Yes, a statement can function as a question without a question mark, specifically in the case of indirect questions.
Indirect Questions: Statements That Ask
While direct questions always end with a question mark, there's a class of questions that do not: indirect questions. These questions are embedded within declarative statements, effectively making a statement inquire.
Here's a breakdown:
- Direct Questions: These are typical questions that directly seek information and always include a question mark. For example: "What time is it?"
- Indirect Questions: These questions are incorporated into a statement. They don't use a question mark at the end because they are part of a larger declarative sentence. For example: "I wonder what time it is."
Understanding Indirect Questions
The key difference lies in how the question is structured. Instead of directly asking, an indirect question is phrased as a statement expressing uncertainty or inquiry.
Here are some examples highlighting how indirect questions work:
| Direct Question | Indirect Question |
|---|---|
| Why is the sky blue? | I was curious why the sky is blue. |
| Is the movie over? | He asked if the movie was over. |
| Where did she go? | She wondered where she went. |
| Will it rain today? | The news report announced whether it will rain today. |
As mentioned in the reference: "Indirect questions are embedded within declarative statements." This demonstrates that the indirect question, even though it is asking something, is actually part of a statement and therefore doesn't require a question mark.
Key Takeaway
The presence or absence of a question mark is a matter of grammatical structure, not necessarily whether a sentence seeks information. While direct questions require question marks, indirect questions do not because they're embedded within a declarative statement. Understanding this distinction allows for correct punctuation usage and a deeper understanding of sentence structure.
