Statement Versus Question Intonation

You may have learned at some point that questions have a rising intonation.

They do, but usually a question will step upward until the very end, where it takes one quick little downward step.

A question rises a little higher than a statement with the same intonation pattern.

" Here is my car." " Where is my car? "

Emotional or Rhetorical Question Intonation

If you know that your car is parked outside, however, and someone doesn't see it and asks you where it is, you might think that it has been stolen and your emotion will show in your intonation as you repeat the question.

As your feelings rise in an emotional situation, your intonation rises up along with them.

" Where is my car? " " Why? Is it gone? "