Question Words (What, Where, When, Who, Why, How)
Ask about anything using Wh- question words and the right word order, including How many / How much / How old. Beginner grammar with 20 questions.
To get information, we ask questions. The most useful questions begin with a question word — also called a “Wh- word” because most of them start with wh. Learn these six, and you can ask about almost anything.
The main question words
| Word | Asks about | Example |
|---|---|---|
| What | a thing | What is your name? |
| Where | a place | Where do you live? |
| When | a time | When is the lesson? |
| Who | a person | Who is your tutor? |
| Why | a reason | Why do you study English? |
| How | a way / manner | How are you? |
How to build a Wh- question
The usual order is: question word + helper (do/does/is/are) + subject + verb.
- Where do you live? — I live in Kuala Lumpur.
- What does Omar do? — He is an accountant.
- When is your class? — It is on Monday evening.
- Why are you happy? — Because it is the weekend!
Useful “How” phrases
| Question | Asks about |
|---|---|
| How old are you? | age |
| How many brothers do you have? | number (countable) |
| How much is it? | price / amount |
| How often do you study? | frequency |
Tutor tip for Arabic speakersIn English, the question word goes first, and you still need a helper word like do/does/is. Don’t drop it: not “Where you live?” but “Where do you live?” The little helper is essential in English questions.
Common mistakes
- Where you are from? → Where are you from?
- What you do? → What do you do?
- How much brothers? → How many brothers?
Practise question words with the 20 questions below.
Check your understanding
Answer the questions below. You will see instantly if you are right.
1.Which word asks about a place?
Where asks about a place.
2.Which word asks about a time?
When asks about time.
3.Which word asks about a person?
Who asks about a person.
4.Which word asks about a reason?
Why asks about a reason.
5."___ is your name?"
What is your name?
6."___ do you live?"
Where do you live?
7."___ is your tutor?" — "Ms Layla."
Who is your tutor?
8."___ do you study English?" — "For my career."
Why asks the reason.
9."___ are you?" — "I'm fine, thanks."
How are you?
10.Complete: "Where ___ you live?"
Where do you live?
11.Complete: "What ___ Omar do?"
With Omar (he): What does Omar do?
12.Complete: "When ___ your class?"
When is your class?
13."___ old are you?"
How old are you? asks age.
14."How ___ brothers do you have?" (countable)
How many for countable nouns.
15."How ___ is this book?" (price)
How much asks price/amount.
16."How ___ do you study?" (frequency)
How often asks about frequency.
17.Which is correct?
Where are you from?
18.Which is correct?
What do you do?
19.Which is correct?
How many for countable (brothers).
20."___ does the lesson start?" — "At 6 o'clock."
When asks about time (6 o'clock).
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