Fragesätze

Two fundamental types of interrogative sentences are taken into account here: yes-no interrogatives and wh-interrogatives. A bundle of formal features can be considered to distinguish them from other sentences like indicative sentences and imperative sentences. Interrogatives are used to express questions, i.e. speech acts which are made to receive an answer. But interrogatives can be used also for other purposes, e.g. for polite requests or for rhetorical questions - the latter represent a strategy for stating something. Moreover, a series of interrogative structures can be found that reveal differences in form and function from the fundamental patterns for interrogatives but are frequently used in interactions.