10.109 rhetorical questions

People often use questions as a way of making a comment or exclamation. They do not expect an answer. Questions like this are called rhetorical questions.

You can use a negative 'yes/no'-question, if you want to encourage other people to agree with you.

• Oh Albert, isn't she lovely?
• Wouldn't it be awful with no Christmas!

In informal English, you can use a positive question.

• 'How much?' --- 'A hundred million.' --- 'Are you crazy?'
• Have you no shame!

'Wh'-questions, especially ones containing modals, are also used.

• How the hell should I know?
• Why must she be so nasty to me?
• Why bother?