English Level: Low-Intermediate, Intermediate
Language Focus: An explanation of how to form WH-questions (information questions) in English
Grammar Worksheet: asking-wh-questions-worksheet.docx (scroll down to study the exercises online)
Now that we've finished our first lesson on Yes/No questions, let's review how to make Wh-Questions. These questions start with these question words:
| Who | Used to identify a person. | E.g. Who is she? |
| What | Used to identify a thing | E.g. What is it? |
| Which | Used to tell two (or more) things apart. | E.g. Which leg hurts? |
| Where | Used to identify a place. | E.g. Where is Vancouver? |
| When | Used to identify a time. | E.g. When is your birthday? |
| Why | Used to identify a reason. | E.g. Why is she crying? |
| Whose | Used to identify possession. | E.g. Whose car is that? |
| What kind | Used to identify a type/kind. | E.g. What kind of dog do you have? |
| How | Used to explain a way/method. | E.g. How did you make the cake? |
| How long | Used to explain length or duration | E.g. How long is your hair? How long was your holiday? |
| How far | Used to identify distance. | E.g. How far is your house from the station? |
| How much/many/little/few | Used to identify quantity. | E.g. How much money do you have? |
| How often | Used to explain frequency. | E.g. How often do you brush your teeth? |
How do you make a question? Let me explain.
Wh-Questions are also called Information Questions because we are trying to get some specific information from another person (not just a 'Yes' or 'No' answer). Read below for an explanation or jump to the exercises if you want to practice.
The Quick Explanation: Wh-Questions about Subjects or Objects
To understand how to make a question, we need to know if we are making a question about the subject or object of a sentence. To explain, look at this sentence:
John likes Lisa.
(subj) + verb + (object)
Now, imagine that some information is missing, so we need to ask a question.
___?__ likes Lisa.
Here, the subject is missing, so we need to use a WH-question word for subjects. These words are who and what, generally. Because we are asking about a person, we will use who.
Who likes Lisa?
(John likes Lisa.)
That's it. We're done! Making questions about subjects is easy. Now, let's imagine that the object of the sentence is missing.
John likes __?__.
Here, with the object missing, we need to do two things to make a question.
- We have to choose the correct WH-Question word. Because we are talking about a person, we will use 'who' again (Note: You can also use 'whom' for questions about objects).
- We need to add a helping verb to help us make a question. The sentence "John likes Lisa" doesn't have a helping verb (no modal or auxiliary verb like 'will/can/have/is'), so we will add the helping verb 'do' to make the question.
So the question becomes
Who does John like?
- John likes __?__. (We need to know the object)
- John likes who. (We add the Wh-question word 'who' because we are talking about people.)
- Who John likes. (We move the Wh-question word to the beginning of the sentence.)
- Who does John like? (We add the helping verb "do" because the sentence does not have a helping verb).
Common mistake: Who do John like? (Incorrect)
Remember to conjugate (change) the helping verb so that it agrees with the subject. 'John' is the third person singular, so we have to add an 's' to the auxiliary verb. If you've added 's' to the helping verb 'do' (does), then you don't need to add it to the main verb.
That is the end of my quick explanation. If you understand, you can jump down to the exercises below. Otherwise, let me give you a few more examples.
In Detail: Wh-Questions about Subjects
Again, when you are asking a question about the subject, you just need to add the correct Wh-question word (who/what/which). Here are some examples:
__?__ can cook well.
-> We are asking about a person, so we will add who.
-> Who can cook well? Answer: I can cook well.
__?__ is expensive.
-> We are asking about a thing here, so we will add 'what'.
-> What is expensive? Answer: The hotel is expensive.
__?__ has been ordered.
-> What has been ordered? Answer: The flowers have been ordered.
*Notice that we use 'has' and not 'have' here. When we ask a question about the subject and there is an auxiliary verb (has/do/be), always put the auxiliary verb in a singular form (= has (not have) or does (not do)).
