Interrogatives

Jai Ganesh · 2021-05-13 23:03:07

Interrogatives:

What are interrogatives? We use interrogatives to ask questions, they are essentially questioning words, and they come in different types of speech: adjectives whose forms are: whose, what and which; adverbs (why, where, how and when); pronouns (who, which, whom, what and whose). Obviously, some of them can take two or more different functions (parts of speech), but they will always retain their interrogative nature because they are interrogatives.

I will be giving examples of them.

1. Why?

adverb

for what cause, reason, or purpose.

conjunction

(a) the cause, reason, or purpose for which

(b) for which : on account of which.

noun

(a) REASON, CAUSE

(b) a baffling problem : ENIGMA

interjection

—used to express mild surprise, hesitation, approval, disapproval, or impatience.

Examples:

Why did you do it?
Why did you quit your job?
Why is the sky blue?

Jai Ganesh · 2021-05-15 22:32:03

2. Where?

adverb
in or at what place?:
Where is he? Where do you live?
in what position or circumstances?:
Where do you stand on this question? Without money, where are you?
in what particular respect, way, etc.?:
Where does this affect us?
to what place, point, or end? whither?:
Where are you going?
from what source? whence?:
Where did you get such a notion?

conjunction

in or at what place, part, point, etc.:
Find where he is. Find where the trouble is.
in or at the place, part, point, etc., in or at which:
The book is where you left it.
in a position, case, etc., in which:
Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise.
in any place, position, case, etc., in which; wherever:
Use the ointment where pain is felt.
to what or whatever place; to the place or any place to which:
I will go where you go.
in or at which place; and there:
They came to the town, where they lodged for the night.

pronoun

what place?:
Where did you come from?
the place in which; point at which:
This is where the boat docks. That was where the phone rang.

noun

a place; that place in which something is located or occurs:
the wheres and hows of job hunting.

Jai Ganesh · 2021-05-21 02:51:01

3. What?

pronoun(used interrogatively as a request for specific information):
What is the matter?
(used interrogatively to inquire about the character, occupation, etc., of a person.)
What does he do?
(used interrogatively to inquire as to the origin, identity, etc., of something).
What are those birds?
(used interrogatively to inquire as to the worth, usefulness, force, or importance of something)
What is wealth without friends?
(used interrogatively to request a repetition of words or information not fully understood, usually used in elliptical constructions).
You need what?
(used interrogatively to inquire the reason or purpose of something, usually used in elliptical constructions).
What of it?
how much?
What does it cost?
(used relatively to indicate that which).
I will send what was promised.
whatever; anything that.
Say what you please. Come what may.
the kind of thing or person that.
He said what everyone expected he would. They are just what I was expecting.
as much as; as many as.
We should each give what we can.
the thing or fact that (used in parenthetic clauses).
He went to the meeting and, what was worse, insisted on speaking.
(used to indicate more to follow, additional possibilities, alternatives, etc.).
You know what? Shall we go or what?
(used as an intensifier in exclamatory phrases, often followed by an indefinite article)
What luck! What an idea!
British. don't you agree?
An unusual chap, what?
Nonstandard. that; which; who.
She's the one what told me.

noun

the true nature or identity of something, or the sum of its characteristics.
a lecture on the whats and hows of crop rotation.

adjective

(used interrogatively before nouns).
What news? What clothes shall I pack?
whatever.
Take what supplies you need.

adverb

to what extent or degree? how much?
What does it matter?
(used to introduce a prepositional phrase beginning with with).
What with storms and all, their return was delayed.

interjection

(used in exclamatory expressions, often followed by a question).
What, no salt?

conjunction

Older Use. as much as; as far as.
He helps me what he can.

Jai Ganesh · 2021-05-25 17:55:44

4. When?

adverb

at what time or period? how long ago? how soon?:
When are they to arrive? When did the Roman Empire exist?
under what circumstances? upon what occasion?:
When is a letter of condolence in order? When did you ever see such a crowd?

conjunction

at what time:
to know when to be silent.
at the time or in the event that:
when we were young; when the noise stops.
at any time; whenever:
He is impatient when he is kept waiting.
upon or after which; and then:
We had just fallen asleep when the bell rang.
while on the contrary; considering that; whereas:
Why are you here when you should be in school?

pronoun

what time:
Till when is the store open?
which time:
They left on Monday, since when we have heard nothing.

noun

the time of anything:
the when and the where of an act.

Jai Ganesh · 2021-06-05 00:06:57

5. Who?

pronoun; possessive : whose; objective : whom.

what person or persons?:
Who did it?
(of a person) of what character, origin, position, importance, etc.:
Who does she think she is?
the person that or any person that (used relatively to represent a specified or implied antecedent):
It was who you thought.
(used relatively in restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses to represent a specified antecedent, the antecedent being a person or sometimes an animal or personified thing):
Any kid who wants to can learn to swim.
Archaic. the person or persons who.

Jai Ganesh · 2021-07-02 03:45:17

6. Which?

pronoun

what one?
Which of these do you want? Which do you want?
whichever; any one that.
Choose which appeals to you.
(used relatively in restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses to represent a specified antecedent).
The book, which I read last night, was exciting. The socialism which Owen preached was unpalatable to many. The lawyer represented five families, of which the Costello family was the largest.
(used relatively in restrictive clauses having that as the antecedent).
Damaged goods constituted part of that which was sold at the auction.
(used after a preposition to represent a specified antecedent).
the horse on which I rode.
(used relatively to represent a specified or implied antecedent) the one that; a particular one that.
You may choose which you like.
(used in parenthetic clauses) the thing or fact that.
He hung around for hours and, which was worse, kept me from doing my work.
Nonstandard. who or whom.
a friend which helped me move; the lawyer which you hired.

adjective

what one of (a certain number or group mentioned or implied)?
Which book do you want?
whichever; any that.
Go which way you please, you'll end up here.
being previously mentioned.
It stormed all day, during which time the ship broke up.

