问号(?)

问号表示问句的结束。问号的主要使用规则很简单,即如果句子是以问句形式出现,就应该在句尾使用问号。

直接疑问句

直接疑问句表示在提出一个问题后,希望获得答案。在很多情况下,直接疑问句以“谁”、“什么”、“何时”、“何地”和“为什么”开始。

Example
What is your name?
Example
Does anyone have a pencil I can use?

问号应当用在直接疑问句的末尾。

Incorrect
You did eat, didn't you.
correct
You did eat, didn't you?
Incorrect
Will you go there with me.
correct
Will you go there with me?

间接疑问句

间接疑问句是隐藏在一个陈述句或另一个疑问句中的疑问句。

Example
She is asking if you are available tomorrow.
Example
I was wondering if you could help me.

在间接疑问句的末尾应该加句号,而不是问号。

Incorrect
I wonder if I should call him?
correct
I wonder if I should call him.
Incorrect
He asked me if I can borrow the book?
correct
He asked me if I can borrow the book.

问号和引号

问号是应该放在引号里面还是放在引号外面,有时令人困惑。一般的规则是,如果疑问句是被引用的,问号应该放在引号里面。

Example
He asked, "Can I come?"
Example
"Are you done with your homework?" she asked.

但是,如果整个句子是一个问句形式,而且引用的短语不是一个疑问句的形式,那么问号应该放在引号的外面。

Example
Did she really say, "You are fat"?
Example
Are you sure she said "go out and spend all your money"?

问号和括号

问号和括号联用时的规则与问号和引号联用时的规则相同。如果括号内的内容是一个疑问句,问号应该放在括号里面。

Example
I saw the fourth edition of the book (or was it the fifth?).

如果问号适用于整个句子,而不仅仅适用于括号内的内容,那么问号应该放在括号外面。

Example
Will he come home tomorrow (May 4th)?
Example
Can you believe he walked all the way over here (from his house)?

其他关于问号的用法

在有些情况下,问号有一些特殊用法,例如反问句和句子中间带有引用内容时。

反问句

反问句是指不期待或不需要回答的疑问句。反问句可以用来强调某一点。虽然不指望得到回答,根据文意,反问句末尾是可以使用问号的。实际上,由于反问句多以疑问句的形式出现,反问句的末尾确实是通常使用问号的。

Example
I mean, who would want to go with her?
Example
What is the meaning of life?

句中带有引用内容时的问号

当句中嵌有引号时,通常用逗号将引用部分与其他部分隔开(例如,“she said,” “he asked,”,等等)。但是,当句中使用问号来引用时,引号后面不要使用逗号。

Incorrect
"Are you sure you want to eat this?", she asked.
correct
"Are you sure you want to eat this?" she asked.
Incorrect
"Can you tell me your name?", the woman asked him.
correct
"Can you tell me your name?" the woman asked him.