In Detail: Questions about Objects
Structure: Wh-Question word + Helping Verb + Subject + Main Verb
What do you like?
Answer: I like basketball. (basketball is the object of the verb in the sentence; we are asking about the object.)
To make a question about the object of a sentence, you need a helping verb to put after the Wh-Question word. If the sentence already has a helping verb, then you can use it to make the question. For example,
Peter is doing his homework.
-> The main verb here is 'doing', and 'is' is the helping verb. If we use the above structure (Wh-Question word + Helping Verb + Subject + Main Verb), the question about the object becomes
What is Peter doing?
Here's another example.
We can speak Italian.
-> The main verb here is 'speak', and 'can' is the helping verb. The question about the object becomes
What can we speak?
One more example.
She was washing the dishes.
-> The main verb here is 'washing', and 'was' is the helping verb. The question about the object becomes
What was she washing?
Reminder: Use 'Do' in Questions about the Object without a Helping Verb
Again, if there is no helping verb (auxiliary or modal) in a question about an object, then you should add 'do' to make the question.
I bought shoes.
-> The main verb here is bought but there is no helping verb, so to make a question we add 'do'
What did you buy?
Notice that 'do' is changed to 'did' because the main verb 'bought' was in the past tense. The tense (past simple) is shown in the helping verb, not the main verb.
Note: Do Not Add 'Do' with only BE Verb
Do not add 'do' to questions about objects (actually it's called a complement) with the BE verb. Just use the order of Wh-question word + BE verb + Complement.
She is a doctor.
-> What is she?
My birthday is tomorrow.
-> When is your birthday?
Exercise #1: Wh-Questions with Helping Verbs
The underlined word is what you want to know. Make a question to match the answer.
- Q: ? A: He will buy wine.
- Q: ? A: He is playing tennis.
- Q: ? A: He teaches French.
- Q: ? A: We should buy tickets.
- Q: ? A: He has visited Italy.
- Q: ? A: They are students.
- Q: ? A: She can come tomorrow.
- Q: ? A: I ate a salad.
Exercise #2: Wh-Questions about Subjects and Objects
Write the correct question to ask about the underlined word.
- Q: ? A: Donald Trump said that.
- Q: ? A: I study English.
- Q: ? A: December 25th is Christmas.
- Q: ? A: They went to a party.
- Q: ? A: My brother is coming.
- Q: ? A: She called her mother.
- Q: ? A: I'm going downtown tomorrow.
- Q: ? A: Nobody knows the answer.
- Q: ? A: The class starts at 1 p.m.
- Q: ? A: Huge means very big.
- Q: ? A: She was crying because she fell down.
Exercise #3 - Focus on Whose/What kind/How/How long/How Far/Etc
- How is used in two ways: 1) To describe something's condition or state. How is your health? (It's good.) 2) To describe a method. How did you make the cake?
- Whose is used for possession. Whose website is this? (It's mine.)
- What kind is used to identify a type of something. What kind of movies do you like? (I like action movies.)
- How far is used to explain distance. How far is the station from here? (2 kilometres.)
- How long is used to explain length or the length of time. How long is the movie? (2 hours.)
- How much is used to identify the quantity of a non-countable noun. How much time do we have? (We have 10 minutes.)
- How many is used to identify the quantity of a countable noun. How many children are there? (There are eight children.)
- How often is used to explain frequency. How often do you brush your teeth? (Twice a day.)
Now, try to make a question with the below answers using some of the above Wh-Question words.
- Q: ? A: She has two cars.
- Q: ? A: He was at the library for 3 hours.
- Q: ? A: I write with my right hand.
- Q: ? A: Six people live there.
- Q: ? A: She called me in order to invite me.
- Q: ? A: The trip takes one day.
- Q: ? A: It costs three dollars.
- Q: ? A: Their holiday was relaxing.
- Q: ? A: She exercises twice a week.
- Q: ? A: I like rock music.
