What are interrogatives?  What is an interrogative.  So too, are who, where, when, how and derivatives of these words along with a few others.  They are question words and I love them.  I love asking questions.  It’s how I learn.  And you see, they can answer questions too, like in my previous sentence.

Now as I am writing this, I am thinking about students I have encountered in the past, that did not know what they are by name.  I am sure most people do not use “interrogative” in a sentence very often either.  I am not saying they don’t know the term, it’s just not interesting to them, like it is to me.

And then we come to the topic of questions in general.  Asking questions, trying to find answers, are things we need to learn.  If one does not ask questions, a person will only know part of an answer.  That is a problem because there are questions people don’t ask, on purpose, because they don’t want to know.  This happens especially when one has a strong opinion about something and does not want any information that may prove contrary to that belief.  By not asking questions, we limit the consideration of possible facts that could challenge that belief.

That’s why I think we need interrogatives. (Notice the word “why” in that sentence?)  They are used to ask questions and find answers so that truths can be discovered.  They are the words that guide scientists when looking for answers in the never ending quest for knowledge about our world.

If people close their minds after hearing the answers they wish to hear, they often fall short of finding key factors in their beliefs.  Beliefs are not necessarily true.  That’s why there is so much conflict.  (Note: I am not saying beliefs are wrong in general, especially in regard to religion and faith.)  But in cases of being honest and telling the truth, answers can be found by asking  enough questions.  Science, providing equal rights for all citizens, the search for truth in the justice system, all require the finding of facts that guide important decision-making in society.  I think that those are enough reasons to ask questions, don’t you?