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Original poster

Is "Please pass the gravy" followed by a full stop or a question mark?

59 replies

JohnnyBee · 04/02/2019 21:22

KS2 English punctuation question and my 10 year old daughter thinks it's a full stop while I (who has a degree!) thinks it's a question mark.
Let's show her who's right!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 04/02/2019 21:23

Why would it be a question? Maybe an exclamation mark if they say it in an uplifted tone!

ShakeYourTailFeathers · 04/02/2019 21:24

I think full stop. It's a request not a question.

Hassled · 04/02/2019 21:24

Full stop. It's not a question, is it? It's a command.

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10 year olds
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 04/02/2019 21:24

Full stop. It’s not a question.

Rhynswynd · 04/02/2019 21:24

Full stop.
Please pass the gravy.
Could you pass the gravy please?

ninalovesdragons · 04/02/2019 21:24

Full stop

BifsWif · 04/02/2019 21:24

I think it’s a full stop, but happy to be corrected.

A levels, no degree.

CosyToast · 04/02/2019 21:24

I think it should be a full stop! The verb is in the imperative, it's not a question, surely?
I think it would be
Please pass the gravy.
Or
Please could you pass the gravy?

willisurvive3under2 · 04/02/2019 21:25

Full stop. However if you say 'Would you please pass the gravy?', that has a question mark.

Disclaimer: I learnt English as my second language.

Rhynswynd · 04/02/2019 21:25

Having a degree does not make you the smartest person in the room.

Butternutsqoosh · 04/02/2019 21:25

Full stop, it's not a question. Is it?

Daisiesinavase · 04/02/2019 21:26

Full stop. But I see a lot of people on here use question marks after statements like this?

GoGoGadgetGin · 04/02/2019 21:26

Full stop. As pp it's not a request- it's an instruction- Can/would/will you pass the gravy then needs a ?.

ThanosSavedMe · 04/02/2019 21:27

You’re not asking a question so why on earth would you use a question mark?

Youmadorwhat · 04/02/2019 21:27

Full stop

littlered05 · 04/02/2019 21:28

Definitely a full stop

Drogosnextwife · 04/02/2019 21:30

Full stop.

I know someone who puts random question marks in texts. I have still never figured out why she does it, she is an educated woman but the random question marks are confusing.

GaraMedouar · 04/02/2019 21:31

Full stop. The verb is imperative.

Original poster
JohnnyBee · 04/02/2019 21:33

ok, fine, enough, I was wrong and she was right! (I'm not telling her though!)

OP posts:
BigBumandMumTum · 04/02/2019 21:34

Full stop-I have English lang /lit a-level and taught literacy as a teaching assistant.

CherryValance · 04/02/2019 21:35

Drogosnextwife - could she have a phone that isn't compatible with yours? I'm sure random characters sometimes turn up instead of emojis if a different type of mobile.

It's a full stop, but I can imagine it said in a questioning tone - please pass the gravy? - but this is more because the words 'could you' have been left out.

BikeRunSki · 04/02/2019 21:35

Full stop.

HappenstanceMarmite · 04/02/2019 21:36

But I see a lot of people on here use question marks after statements like this?

Shudder. I’ve noticed that too. Everywhere Hmm

NotMyFinestMoment · 04/02/2019 21:38

A full stop as you are not asking a question.

bsc · 04/02/2019 21:40

The question is wrong! It's "Would you like the salt?"