1.

Wh- Questions

As the name suggests, a wh- question is one that's formed with an interrogative word (what, who, whom, whose, which, when, where, why, or how) and that allows an open-ended answer--something other than "yes" or "no."
Annina: M'sieur Rick, what kind of man is Captain Renault? Rick: Oh, he's just like any other man, only more so. Annina: No, I mean, is he trustworthy? Is his word . . . Rick: Now, just a minute. Who told you to ask me that? Annina: He did. Captain Renault did. Rick: I thought so. Where's your husband? Annina: At the roulette table, trying to win enough for our exit visa. Of course, he's losing. Rick: How long have you been married? Annina: Eight weeks. . . .

2.

Yes-No Questions

Another aptly named interrogative construction, theyes-no question invites the listener to choose between only two possible answers.
Laszlo: Ilsa, I . . . Ilsa: Yes? Laszlo: When I was in the concentration camp, were you lonely in Paris? Ilsa: Yes, Victor, I was. Laszlo: I know how it is to be lonely. Is there anything you wish to tell me? Ilsa: No, Victor, there isn't. 3. Declarative Questions

As Rick demonstrates, a declarative question is a yes-no question that has the form of adeclarative sentence but is spoken with rising intonation at the end.
Ilsa: Richard, I had to see you. Rick: You use "Richard" again? We're back in Paris. Ilsa: Please. Rick: Your unexpected visit isn't connected by any chance with the letters of transit? It seems as long as I have those letters I'll never be lonely. 4. Tag Questions A tag question

(like Rick's "wouldn't it?") is a question that's added to a declarative sentence, usually at the end, to engage the listener, verify that something has been understood, or confirm that an action has taken place.
Rick: Louis, I'll make a deal with you. Instead of this petty charge you have against him, you can get something really big, something that would chuck him in a concentration camp for years. That would be quite a feather in your cap, wouldn't it? Renault: It certainly would. Germany . . . Vichy would be grateful.

5.

Alternative Questions An alternative question

(which typically ends with a falling intonation) offers the listener a closed choice between two answers.
Ilsa: After Major Strasser's warning tonight, I am frightened. Laszlo: To tell you the truth, I am frightened, too. Shall I remain here in our hotel room hiding, or shall I carry on the best I can? Ilsa: Whatever I'd say, you'd carry on. 6. Echo Questions An echo question

(such as Ilsa's "Occupied France?") is a type of direct question that repeats part or all of something which someone else has just said.

Ilsa: This morning you implied that it was not safe for him to leave Casablanca. Strasser: That is also true, except for one destination, to return to occupied France. Ilsa: Occupied France? Strasser: Uh huh. Under a safe conduct from me. 7. Embedded Questions

Typically introduced by a phrase such as "Could you tell me . . .," "Do you know . . .," or (as in this example) "I wonder . . .," an embedded question is a question that shows up inside a declarative statement or another question.
Laszlo: M'sieur Blaine, I wonder if I could talk to you? Rick: Go ahead.

8.

Whimperatives

A blend of "whimper" and "imperative," the term whimperative refers to the conversational convention of casting an imperative statement in question form to convey a request without causing offense.
Ilsa: Will you ask the piano player to come over here, please? Waiter: Very well, Mademoiselle.

9.

Leading Questions

In courtroom dramas, attorneys usually object if the opposing counsel asks a leading question-- a question that contains (or at least implies) its own answer. In this example, Laszlo is actually interpreting Rick's motives, not questioning them.
Laszlo: Isn't it strange that you always happened to be fighting on the side of the underdog? Rick: Yes. I found that a very expensive hobby.

10. Hypophora Here, both Rick and Laszlo employ the rhetorical strategy of hypophora, by which a speaker raises a question and then immediately answers it himself.
Laszlo: If we stop fighting our enemies, the world will die. Rick: What of it? Then it'll be out of its misery. Laszlo: You know how you sound, M'sieur Blaine? Like a man who's trying to convince himself of something he doesn't believe in his heart. Each of us has a destiny, for good or for evil. 11. Rhetorical Questions A rhetorical question

is one that's asked merely for effect with no answer expected. Presumably the answer is obvious.
Ilsa: I know how you feel about me, but I'm asking you to put your feelings aside for something more important. Rick: Do I have to hear again what a great man your husband is? What an important cause he's fighting for?

12. Commoratio

In an effort to shake Rick out of his grim mood, Sam employs another rhetorical strategy,commoratio: emphasizing an idea (in this case, a whimperative) by repeating it several times in different ways.
Sam: Boss. Boss! Rick: Yeah? Sam: Boss, ain't you going to bed? Rick: Not right now. Sam: Ain't you planning on going to bed in the near future? Rick: No. Sam: You ever going to bed? Rick: No. Sam: Well, I ain't sleepy either.