Wh- Questions

CONTENT

Forming Wh- Questions
Usage

Open questions, or Wh- questions in English use question words to ask for information and can be answered freely.

Wh-questions begin with what, when, where, who, whom, which, whose, why and how.

Example

Explanation

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Wh- question is used to ask more information about one's preferences.

Forming Wh- Questions

With an Auxiliary Verb

Rule 1: We can form wh- questions using the construction wh- word + an auxiliary verb (be, do or have) + subject + main verb.

Example

Explanation

Where are you going?

Are is an auxiliary verb used to form an wh- question.

Note: We can also form wh- questions by using modal verbs instead of auxiliary verbs, following the construction wh- word + a modal verb + subject + main verb.

Example

Explanation

Where should I go?

Should is a modal verb used to form a wh- question.

Without an Auxiliary Verb

Rule 2: We don't use auxiliary verbs when question verbs what, who, which or whose is the subject or part of the subject. We can form wh- questions using the word order wh- word (subject) + main verb.

Example

Explanation

Who let the dogs out?

Who replaces the subject in the sentence, so this wh- question is formed following the word order subject + main verb.

Note: In the wh- question with a preposition, preposition comes at the end of the question.

Example

Explanation

Where are you from?

From is a preposition, so it comes at the end.

Usage

Rule 3: We can use wh- questions to ask for information about specific qualities, times, places, people, etc. by using different question words.

Here is how to use different wh- words:

Wh- Word	Usage	Example
what	things	What are you doing?
when	time	When will I see you again?
where	place/location	Where are we going?
who	people	Who told you that?
whom	people (object of verb)	Whom were you talking to?
whose	possession/belonging	Whose backpack is this?
which	choices/preferences	Which dress do you like the most?
why	causes/reasons	Why are you looking at me like that?
how	process/manner	How can I contact you?

Quiz

1/4

Form a Wh- question. ___ did you do on the weekend?

correct answers.