In this lesson, you will learn about Wh Questions in English. These are questions that start with “Wh” words like what, where, when, who, why, and how. They are used to ask for specific information and are essential for everyday conversations. Let’s dive into the details!
What Are Wh Questions?
Wh Questions are questions that begin with “Wh” words. They help us gather detailed information about a topic. Here are the most common Wh words:
| Wh Word | Meaning | Example Question |
|---|---|---|
| What | To ask about things | What is your name? |
| Where | To ask about places | Where do you live? |
| When | To ask about time | When is your birthday? |
| Who | To ask about people | Who is your best friend? |
| Why | To ask about reasons | Why are you late? |
| How | To ask about manner | How are you feeling? |
How to Form Wh Questions
To form a Wh Question, follow these steps:
- Start with the Wh word (e.g., what, where, when).
- Add a helping verb (e.g., is, are, do, does, did).
- Include the subject (e.g., you, he, she, they).
- Add the rest of the sentence if needed.
Examples:
- What is your favorite color?
- Structure: What + is + your + favorite color?
- Where do you study?
- Structure: Where + do + you + study?
- Why did she leave early?
- Structure: Why + did + she + leave early?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Here are some mistakes learners often make when forming Wh Questions:
- Forgetting the helping verb:
- Incorrect: What your name?
- Correct: What is your name?
- Using the wrong helping verb:
- Incorrect: Where does he go to school? He goes.
- Correct: Where does he go to school? He goes to school.
- Mixing up question order:
- Incorrect: You live where?
- Correct: Where do you live?
Practice Games
Additional Notes
- “How” can also be combined with other words to form more specific questions:
- How much does it cost?
- How many books do you have?
- How long does it take?
- “Which” is another Wh word used to ask about choices:
- Which one do you prefer?
Summary
Wh Questions are a key part of English communication. They help us gather specific information about people, places, times, reasons, and more. By mastering these questions, you’ll be able to hold meaningful conversations in English.