A question may be either a linguistic expression used to make a request for information, or else the request itself made by such an expression. This information may be provided with an answer.
Questions are normally put forward or asked using interrogative sentences. However they can also be formed by imperative sentences, which normally express commands: "Tell me what two plus two is"; conversely, some expressions, such as "Would you pass the salt?", have the grammatical form of questions but actually function as requests for action, not for answers, making them allofunctional. (A phrase such as this could, theoretically, also be viewed not merely as a request but as an observation of the other person's desire to comply with the request given.)
Read more about Question: Varieties of Questions, Grammar, Questions and Answers, Learning, Philosophical Questions, Origins of Questioning Behavior
Famous quotes containing the word question:
“Roughly speaking, any man with energy and enthusiasm ought to be able to bring at least a dozen others round to his opinion in the course of a year no matter how absurd that opinion might be. We see every day in politics, in business, in social life, large masses of people brought to embrace the most revolutionary ideas, sometimes within a few days. It is all a question of getting hold of them in the right way and working on their weak points.”
—Aleister Crowley (1875–1947)
“O.J. Berman: Well, answer the question now. Is she or isn’t she?
Paul: Is she or isn’t she what?
O.J. Berman: A phony.
Paul. I don’t know. I don’t think so.
O.J. Berman: You don’t think so, huh? Well, you’re wrong. She is. But on the other hand, you’re right. Because she’s a real phony.”
—George Axelrod (b. 1922)
“The question arises as to whether it is possible not to live in the world of men and still to live in the world.”
—Louise Bernikow (b. 1940)