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Wh- questions are open-ended questions that begin with interrogative words like what, who, when, where, etc. Yes-no questions invite a choice between two answers. Declarative questions have the form of a statement but with rising intonation. Tag questions add a short question to the end of a statement. Alternative questions offer a closed choice between two options. Echo questions repeat part of what someone said. Embedded questions are questions within other statements. Whimperatives cast requests as questions politely. Leading questions imply their own answer. Hypophora is answering one's own question. Rhetorical questions don't require an answer. Commoratio emphasizes an idea by repeating it differently.

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123 views2 pages

Question Type

Wh- questions are open-ended questions that begin with interrogative words like what, who, when, where, etc. Yes-no questions invite a choice between two answers. Declarative questions have the form of a statement but with rising intonation. Tag questions add a short question to the end of a statement. Alternative questions offer a closed choice between two options. Echo questions repeat part of what someone said. Embedded questions are questions within other statements. Whimperatives cast requests as questions politely. Leading questions imply their own answer. Hypophora is answering one's own question. Rhetorical questions don't require an answer. Commoratio emphasizes an idea by repeating it differently.

Uploaded by

May'n Sn
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1.

Wh- Questions

As the name suggests, a wh- question is one that's formed with an interrogative word (what, who, whom, whose, which, when, where, why, or how) and that allows an open-ended answer--something other than "yes" or "no."
Annina: M'sieur Rick, what kind of man is Captain Renault? Rick: Oh, he's just like any other man, only more so. Annina: No, I mean, is he trustworthy? Is his word . . . Rick: Now, just a minute. Who told you to ask me that? Annina: He did. Captain Renault did. Rick: I thought so. Where's your husband? Annina: At the roulette table, trying to win enough for our exit visa. Of course, he's losing. Rick: How long have you been married? Annina: Eight weeks. . . .

2.

Yes-No Questions

Another aptly named interrogative construction, theyes-no question invites the listener to choose between only two possible answers.
Laszlo: Ilsa, I . . . Ilsa: Yes? Laszlo: When I was in the concentration camp, were you lonely in Paris? Ilsa: Yes, Victor, I was. Laszlo: I know how it is to be lonely. Is there anything you wish to tell me? Ilsa: No, Victor, there isn't. 3. Declarative Questions

As Rick demonstrates, a declarative question is a yes-no question that has the form of adeclarative sentence but is spoken with rising intonation at the end.
Ilsa: Richard, I had to see you. Rick: You use "Richard" again? We're back in Paris. Ilsa: Please. Rick: Your unexpected visit isn't connected by any chance with the letters of transit? It seems as long as I have those letters I'll never be lonely. 4. Tag Questions A tag question

(like Rick's "wouldn't it?") is a question that's added to a declarative sentence, usually at the end, to engage the listener, verify that something has been understood, or confirm that an action has taken place.
Rick: Louis, I'll make a deal with you. Instead of this petty charge you have against him, you can get something really big, something that would chuck him in a concentration camp for years. That would be quite a feather in your cap, wouldn't it? Renault: It certainly would. Germany . . . Vichy would be grateful.

5.

Alternative Questions An alternative question

(which typically ends with a falling intonation) offers the listener a closed choice between two answers.
Ilsa: After Major Strasser's warning tonight, I am frightened. Laszlo: To tell you the truth, I am frightened, too. Shall I remain here in our hotel room hiding, or shall I carry on the best I can? Ilsa: Whatever I'd say, you'd carry on. 6. Echo Questions An echo question

(such as Ilsa's "Occupied France?") is a type of direct question that repeats part or all of something which someone else has just said.

Ilsa: This morning you implied that it was not safe for him to leave Casablanca. Strasser: That is also true, except for one destination, to return to occupied France. Ilsa: Occupied France? Strasser: Uh huh. Under a safe conduct from me. 7. Embedded Questions

Typically introduced by a phrase such as "Could you tell me . . .," "Do you know . . .," or (as in this example) "I wonder . . .," an embedded question is a question that shows up inside a declarative statement or another question.
Laszlo: M'sieur Blaine, I wonder if I could talk to you? Rick: Go ahead.

8.

Whimperatives

A blend of "whimper" and "imperative," the term whimperative refers to the conversational convention of casting an imperative statement in question form to convey a request without causing offense.
Ilsa: Will you ask the piano player to come over here, please? Waiter: Very well, Mademoiselle.

9.

Leading Questions

In courtroom dramas, attorneys usually object if the opposing counsel asks a leading question-- a question that contains (or at least implies) its own answer. In this example, Laszlo is actually interpreting Rick's motives, not questioning them.
Laszlo: Isn't it strange that you always happened to be fighting on the side of the underdog? Rick: Yes. I found that a very expensive hobby.

10. Hypophora Here, both Rick and Laszlo employ the rhetorical strategy of hypophora, by which a speaker raises a question and then immediately answers it himself.
Laszlo: If we stop fighting our enemies, the world will die. Rick: What of it? Then it'll be out of its misery. Laszlo: You know how you sound, M'sieur Blaine? Like a man who's trying to convince himself of something he doesn't believe in his heart. Each of us has a destiny, for good or for evil. 11. Rhetorical Questions A rhetorical question

is one that's asked merely for effect with no answer expected. Presumably the answer is obvious.
Ilsa: I know how you feel about me, but I'm asking you to put your feelings aside for something more important. Rick: Do I have to hear again what a great man your husband is? What an important cause he's fighting for?

12. Commoratio

In an effort to shake Rick out of his grim mood, Sam employs another rhetorical strategy,commoratio: emphasizing an idea (in this case, a whimperative) by repeating it several times in different ways.
Sam: Boss. Boss! Rick: Yeah? Sam: Boss, ain't you going to bed? Rick: Not right now. Sam: Ain't you planning on going to bed in the near future? Rick: No. Sam: You ever going to bed? Rick: No. Sam: Well, I ain't sleepy either.

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