Introduction

In many conversations, “Yes/No” questions are not enough. We often need specific information: a person, a place, a time, a reason, or a way to do something. In this unit, you will learn how to ask clear questions with who, what, where, when, why, and how. These are called Wh- questions (and “how” joins the same family).

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives
Use who, what, where, when, why, and how to ask for specific information; form Wh- questions with be and with do/does; answer Wh- questions with short, clear information.

1) What Wh- words mean

Wh- words help you ask for one type of information. Think of them as “question keys” that open different answers.

Important concept
In most Wh- questions, the Wh- word comes first: Where are you? What is it? How do you spell your name?

2) Wh- questions with the verb “be”

When the main verb is be (am/is/are), we make the question by changing the order: Wh- word + be + subject.

Pattern: Wh- word + am/is/are + subject (+ complement)?

Examples:

1. Where are you?
2. Who is she?
3. What is your name?
4. When is the meeting?
5. How are they?

Short answers: Give the information, not “yes/no”.

1. Where are you? I’m at home.
2. Who is he? He’s my brother.

3) Wh- questions with other verbs (use do/does)

When the main verb is not “be” (for example: live, like, work, study, play), we usually need do or does.

Pattern (Present Simple): Wh- word + do/does + subject + base verb (+ complement)?

Examples:

1. Where do you live?
2. What do they want?
3. When do we start?
4. Why does he study English?
5. How do you spell your surname?

Warning
After does, the main verb stays in the base form (no -s). Correct: Where does she live? Not: Where does she lives?

4) “Who” as subject vs “who” as object

Sometimes who is the subject of the verb. Then we do not use do/does.

Who as subject:

1. Who works here? (Answer: Maria works here.)
2. Who likes pizza? (Answer: I like pizza.)

Who as object:

1. Who do you call? (Answer: I call my mother.)
2. Who does he meet? (Answer: He meets his friends.)

5) Common classroom and daily-life Wh- questions

In an English Academy, Wh- questions are everywhere. They help you participate, ask for help, and understand instructions.

1. What does this word mean?
2. How do you pronounce it?
3. How do you spell it?
4. Where is exercise 3?
5. When is the test?
6. Why is this answer correct?
7. Who is absent today?

Practice

Practice section
Complete each question or choose the correct form. Then check the answers in the table.