Asking wh- questions in English

Asking questions in English

Curiosity is a mind in search of knowledge.
Thibaut

​At some point we always get curious about something or someone.
When that happens, we ask questions. To ask them we have to follow certain rules.

​Then let's focus on four question words.
When we are looking for specific information, we use certain wh- question words.

• Four important wh- questions are:
  who — used for questions about people;
  what — used for questions about things or animals;
  when — used for questions about time;
  where — used for questions about place.

After the wh- question we must use the verb and the subject correctly:
• verb to be (simple present and past tenses) — verb + subject;
Example: Where is Paul?
• other verbs (simple present and past tenses) — auxiliary verb (do/does/did + subject + main verb (infinitive without 'to');
Examples: Where does Paul live?
Where did Paul live ten years ago?

Fill in the Blank

………………… are the dogs?

Fill in the Blank

………………… did your friends come?

Multiple Choice

………… is the person next to you?

• Who

• What

• When

• Where

Time to practise on your own!

Now you are going to ask questions by yourself.
Use the information underlined in the answer to replace it with one of the four wh- words we have studied. Start your question with the wh- word (who, what, when or where) and then follow the rules given for the verbs in the interrogative form (slide 5).
Follow the examples:
1. The girl is in her bedroom.
Where is the girl?
2. They have dinner at 8 o'clock.
When do they have dinner?

Asking wh- questions

Open Ended

His friend Kate lives in Australia.

Open Ended

The games start in August.

Open Ended

Jack and Kate walk to school with Mary.