Definition and Examples of Declarative Questions

Definition and Examples of Declarative Questions A declarative question is a  yes-no question that has the form of a declarative sentence but is spoken with rising intonation at the end. Declarative sentences are commonly used in informal speech to express surprise or ask for verification. The most likely response to a declarative question is agreement or confirmation. Examples and Observations You think Im kidding you? You think its a joke to have to walk home on a clear night with an umbrella? You think that because Im quirky I dont hurt? Youve got it backward. Im quirky because I hurt.(Jack Weston as Danny in The Four Seasons, 1981)Henry Rowengartner: Wow, you ate that whole thing?Frick: Why, sure! It wasnt that much.(Rookie of the Year, 1993)This isnt working out, Jin-ho said. Were going to have to let you go.Youre firing me? she said.Yes. Ann will call you Monday re the paperwork.Youre firing me  at a bar? Outside the bathroom in a bar?â€Å"Im sorry if it doesnt suit your high standards.(Stephanie Clifford, Everybody Rise. St. Martins Press, 2015)Vivian: I was supposed to ride that barrel right out of this crummy town.Jaye: And you never considered a bus?(Barrel Bear, Wonderfalls, 2004) Declarative Questions vs. Rhetorical Questions A declarative question has the form of a statement: ​Youre leaving? but has the intonation of a question when spoken and is marked by a question mark in writing.A declarative question differs from a rhetorical question such as: Do you think I was born yesterday? in two ways:(Loreto Todd and Ian Hancock, International English Usage. Routledge, 1986) A rhetorical question has the form of a question:Was I tired?A declarative question seeks an answer. A rhetorical question requires no answer since it is semantically equivalent to an emphatic declaration:Do you think Im stupid? (i.e. Im certainly not stupid)Am I tired? (i.e. Im extremely tired.)