Asking or Telling Sentences for Kids: Question Mark or Period? (Grade 1 English)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. Some sentences tell us something. Other sentences ask us something. Today we will learn how to tell them apart and which mark goes at the end.

A telling sentence shares a fact or an idea. It ends with a period. My cat is orange. We went to the beach. These sentences tell us something.

An asking sentence is a question. It wants an answer. It ends with a question mark. Do you like apples? Where is my hat? These sentences ask something.

Many questions start with a question word. Who, what, where, when, why and how. If you see one of these at the start, the sentence is probably asking.

Questions can also start with words like do, can, is and are. Can you help me? Is it raining? Your voice often goes up at the end of a question.

Watch how one idea can be both. The dog is hungry. That tells us. Is the dog hungry? That asks us. The words moved around, and the end mark changed too.

Now it's your turn. What time is lunch. Is this an asking or telling sentence, and which mark goes at the end? Pause and try. It is asking, so it needs a question mark.

Great job! Remember, telling sentences end with a period. Asking sentences end with a question mark. Practice asking and telling sentences in the English Lab at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!