A statement with a question mark is a direct question. It's a sentence that seeks information and ends with the punctuation symbol '?'.
Understanding Direct Questions
According to the reference, a question mark is placed at the end of a sentence which is a direct question. This means any sentence designed to elicit an answer requires a question mark.
Key Characteristics of Direct Questions
- Purpose: To ask for information.
- Structure: Usually begins with an interrogative word (who, what, where, when, why, how) or an auxiliary verb (is, are, do, does, can, will).
- Ending: Always ends with a question mark (?).
Examples of Direct Questions
Here are some examples that follow the rule and include a question mark:
- What time is it?
- Are you going to the store?
- Can I borrow your pen?
- Where did you go on vacation?
- Why are you sad?
- Does anyone have a pen I can borrow?
- What is the capital of Wales?
Distinguishing Direct Questions from Indirect Questions
It's important to distinguish between direct questions and indirect questions. Indirect questions are embedded within a statement and do not end with a question mark.
Examples of Indirect Questions (no question mark):
- I wonder what time it is.
- I asked if you were going to the store.
- She wanted to know where you went on vacation.
| Feature | Direct Question | Indirect Question |
|---|---|---|
| Punctuation | Ends with a question mark (?) | Ends with a period (.) |
| Structure | Typically uses interrogative words and/or auxiliary verbs | Often embedded within a statement |
| Purpose | Directly seeks information | Reports or wonders about information |
In short, if a statement is asking for a response and ends with a question mark, it is a direct question.
