Escuela Superior de Huejutla.
Wh- questions in English.
Cristhian Rojas Vite.
July-December 2022.
Abstract.
We use English questions all the time, because if you want
to interact in English you have to ask a question to
somebody else.
Wh- questions (also called question words) are the
questions which start with wh, for example:
what, when, where, which, who, whose, why and how.
Keywords: wh- questions, question words, questions.
How to use the wh questions.
When people interact in English, they exchange
information, and sometimes you have to answer a question
or there is a big possibility that you have to ask a question
to another person.
This is the perfect opportunity to you about using these
questions.
How to use the wh questions.
When a person asks questions using the following
question pattern, (what, when, where, which, who, whose,
why and how) it is because he/she is expecting to receive
an answer.
Examples.
We use what to ask about things.
• What is your name?
• What is your phone number?
• What’s your nationality?
• What’s your address?
• What time is it?
• What are you going to study in University?
• What do you do?
• What’s going on?
Examples.
We use when to ask about time.
• When will you finish this course?
• When were you born?
• When are you free to go to the cinema?
• When does the school semester finish?
• When is your birthday?
• When should we meet online?
• When is the exam?
Examples.
We use where to ask about places.
• Where are you from?
• Where do you live?
• Where is your school located?
• Where is the restroom?
• Where is my bag?
• Where do you work?
• Where does he study?
• Where did you go on your last vacation?
Examples.
We use which to ask about choices.
• Which is more delicious, strawberry or vanilla ice-
cream?
• Which is the correct direction, to go on the right or go on
the left?
• Which restaurant shall we go to?
• Which dessert would you like?
• Which stream TV service do you prefer, Netflix or
Disney+?
• Which school subject do you like the most?
Examples.
We use who to ask about people.
• Who are you?
• Who is your best friend?
• Who is your favorite actor?
• Who’s that?
• Who is she?
• Who did it?
• Who did you call?
• Who was using my computer?
• Who is your English teacher?
Examples.
We use whose to ask about a possession.
• Whose pencil is this? Is it yours?
• Whose bag is this?
• Whose cellphone number is this?
• Whose book is this?
• Whose car is that, the red one?
Examples.
We use why to ask about reasons or causes.
• Why do you study English for?
• Why did you choose that career?
• Why do you love pop music?
• Why is your sister crying?
• Why did she say no?
• Why did you do that?
• Why are you so happy?
• Why are you interested on a different culture?
Examples.
We use how to ask about manner or process.
• How much is it?
• How is that possible?
• How that happened?
• How can I get to the airport?
• How far is the supermarket?
• How old are you? How old is your brother/sister?
• How fast was I going?
• How long is that river?
• How was your vacation?
Conclusion.
Using wh- questions in English may give you the
opportunity to have a better conversation and at the same
time, to get some information from the person you are
talking to or, you may give him/her the answers he/she
needs.
Please practice right now, creating your own questions
following the examples I have just provided here.
Bibliography.
Davies, P., Hernández Alvarado, M. G., Hernández Hernández, C. L., López
González, L. (2016) Make it real Professional A1.1 Universidad Autónoma del
Estado de Hidalgo.
British Council (August 23rd, 2021). British Council. Retrieved on August 23rd, 20
21, de British Council: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/english-grammar-ref
erence/questions-and-negatives
Soars, J., & Soars, L. (2012). New Headway English Course, Pre-Intermediate
Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Any questions?
Email: [email protected]
