Why should we use question marks? Question marks symbolize
questions; use them after an interrogative sentence. However, don't use a
question mark after an indirect question.
For example:
Are you done with your homework?
Eric's mother asked him whether he
was done with his homework.
In the first example, a direct
question is being asked. That sentence is an interrogative sentence
because it is asking a question. Use question marks in these situations.
In the second example, however, an
indirect question is being stated. Here, the statement is about a
question, but it isn’t a question in itself. The writer is stating what Eric's
mother asked, not asking it himself. Therefore, that sentence is a declarative
sentence, and should not have a question mark.
A slightly different scenario from an indirect question is
when you quote someone asking a question. When you quote someone asking a
question, then you do use a question mark.
For example:
Eric's mother asked him, "Are
you done with your homework?"
In the above sentence, the writer
is quoting Eric's mother asking a question. The quote itself is a direct
question, but the entire statement is not. However, it ends with a question
mark because of the rules of punctuating quotations (this will be discussed in the
next grade level concepts). Therefore, use question marks when quoting a direct
question.