Does the punctuation mark at the end change the meaning and intonation? Do we have similar structures like 'Who's a clever girl!", where the word order suggests the interrogative sentence?
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2I would say that the meaning remains unaltered by the change of punctuation. I guess that if one wanted to convey a literal request for information, one could phrase it as, “Which person is a clever girl?” Not idiomatic, but unambiguous.– PaulTanenbaumAug 24 at 13:44
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Does this answer your question? "May I have a mango!" is it an Imperative, Optative or Interrogative sentence? There seems to be a growing acceptance of finishing interrogative-style sentences where the person speaking doesn't expect/want an answer (including rhetorical questions, but also 'are-they-really-questions?' like this) with a full stop or exclamation mark. "How do you do./!"– Edwin AshworthAug 24 at 14:48
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(See also Do you really answer "How do you do?/./!" with "How do you do?/./!"?)– Edwin AshworthAug 24 at 14:51
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2The punctuation only matters if your dog can read.– John LawlerAug 24 at 15:11
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It is occasionally directed at small children as well as dogs or parrots. But probably children too young to read.– Stuart FAug 24 at 15:13
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2 Answers
Both "Who's a clever girl!" and "Who's a clever girl?" are correct, but they have different meanings.
The exclamation point (!) after "Who's a clever girl!" makes it an exclamation, which means it is expressing strong feeling or emotion. In this case, the emotion is surprise or delight at the girl's cleverness.
The question mark (?) after "Who's a clever girl?" makes it a question, which means it is asking for information. In this case, the question is asking who the clever girl is.
In general, it is more common to use the exclamation point when you are expressing strong emotion, and the question mark when you are asking for information. However, there are always exceptions to the rule, and sometimes it comes down to personal preference.
Here are some examples of how the two phrases could be used:
"Who's a clever girl!" exclaimed the mother as her daughter solved a difficult math problem. "Who's a clever girl?" asked the father as he watched his daughter build a complex Lego structure. In the first example, the mother is expressing her surprise and delight at her daughter's cleverness. The exclamation point emphasizes the strong emotion she is feeling.
In the second example, the father is simply asking who the clever girl is. The question mark indicates that he is seeking information.
Ultimately, the best way to decide which phrase to use is to consider the context and the meaning you want to convey.
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2I'd consider "Who's a clever girl?" to be rhetorical anyway. The exclamation mark just emphasises rather than changes the meaning.– TetsujinAug 24 at 14:55
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" "Who's a clever girl?" asked the father as he watched his daughter build a complex Lego structure. "???? Seriously? Are you sure about the article used? Aug 24 at 15:03
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2Not really. Some schools will insist on a question mark to mark a question, others will allow an exclamation mark. The actual intonation is unlikely to be affected. It's like saying over & over "Who's a pretty boy, then?" to a parrot. Through some unwritten osmotic pressure of thought, everybody says it the same way, something more like a Punch & Judy show than an actual question. We used to say "Who's a clever girl?" to our cat when she did something we wanted her to do. We never expected an answer ;)– TetsujinAug 24 at 15:10
Does the punctuation mark at the end change the meaning and intonation?
Yes.
Do we have similar structures like 'Who's a clever girl!", where the word order suggests the interrogative sentence?
I'm not sure what you mean. The exclamation mark indicates that it is not a question.
The question mark signifies (not unreasonably) a question that requires an answer.
The exclamation mark signifies a rhetorical remark - no response is required - it is basically an emphatic statement.
