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Prepositions and questions, part 5 of 5
Wh- Questions: What, Where, When, Who, Why, How
The wh- word goes first, then do / does or be, then the subject: Where does Ana work? What is your name?
The idea
What a wh- question is
It is a question that asks for information, not yes or no. It starts with a wh- word.
- The wh- word first. Where is the park?
- Do or does with another verb. What does he eat?
- Be with no other verb. Why are you here?
When to use it
To get to know someone, find your way in a new place, and understand what you do not know. These expressions go with it:
Meeting someone
- What's your name?
- Where are you from?
- How are you?
- What's up?
Finding your way
- Where is the restroom?
- What time is it?
- How do I get there?
To understand
- What does it mean?
- How do you say...?
- Why not?
- Who is it?
Examples
- Asking about things
What is in the box?
- Asking about places
Where is the train station?
- Asking about time
When is the next bus?
- Asking about people
Who is your best friend?
- Asking for reasons
Why is the baby crying?
- Asking how
How do you make tamales?
How to build it
4 steps
- The wh- wordFirst, what you want to know:Where
- Do / does or beWith another verb, do or does; if not, am, is, or are:Where does
- The subjectWho does the action:Where does Pablo
- The base verbNo -s, because does already has it:Where does Pablo study?
With do / does
- WhWhat
- do / doesdoes
- subjectPablo
- verbstudy?
With be
- WhWhere
- am / is / areare
- subject and the restmy keys?
The rule
The six words
| Word | Asks about | Example | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| what | things, information | What do you need? | Some milk. |
| where | places | Where is Mom? | In the kitchen. |
| when | time | When is the game? | On Sunday. |
| who | people | Who is that boy? | My cousin. |
| why | reasons | Why are you here? | Because I have class. |
| how | the way, or how someone is | How is your mom? | She is fine. |
Two-word questions
| English | Asks about | Example |
|---|---|---|
| what time | the clock time | What time is the meeting? |
| how old | age | How old is your son? |
| what color | color | What color is the bag? |
| which | one of some options | Which one do you want? |
How to pronounce it
what
/wʌt/wh is /w/; the final t is soft.
where
/wɛr/Same sound as wear.
who
/hu/Here wh is /h/.
why
/waɪ/Like the letter y.
Check
Why (blank) you happy? Which one goes in the blank?
Don't confuse it with because
Why is the bank closed?
The question
Because it's Sunday.
The answer
Why is the question and because is the answer.
Part 4: conjunctionsIn real life
What's, where's, and who's are short forms with is: What's your name? Where's the bathroom? With are, people do not shorten it in writing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between what and which?
What asks in general: What is your email? Which is for choosing between a few options: Which one, the red or the blue?
Why is there no do in questions like Who lives here?
When who asks about the subject (the person doing the action), there is no do: Who lives here? Who wants pizza? Otherwise, use do: Who do you live with?
How do I ask the time?
What time is it? For an event, what time + do or be: What time does the movie start?
In short
- The wh- word goes first: Where, What, Why...
- With another verb: wh + do / does + subject + verb.
- With no other verb: wh + am / is / are + subject.
- Age: How old are you?