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Simple Questions: Wh-Questions (Who, What, Where, When, Why, How)

Learn how to ask detailed questions using Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How.

What Are Wh-Questions?

Wh-questions are questions that begin with question words like Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How. They are used to get detailed information rather than simple yes/no answers.

  • Examples: – Where do you live?
  • Examples: – What is your name?

Key Components of Wh-Questions:

  • Start with a question word Use who, what, where, etc. at the beginning. Example: What do you like?
  • Add an auxiliary verb if needed Use do, does, is, are, etc., depending on the tense. Example: Where do you live?
  • Add the subject and the main verb Complete the question with the subject and verb. Example: When does the train leave?

Examples in Questions:

  • Who: Who is your teacher?
  • What: What do you want to eat?
  • Where: Where do you live?
  • When: When does the movie start?
  • Why: Why are you late?
  • How: How do you get to work?

When to Use Each Wh-Question Word:

Use different wh-words depending on the information you want.

  • Who: Ask about a person. Who is your best friend?
  • What: Ask about things or information. What is your favorite color?
  • Where: Ask about a place. Where do you live?
  • When: Ask about time. When is your birthday?
  • Why: Ask about reasons. Why are you sad?
  • How: Ask about the manner or process. How do you cook pasta?

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

  • Using the wrong auxiliary verb: ❌ Where is you live? ✔️ Where do you live?
  • Forgetting to invert the subject and auxiliary verb: ❌ You live where? ✔️ Where do you live?

Rules for Forming Wh-Questions

  • Start with a wh-word like who, what, where, etc.

    • Who is your teacher?
    • Where do you work?

  • Use an auxiliary verb (do, does, is, are) if needed.

    • What do you like to eat?
    • When does the class start?

  • For the verb 'to be', invert the subject and verb without 'do' or 'does'.

    • Where is the library?
    • Why are you tired?

  • Special Cases & Exceptions:

    Sometimes, 'wh-words' can be part of a phrase like How many or What time.

ExampleDescription
Who is your best friend?Asking about a person.
Where do you live?Asking about a place.
When does the class start?Asking about time.
Why are you sad?Asking about a reason.

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the creators of these videos. These are publicly available resources used to provide additional information on the topic.