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WH- questions (Question Words)

There are two main types of questions: Yes/No questions and WH-question. WH-questions are questions starting with WH-words including: what, when, where, who, whom, which, whose, why, and how.

Question words are used to ask about specific qualities, times, places, people, and so on. Below is a list of question words and example sentences:

 

 

Question words Usages Examples
 

What

  

Used to ask about things

 – What are you doing?

– What do you think about the movie?
 

When

  

Used to ask about the time

 – When will the meeting start?

– When are you leaving?
 

Where

  

Used to ask about places

 – Where’s my bag?

– Where do you live?
 

Who

  

Used to ask about people

 – Who do you love the most in your family?

– Who told you that story?
 

Whom

  

 

 

Used to ask about people (object of the verb)

 – Whom did you see in the morning?

I saw Mr. Mark, my English teacher.

– Whom was Jim talking to?

He was talking to Jack, his new roommate.
 

 

Which

  

 

Used to ask about choices

  

– Which one do you choose? The left or right?

– Of all the drinks on the menu, which one would you like?
 

Whose

  

Used to ask about the possession

 – Whose pencil is this? Is it yours?

– Whose books are these?
 

Why

  

Used to ask about reasons/ causes

 – Why did it happen? I didn’t understand.

– Why is he crying?
 

How

  

Used to ask about manner/ process

 – How can you explain this problem? Please tell us.

– How can you get here?

 

Types of Wh question

How to form WH-questions?

    1. with an auxiliary

  • Wh-word + auxiliary + subject + main verb …?
  • Auxiliary verbs are helping verbs (not main verbs).
  • Common auxiliary verbs include be, do, have. Others are will, shall, would, can, could, must, should, may, might, etc.

 

  • What do you do for a living?
  • Why should we read books?
  • When is she coming?

 

  1. without any auxiliary

 

(when WH-words replace subjects already)

Wh-word + main verb …?

  • What happened to Peter?
  • A bad accident happened to him today.
  • Who won the game?
  • Tio won the game.
  • Who gave you this present?
  • My cousin gave me this present.

 

Responding to WH-questions

1. What

  • What is it?
  • It’s a table.
  • What color is your dress?
  • It’s purple.
  • What is your mom doing?
  • She’s cooking in the kitchen.
  • What do you think about the party?
  • Well. It’s fun. I like the music best.
  • What will happen if our team loses this time?
  • We’ll be out of the game.

 

      2. When

 

  • When will the train arrive?
  • The train will arrive in 30 minutes.
  • When does she get up?
  • She gets up at 6 am.
  • When did the party end?
  • It ended before 8 pm.
  • When are you going to visit James?
  • I’m going to see him tomorrow.

 

  1. Where

 

  • Where do you live?
  • I live in Washington D.C.
  • Where are you going?
  • I’m going to the zoo.
  • Where’s the coffee bar?
  • It’s between the supermarket and the cinema.
  • Where did you leave my jacket?
  • I left it in my bedroom.
  • Where have you been?
  • I’ve been in the library reading books.

 

  1. Who
  • Who’s this?
  • She’s my new roommate.
  • Who wants to be a scientist in the future?
  • My sister does. I don’t.
  • Who would you like to travel with?
  • I would like to travel with my best friend, Kim.
  • Who told you that secret?
  • Jenny did. She told me everything.
  • Who do you like the most in this class?
  • I like Henry. He’s so friendly.

 

  1. Whom
  • Whom should we talk to?
  • We should talk to the principal. She’s responsible for student issues.
  • Whom did you see yesterday?
  • I saw Kevin and his girlfriend.
  • Whom would you like to interview?
  • I would like to interview Mr.Patrick, the director.
  • Whom do we have to contact?
  • We have to contact the representative of that company.
  • Whom did you meet in front of the building last week?
  • That was Annie, my secretary.
  • Whom do you know in this class?
  • I only know Danny.
  • Whom are you going to invite?
  • I’m going to invite all of my classmates
  • With whom do you agree?
  • I agree with Henry’s team.

 

  1. Which
  • Which shirt do you like?
  • I like the one with the big yellow star on it.
  • Which color do you choose?
  • I choose red.
  • Which part do you like the most in this story?
  • I love the 2nd part when the prince came and proposed to the princess.
  • Which is the longest river in the world?
  • That’s the Nile.
  • Which one is yours?
  • Mine is the biggest one.

 

  1. Whose

 

  • Whose jacket is this?
  • It’s my mom’s.
  • Whose birthday is today?
  • It’s Jenny’s.
  • Whose pencil is on the floor?
  • That’s mine.
  • Whose team is better?
  • Will’s team is much better.

