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interrogative

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

in·ter·rog·a·tive / ˌintəˈrägətiv/ • adj. having or conveying the force of a question: a hard, interrogative stare. ∎ Gram. used in questions: an interrogative adverb. Contrasted with affirmative and negative. • n. a word used in questions, such as how or what. ∎ a construction that has the force of a question. DERIVATIVES: in·ter·rog·a·tive·ly adv.

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"interrogative." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"interrogative." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-interrogative.html

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INTERROGATIVE

Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language | 1998 | | Copyright

INTERROGATIVE. In GRAMMAR, the structure through which questions are asked, and a term used in the classification of sentence types, in contrast with declarative, imperative, etc. It is often used interchangeably with QUESTION, but some grammarians keep interrogative as a category of form and question as a category of meaning, while others do the reverse. The sentence Can I borrow your pen? is interrogative in form, but is a directive in meaning, requesting the listener to lend the pen.

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TOM McARTHUR. "INTERROGATIVE." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

TOM McARTHUR. "INTERROGATIVE." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-INTERROGATIVE.html

TOM McARTHUR. "INTERROGATIVE." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-INTERROGATIVE.html

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