.

Core Transformation Methods

The process of turning a declarative (statement) sentence into an interrogative one largely depends on whether the original sentence contains an auxiliary verb.

1. Sentences with Auxiliary Verbs

If a sentence already contains an auxiliary verb (also known as a helping verb) such as is, are, was, were, has, have, had, will, would, can, could, shall, should, may, might, or must, the transformation is straightforward:

• Move the auxiliary verb to the beginning of the sentence, before the subject.
• The rest of the sentence typically remains in its original order.
• Add a question mark at the end.

Examples:

• Declarative: She is studying for the exam.

• Interrogative: Is she studying for the exam?

• Declarative: They have finished their work.

• Interrogative: Have they finished their work?

2. Sentences Without Auxiliary Verbs

When an assertive sentence does not contain an auxiliary verb (common with simple present and simple past tense verbs), you introduce a form of the auxiliary verb "do" (do, does, did).

• For simple present tense sentences:
  • Use "Do" for plural subjects (we, you, they) and "I."
  • Use "Does" for singular third-person subjects (he, she, it).
• For simple past tense sentences:
  • Use "Did" for all subjects.
• The main verb in the original sentence reverts to its base form (infinitive without "to").
• Place the "do" auxiliary at the beginning of the sentence, before the subject.

Examples:

• Declarative: He plays soccer.

• Interrogative: Does he play soccer? (Here, 'plays' changes to 'play' and 'does' is introduced)

• Declarative: They walked to the park.

• Interrogative: Did they walk to the park? (Here, 'walked' changes to 'walk' and 'did' is introduced)

Understanding Different Types of Interrogative Sentences

While the subject-auxiliary inversion is key for "Yes/No" questions, interrogative sentences can take various forms:

• Yes/No Questions: These are questions that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." They are typically formed using the subject-auxiliary inversion method described above.
  • Example: Are you coming to the party?
• Wh-Questions: These questions use interrogative words (wh-words) like who, what, where, when, why, which, and how to ask for specific information. The wh-word usually comes at the very beginning of the sentence, followed by an auxiliary verb (if applicable) and then the subject.
  • Example: Where are you going?
  • Example: What did he say?
• Tag Questions: These are short questions added to the end of a declarative sentence, usually to confirm information or to invite agreement. They consist of an auxiliary verb and a pronoun.
  • Example: You like coffee, don't you?
  • Example: She is happy, isn't she?

Practical Application and Examples

Let's look at a table summarizing these transformations:

For more comprehensive guidance on sentence structures and transformations, you can refer to reputable grammar resources such as Purdue OWL's guide on sentence types or the British Council's explanations on forming questions.

Understanding these foundational rules for subject-auxiliary inversion and the introduction of "do" auxiliaries is crucial for accurately converting statements into questions in English.