WH Question Words We use question words to ask certain types of questions (question word questions).

We often refer to them as WH words because they include the letters WH (for example WHy, HoW). Question Word what Function asking for information about something asking for repetition or confirmation Example What is your name?

What? I can't hear you. You did what? What did you do that for? When did he leave? Where do they live? Which colour do you want? Who opened the door?

what...for when where which

asking for a reason, asking why asking about time asking in or at what place or position asking about choice

who

asking what or which person or people (subject) asking what or which person or people (object) asking about ownership

whom

Whom did you see?

whose why why don't how

Whose are these keys? Whose turn is it? Why do you say that? Why don't I help you? How does this work? How was your exam? see examples below How far is Pattaya from Bangkok? How long will it take?

asking for reason, asking what...for making a suggestion asking about manner asking about condition or quality

how + adj/adv how far

asking about extent or degree distance

how long

length (time or space)

how many how much how old how come (informal)

quantity (countable) quantity (uncountable)

How many cars are there? How much money do you have? How old are you? How come I can't see her?

age asking for reason, asking why

Basic Question Types

There are 3 basic types of question: 1. Yes/No Questions (the answer to the question is "Yes" or "No") 2. Question Word Questions (the answer to the question is "Information") 3. Choice Questions (the answer to the question is "in the question")

1. Yes/No Questions
auxiliary verb subject Do Can Has Did you you she they main verb want drive? finished go her work? home? dinner? Answer Yes or No Yes, I do. No, I can't. Yes, she has. No, they didn't.

Exception! verb be simple present and simple past Is Was Anne Ram French? at home? Yes, she is. No, he wasn't.

2. Question Word Questions

question word auxiliary verb subject main verb Answer Information

Where When Who Why

do will did hasn't

you we she Tara

live? have meet? done it? lunch?

In Paris. At 1pm. She met Ram. Because she can't.

Exception! verb be simple present and simple past Where How is was Bombay? she? In India. Very well.

3. Choice Questions
auxiliary verb Do Will Did subject you we she main verb want meet go tea John to London OR or or or coffee? James? New York? Answer In the question Coffee, please. John. She went to London.

Exception! verb be simple present and simple past Is Were your car they white $15 or or black? $50? It's black. $15.

Wh- Questions allow a speaker to find out more information about topics. They are as follows: When? Time Where? Who? Why? How? What? Place Person Reason Manner Object/Idea/Action

Other words can also be used to inquire about specific information: Which (one)? Choice of alternatives Whose? Whom? How much? How many? How long? How often? How far? What kind (of)? Possession Person (objective formal) Price, amount (non-count) Quantity (count) Duration Frequency Distance Description

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) auxiliary 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 auxiliary 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 auxiliary 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.) ? did you go (past tense) Where did you go? (She likes something.) ? does she like (third person -s) What does she like?

WH QUESTIONS

What time did you come home last night?

Objectives: * Practice using wh question words to make questions. Question words: who, what, when, where, which, how Directions: Change the statements to questions using the question word in parenthesis. Check verb tense. Example: The train arrived at ten oclock. (what time) What time did the train arrive? 1. They do their homework at night. (when) 2. Mr. Robertson came to the party alone. (who) 3. The car is across the street from the house. (where) 4. I like the red blouse, not the blue one. (which) 5. She felt better after she took a nap. (how) 6. That is an English book. (what) 7. My sister called her boyfriend yesterday (when) 8. She talked to him for an hour. (how long) 9. He studies piano at the university. (what) 10. The party lasted all night. (how long) 11. The check was for $5.50. (how much) 12. She was eating a sandwich. (what) 13. She is working hard. (what) 14. My parents have two cars. (how many) 15. They are coming to visit tomorrow. (when) 16. He is going to work right now. (where) 17. The man with the white hat is my brother. (who) 18. I dont get up early because I like to sleep late. (why) 19. We have an English class every day. (how often) 20. They like to dance on weekends. (what)

21. The club is not far from their house. (where) 22. Their favorite kind of music is Latin Jazz. (what) 23. I didnt bring my dictionary today. (why) 24. They are singing popular songs. (what kind)

ANSWER 1. 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?