Interrogative Adverbs

Interrogative Adverbs are those adverbs that are used to ask questions pertaining to why, where, when and how?

Examples:

·         Why are the toys littered in the living room?

·         Where is my son?

·         When are you going to come back?

·         How can you do this to me?

Interrogative Adverbs fall in the following sub-categories:

1. Interrogative Adverbs of Time

‘When’ / ‘How’ suffixed with a ‘long’ or ‘often’ is used to denote an adverb of time.

Examples:

·         When will the class end?

·         How long will you take to finish the work?

2. Interrogative Adverbs of Place:

The Interrogative Adverb of Place is used to enquire about a particular location.

Example:

·         Where is the school?

3. Interrogative Adverbs of Reason:

This is used to enquire about the probable reason or cause.

Examples:

·         Why are you going to the office again?

4. Interrogative Adverbs of Manner:

The word “How” is used to ask about the manner in which the verb occurs.

Example:

How quickly can you finish the assignment?

5.  Interrogative Adverbs of Amount, Quantity and Degree:

Examples:

·         How much cake have you got with you?

·         How many apples have they produced?

·         How much more time are you going to take?

Thus, we see that Interrogative Adverbs are used in sentences to frame different questions.

USAGE OF WHEN, WHERE, WHY and HOW?

Ø  When is used to enquire about time of the action.

Example:

·         When are you arriving at the station?

Ø  Where is used to enquire about the location where the action is taking place.

Example:

·         Where shall we be meeting next week?

Ø  Why pertains to the cause or reason of the action taking place.

Example:

·         Why are you in such a hurry to reach the college?

Ø  How is used to ask question related to manner, time, quantity, amount and degree.

Examples:

·         How do you start the car? (Manner)

·         How swiftly can you drive the car? (Time)

·         How old is your mother? (Degree of an Attribute)

·         How much sugar would you like to be packed? (Quantity)

·         How many pencils are to be put the box? (Amount)

·         How much is the fever now? (Degree)

·         How frequently do you take this supplement? (Frequency)

While using the Interrogative Adverb in a question, one must invert the Subject and the Verb, so that the verb precedes the Subject in the order of the sentence.

English Grammar and Composition

From Interrogative Adverbs to HOME PAGE

ShareFacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsAppMessenger