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Also known as: Content question, question word question, information question
Examples (English)
Here are some examples of words that begin wh-questions in English. Most of them begin with wh-:
• who
• what
• when
• where
• why
• how
Generic
A wh-question is a kind of
Definition
Here are two senses of question:
• an interrogative clitic that attaches to the item in the sentence that is being
questioned.
Wh - Ques tions allow a speaker to find out more information about topics. They are as follows:
When? Time
Where? Place
Who? Person
Why? Reason
How? Manner
What? Object/Idea/Action
The "grammar" used with wh- questions depends on whether the topic being asked about is
the "subject" or "predicate" of a sentence. For the subject pattern, simply replace the person
or thing being asked about with the appropriate wh-word.
(Someone has my baseball.) Who has my baseball?
(Something is bothering you.) What is bothering you?
For the predicate pattern, wh- question formation depends on whether there is an "auxiliary"
verb in the original sentence. Auxiliary or "helping" verbs are verbs that precede main verbs.
Auxiliary verbs are italicized in the following sentences.
I can do it.
They are leaving.
I have eaten my lunch.
I should have finished my homework.
To make a question using the predicate pattern, first form a yes/no question by inverting the
subject and (first) auxi lia ry verb. Then, add the appropriate wh- word to the beginning of the
sentence.
(You will leave some time.) ? will you leave
When will you leave?
(He is doing something.) ? is he doing
What is he doing?
(They have been somewhere.) ? have they been
Where have they been?
If there is no a uxili ary and the verb is "be," invert the subject and verb, then add the
appropriate wh- word to the beginning of the sentence.
(He is someone.) ? is he
Who is he?
(The meeting was some time.) ? was the meeting
When was the meeting?
If there is no a uxili ary and the verb is not "be," add do to the beginning of the sentence.
Then add the appropriate wh-question word. Be sure to "transfer" the tense and number from
the main verb to the word do .
(You want something.) ? do you want
What do you want?
(You went somewhere.) ? di d you go (past tense)
Where did you go?
what...for asking for a reason, asking why What did you do that for?
why asking for reason, asking what...for Why do you say that?
how come asking for reason, asking why How come I can't see her?
(informal)
Example: The train arrived at ten o’clock. (what time) What time did the train arrive?
Answer :
When do they do their homework.
2. Who did Mr. Robertson come to the party with?
3. Where is the car?
4. Which blouse do you like?
5. How did she feel?
6. What kind of book is that?/ What is that?/ What is that book?
7. When did your sister call her boyfriend?
9. What does he study at the university?
10. How long did the party last?
11. How much was the check for?
13. What is she doing?
14. How many cars do your parents have?
15. When are they coming to visit?
16. Where is he going right now?
17. Who is the man with the white hat?
18. Why don't you get up early?
19. How often do you have an English class?
20. What do they like to do on weekends?
21. Where is the club?
22. What is their favorite kind of music?
23. Why didn't you bring your dictionary today?
24. What kind of songs are they singing?
Answer :
1. to you bed? When do go