Wh- question words — what, where, who, when, why, how
The six words that open almost every real question, the word order that goes with them, and the most useful how + adjective combinations: how much, how many, how old, how far, how often.
Unit 2 taught yes/no questions (Is she…? Do you…?). This unit adds the question words that ask for real information instead of just yes or no — and the word order that always goes with them.
A — The six question words
One word, one job. Learn the meaning, not just the spelling.
| Word | Asks about | Example |
|---|---|---|
| what | a thing, an action | What is your name? What do you do? |
| where | a place | Where do you live? |
| who | a person | Who is that man? |
| when | a time | When is your birthday? |
| why | a reason | Why are you tired? |
| how | manner, or + adjective (see part C) | How do you go to work? |
The rest of this lesson is in the General English course:
- B — Word order: the question word never changes the rest
- C — how + adjective: the combinations you need every day
- Remember
- D — Answering with a preposition: where questions end differently
- Correct vs wrong
Try it: Choose the question word
What does the answer tell you — a place, a person, a time, a reason?
- ___ is your brother? — He's a doctor.
(a) Who (b) What (c) Where - ___ do you live? — In Ganja.
(a) When (b) Who (c) Where - ___ is that man over there? — That's my uncle.
(a) Who (b) What (c) Why - ___ is your birthday? — In July.
(a) Where (b) When (c) Who - ___ are you tired? — Because I slept badly.
(a) Why (b) How (c) What - ___ do you go to work? — By bus.
(a) Why (b) How (c) Who
Check your answers in the course — it marks them instantly. This is one of the unit's 5 exercises; the other 4 are in the General English course too.
Practise this unit in the course →