- Q: ? A: We can meet on Wednesday.
- Q: ? A: I go to school by bus.
- Q: ? A: John's bag is on the table.
- Q: ? A: He did poorly on the test.
How did you do? I hope you could understand how to form Wh-questions. If you have a question, please ask it in the comment section below. Also, if you need practice with the difference between how far and how long, please view this page.
- Matthew Barton / Creator of Englishcurrent.com (copyright)
Related Pages
Is the How Long and How far is same? I am very confused about it I wrote about How long from here … but still, I am confused anyone please guide me?
Hello Syed. No, they are different. Please read my explanation here: https://www.englishcurrent.com/grammar/how-far-how-long-difference-esl/
She has some flowers in her hand. If I underline the word some then what will be the ans?
‘Some’ is a measure of quantity, so I suppose the question would be: “How many flowers does she have in her hand?”
What should be the Wh-Question to get answer -He is tall.
What is he? (this is not a common question to ask though.)
She knows that its a nice day. Make it wh question
You should use ‘Please…’; otherwise, you’ve given me a command. Please try it yourself first.
Teacher I don’t understand Exercise .2 No.6.
Why use who? Why don’t use whom. I know
to use .Who use say the Subject.And Whom use say the object.What is difference in these? Please explain me.
what does she know?
My home district is Chattogram…
What is the accurate WH question for this sentence?
It is either “Where is your home district?” or “Which home district is yours?” if there are some options to choose from.
If any student ans “what is your home district?.. Is it right?
For the question My home district is Chattogram(the underlined word is Chattogram)
That’s okay too.
“I am sleeping” .I don’t know how to make questions about this using your method system.
Hello. In order to make the question, I need you to indicate which word (I or sleeping) contains the information the questioner wants. The question could be either ‘Who is sleeping?” or “What are you doing”? Regarding more complicated sentences, that is a good suggestion. I will consider adding some more in the future. Thanks for visiting.
At what situations do we need to not invert the subject and verb in wh-question .like :
Which city is the largest?
Hello. That’s a good example. I’ve never studied that question in detail. I imagine other questions that do not require inversion AND already have a subject in them include examples like: “Whose/What/What kind/How much/many” + subject + verb. This won’t work with who/what/where/why/when/how.
can you add some more comlipcated sentences using various tenses to make questions?
He doesn’t (work) now.
What will be accurate wh-question?
He helped me (a lot) sir ,how can i make it wh
A: Friday is the ‘last day’ of week.
Q: ?
What/Which day of the week is Friday?
Wh-quetion.,.They come toCollege by bus.
How do they come to college?
One must exercise to keep body fit.What is it?
What must one do to keep the body fit?
Ans??
A teacher reads to his students.
Underline word = his students
To whom does a teacher read? / Whom does a teacher read to? *Note that it is also acceptable (by most people) to use ‘who’ instead of ‘whom here’.
1) She is in black [ She is underlined]
2) She goes to the window, opens it.[ To the window is underlined].
3) Victoria, a precocious girl.[ A precocious girl is underlined]
4) Mrs. Slater, I am amazed at you.[ You is underlined].
5) It would never do for them to find you in colours with grandfather lying dead, upstairs.[ It is underlined]
Please frame the Wh questions to get the underlined parts as the answers.. kindly reply
Is this your homework or are you trying to test other students? If you’d like the answers, it would be best to try it yourself first. Please write your answers and I’ll give you feedback.
Which of these is the correct way of asking this question?
“What should be your answer?” or “What should your answer be?”
John likes his sister very much. make a wh- question
thank you this page clear me when use ax verb
the volume of the container measures 10 cubic meters. make wh-question
Why don’t you try to make the question? Then I will tell you if you are correct.
What other WH-questions would there be in this statement: The students are caught cheating during the exam.
I’m already done with WHO and WHEN tho
What were the students caught doing [during the exam]?