 

  1. Why
  • Why don’t we visit him now?
  • It’s a good idea.
  • Why did you leave so early?
  • Because I didn’t enjoy the party.
  • Why do you think that he loves you?
  • Because he’s given me lots of chocolate on Valentine’s Day.
  • Why do people celebrate Thanksgiving?
  • Because it’s a special day.
  • Why can’t I go to the cinema now?
  • Because you haven’t done your homework.
  • Why are you so late?
  • Sorry, teacher. I missed the bus.

 

  1. How
  • How’s the weather?
  • It’s sunny and hot.
  • How do you feel?
  • I feel much better now.
  • How did you know him?
  • We were old friends.
  • How’s your new job?
  • It’s interesting. I enjoy it.
  • How often do you go to the movie theater?
  • I sometimes go there. I’m quite busy.
  • How far is it from your house to school?
  • Not too far. I walk to school every day.
  • How much did it cost?
  • It cost $4.
  • How many people are there in your class?
  • There are 30 of them.
  • How come you lost the game?
  • I couldn’t answer the first question well enough.

Exercise

Wh Questions Test

Welcome to your Wh Questions

1.……..  did you see it earlier today?

I saw James, the new football player.

 Who   Which   How

2……….. did you do last weekend?

I watched movies and played hockey.

 Who    What      Whom

3………… will you leave?

After the meeting.

Who    Whom      When

4…………… is David?

He’s still fine. Thanks for asking.

 Who    Whom        How

5………….. ball is this?

It’s Nick’s.

 Who        Whose        Whom

6……………. gave you this present?

That was my boyfriend, Harry.

 Who   Whom   Whose

7……………. did he not come?

He was busy all day.

How   Why   When

8……….. suitcase is mine?

The blue one. The other is Jane’s.

Who   Whose   Which

9……….. long did it take to make such a big cake?

It took 2 hours.

What   When   How

10………… was the weather like on Monday?

It was raining a lot.

 How   When   What

 

WH Question Words Quiz

  1. Which question word is used for asking about time?

 where
 when
 how

  1. Choose the correct question word: “I can’t find my glasses. _______ are they?”

 What
 How
 Where

  1. “I wasn’t listening. _______ did she say?”

 How
 What
 Why

  1. “Why did they go there?” means the same as “What did they go there _______?”

 for
 with
 to

  1. I pointed at the phone I wanted to buy and said, “_______ is that one?”

 How many
 How much
 What cost

  1. After they’d checked the cinema listings, Mario said, ” _______ one do you want to see?”

 How
 What
 Which

  1. To find out the reason for something, we usually ask a question that begins with

 How
 What
 Why

  1. Jenny made a suggestion. She said, “_______ we go for a walk?”

 Why didn’t
 Why don’t
 Why do

  1. There was a phone on the floor, so I picked it up and said, “_______ phone is this?”

 Whose
 Whom
 Who

 

Ask Questions for the underlined words.

1. They took the children home.
_____________________________?
2. He went to the bakery.
_____________________________?
3. They got to the airport by taxi.
_____________________________?
4. They go shopping once a week.
_____________________________?
5. Jane opened the door.
_____________________________?
6. They have got five cats.
_____________________________?
7. He bought a house.
_____________________________?
8. The cat ate the fish.
_____________________________?
9. The plant pot fell on the floor.
_____________________________?
10. They sell 20 kilos of sugar a day.
_____________________________?
11. She found Pamela’s key.
_____________________________?
12. The boys play football.
_____________________________?
13. They came late because they had caused an accident.
_____________________________?
14. He lives in a big house.
_____________________________?
15. His car broke down.
_____________________________?

 

 

Wh questions


Ask questions corresponding to the words between brackets.

Example: I go (to the swimming pool) every Saturday night.

* Where do you go every Saturday night?

 

1.I go (to the swimming pool) every Saturday night. 

_____________________________________?

2. We usually go to England (by plane). 

_____________________________________?

3. The old lady is talking to (the postman).
_____________________________________?

4. I am doing (my homework).  

_____________________________________?

5. My sister goes to the cinema (three times a month).  

_____________________________________?

6. They often get up (at six in the morning).
_____________________________________?
7. He is looking at her (because he thinks he knows her).
_____________________________________?
8. We met her parents (yesterday).
_____________________________________?
9. They will give him (a present) tomorrow.
_____________________________________?
10. I saw her (last week).
_____________________________________?
11. The teacher corrected (the students’ papers) yesterday.
_____________________________________?
12. (The teacher) corrected the students’ papers yesterday.
_____________________________________?
13. I prefer (the blue) jumper, not the pink one.
_____________________________________?
14. This restaurant is (very) far.
_____________________________________?
15. I have been studying English for (many years.)
_____________________________________?
16. Their mother was (cooking dinner) when he phoned.
_____________________________________?
17. The little boy was playing (in the garden).
_____________________________________?
18. This car is (my best friend’s) car.
_____________________________________?
19. You can put your shoes (in the cupboard).
_____________________________________?
20. He works a lot (because he needs money).

_____________________________________?