Jai Ganesh · 2021-07-08 23:10:36

7. Whose?

pronoun

(the possessive case of who used as an adjective).
Whose umbrella did I take? Whose is this one?
(the possessive case of which used as an adjective).
a word whose meaning escapes me; an animal whose fur changes color.
the one or ones belonging to what person or persons.
Whose painting won the third prize?

Jai Ganesh · 2021-08-10 15:26:48

8. How?

adverb
in what way or manner; by what means?
How did the accident happen?
to what extent, degree, etc.?
How damaged is the car?
in what state or condition?
How are you?
for what reason; why?
How can you talk such nonsense?
to what effect; with what meaning?
How is one to interpret his action?
what?
How do you mean? If they don't have vanilla, how about chocolate?
(used as an intensifier)
How seldom I go there!
by what title or name?
How does one address the president?
at what price
How are the new cars going, cheaper than last year's models?
by what amount or in what measure or quantity?
How do you sell these tomatoes?
in what form or shape?
How does the demon appear in the first act of the opera? How does the medication come?

conjunction

the manner or way in which.
He couldn't figure out how to solve the problem.
about the manner, condition, or way in which.
I don't care how you leave your desk when you go. Be careful how you act.
in whatever manner or way; however.
You can travel how you please.
Informal. that.
He told us how he was honest and could be trusted.

noun

a question concerning the way or manner in which something is done, achieved, etc.
a child's unending whys and hows.
a way or manner of doing something.
to consider all the hows and wherefores.
a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter H.

interjection Facetious.

(used as a greeting in imitation of American Indian speech.)

Jai Ganesh · 2021-09-16 21:53:40

9. Whether?

conjunction

(used to introduce the first of two or more alternatives, and sometimes repeated before the second or later alternative, usually with the correlative or).
It matters little whether we go or stay. Whether we go or whether we stay, the result is the same.
(used to introduce a single alternative, the other being implied or understood, or some clause or element not involving alternatives).
See whether or not she has come. I doubt whether we can do any better.
Archaic. (used to introduce a question presenting alternatives, usually with the correlative or).

pronoun Archaic.

which or whichever (of two)?

Jai Ganesh · 2021-12-02 23:05:39

10. Want?

verb (used with object)

to feel a need or a desire for; wish for.
to want one's dinner; always wanting something new.
to wish, need, crave, demand, or desire (often followed by an infinitive).
I want to see you.
She wants to be notified.
to be without or be deficient in.
to want judgment; to want knowledge.
to fall short by (a specified amount).
The sum collected wants but a few dollars of the desired amount.
to require or need.
The house wants painting.

verb (used without object)

to feel inclined; wish; like (often followed by to).
We can stay home if you want.
to be deficient by the absence of some part or thing, or to feel or have a need (sometimes followed by for).
He did not want for abilities.
to have need (usually followed by for).
If you want for anything, let him know.
to be in a state of destitution, need, or poverty.
She would never allow her parents to want.
to be lacking or absent, as a part or thing necessary to completeness.
All that wants is his signature.

noun

something wanted or needed; necessity.
My wants are few.
something desired, demanded, or required.
a person of childish, capricious wants.
absence or deficiency of something desirable or requisite; lack:
plants dying for want of rain.
the state of being without something desired or needed; need.
to be in want of an assistant.
the state of being without the necessaries of life; destitution; poverty.
a country where want is virtually unknown.
a sense of lack or need of something.
to feel a vague want.

Jai Ganesh · 2021-12-05 03:00:55

11. Will?

noun

the faculty of conscious and especially of deliberate action; the power of control the mind has over its own actions.
the freedom of the will.
power of choosing one's own actions.
to have a strong or a weak will.
the act or process of using or asserting one's choice; volition.
My hands are obedient to my will.
wish or desire.
to submit against one's will.
purpose or determination, often hearty or stubborn determination; willfulness.
to have the will to succeed.
the wish or purpose as carried out, or to be carried out.
to work one's will.
disposition, whether good or ill, toward another.
Law.
a) a legal declaration of a person's wishes as to the disposition of his or her property or estate after death, usually written and signed by the testator and attested by witnesses.
b) the document containing such a declaration.

verb (used with object)

to decide, bring about, or attempt to effect or bring about by an act of the will.
He can walk if he wills it.
to purpose, determine on, or elect, by an act of will.
If he wills success, he can find it.
to give or dispose of (property) by a will or testament; bequeath or devise.
to influence by exerting control over someone's impulses and actions.
She was willed to walk the tightrope by the hypnotist.

verb (used without object)

to exercise the will.
To will is not enough, one must do.
to decide or determine.
Others debate, but the king wills.

Jai Ganesh · 2022-02-12 22:52:14

12. Whom?

pronoun

the objective case of who.
Whom did you call? Of whom are you speaking? With whom did you stay?
the dative case of who.
You gave whom the book?

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#1 2021-05-13 23:03:07

Interrogatives

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