Thanks you very much…..I enjoy it
This page is so explanatory for those who wish to improve their grammatical knowledge. I really enjoyed while reading and doing exercises. Morover i revised the knowledge i learnt very long time ago when i studied English lessons at high school. My great gratitude for people who prepared this website and presented it for public use
it help me when use auxiliary verb in wh questions
You have given him my book. Question for my book will?
This page is about WH-questions, not will. For the sentence ‘You have given him my book’, the question could be ‘What have you given him?’
*Notice that we use ‘has’ and not ‘have’ here. When we ask a question about the subject and there is an auxiliary verb (has/do/be), always put the auxiliary verb in a singular form (= has (not have) or do (not does)).
Is there a typo in the sentence? Should the “(= has (not have) or do (not does))” part be “(= has (not have) or does (not do))” ?
Do not add ‘do’ to questions about objects (actually it’s called a complement) with the BE verb. Just use the order of Wh-question word + Subject + BE verb.
Should the “Wh-question word + Subject + BE verb” part be “Wh-question word + BE verb + Subject” ?
Two great comments. You are correct in both cases. I changed them. For the latter one, I changed it to “Wh-question word + BE Verb + complement.”
Cheers.
I would like to thank you for the corrections. I have another question.
“How long was he at the library? A: He was at the library for 3 hours.” in Exercise #3
I wonder whether “How long has he been at the library? A: He has been at the library for 3 hours.” will be better or not.
Hello. It would only be better if he were still at the library. However, because the answer is in the past simple (describing a finished action in the past), then the question should also be in the past simple.
Q:
What will he buy
? A: He will buy wine.
Q:
What is he playing
? A: He is playing tennis.
Q:
Where is he teaches
? A: He teaches French.
Q:
What should we buy
? A: We should buy tickets.
Q:
Where has he visited
? A: He has visited Italy.
Q:
Who are they
? A: They are students.
Q:
When can she come
? A: She can come tomorrow.
Q:
What did i ate
? A: I ate a salad.
Where is he teaches? > What does he teach?
What did i ate? > What did I eat?
The other answers are correct. Well done.
more did,does,do excercise
Hello,
my name is Jacob and I was recently studying on your page. It has some issues like if you accidentaly make an extra space ita makes the whole thing wrong. Please fix this mistake and there is something you should know. This was way too easy ang I expect for you to make a better challenge because I will fail my examination on Thuesday. I have a very strict teacher that I fear.
With respect and anger
Jakey
An extra space is a mistake. Please follow the rules of punctuation if you’d like your answers to be marked as correct.
VERY NICE EXPEIRENCE❤❣
Teacher I don’t understand exercise 2 No.6.
Why use who?Why don’t use whom? Who is use for sub.And whom is use for obj.I know that. Please explain me.
Hello. Yes, you are correct. I have added ‘whom’ as a possible answer. Thank you.
If we see the word ‘we’.What should I write ‘we’ or ‘you’ in the question line? And we see a preposition in the line.should I put back in the question?
eg. Kyaw Kyaw went to town last Sunday.
She often comes here in her car.
For thte verb ‘go’, you need to include the preposition in the question if the question includes the object of the preposition, e.g. “When did she go to town?” (here ‘town’ is the object of the preposition ‘to’, so you need to include it.).
I do not understand your other question. Can you explain a bit more? If the question is asking about ‘we’ (a group that we are in), then the question should also ask about ‘we’.
Yes,Tr.But,Why is this question not in?
eg.”She often come here in her car”.
How does she often come here?
I found it written like that.Please tell me Tr.
eg.”We sat on the grass”. (Where)
Where did you sit?
eg.”We should buy tickets”.(What)
What should we buy?
I don’t understand that Tr.
Q: “How does she often come here?” A: “She often comes here by car.” (use ‘by’)
The grass example you provided is fine. The ticket example is fine. What don’t you understand?
thank you for this useful lesson with relevant examples.
Thank you so much