In this lesson, we will focus on how to form WH-questions correctly. WH-questions are designed to gather specific information and we usually use those questions in our conversations, so do not miss this lesson. It is an important one!
learn: Continuous verbs in English
What are WH-Questions?
They are questions that begin with one of the following words :
- Who
- What
- When
- Where
- Why
- How
These questions are used to gather specific information and are essential in everyday conversation .
Structure of WH-Questions:
The general structure for forming WH-questions in English is :
WH-word + Auxiliary verb (do/does/did) + Subject + Main verb +the rest of the sentence + ?
For example:
- What are your neighbors doing there?
- Where does Sarah live?
- Why did your friends Sami and Mia leave early?
Note: In some cases, the auxiliary verb is not used (especially with the verb "to be").
For example:
- Where is Mounir going?
Explanation of WH-words:
| The wh-word |
Used to ask about |
For example |
|---|---|---|
| Who |
People |
Who is this man ? |
| What |
Things , activities or ideas |
What do you think ? |
| when |
Time |
When did Noah arrive ? |
| Where |
Place or location |
Where are you planning to spend the vacation ? |
| Why |
Reasons and causes |
Why did you call me ? |
| How |
Manner , process or condition |
How is your work going so far ? |
Pay attention:
Pay attention to word order, especially when using auxiliary verbs ( do/does/did) with the main verb and try to Practice with different tenses ( Do not worry , we got you ! Just follow the structure of the lesson and try to do all the exercises ). For example :
- Where does Maria live? (Present simple)
- Where did Maria go? (Past simple)
- Where will Maria go tomorrow ? (Future simple)
Important points when answering WH-questions:
1. Complete answers:
Unlike yes/no questions, WH-questions require more than just "yes" or "no" answers. Always provide specific details or explanations when answering.
Example :
o Question : What time does the bus arrive?
o Answer : The bus arrives at 10:25 AM. (A complete answer)
2. Grammatical consistency:
Make sure your answer matches the question in terms of verb tense and structure.
Example:
o Question : What did you eat after your workout? (past tense)
o Answer : I ate a meat sandwich . (also past tense)
3. Short answers:
If the question asks for a simple fact, you may give a short answer. However, it’s still important to make the answer clear and complete.
Example :
o Question : Where do you work?
o Answer : At the hospital .
4. Use of pronouns :
In many cases , you can answer using pronouns . For example, if the question is about a person or object you mentioned earlier .
Example :
o Question : Who is your best friend?
o Answer: She is my best friend .
o Question : Where is your book?
o Answer : It’s on the table .
Tasks
Task 1 : Fill in the blanks with the correct WH-word.
1. ______do you like to read?
2. ______ is your birthday?
3. ______ is she coming to the party?
4. ______ is your favorite sport?
5. ______ did you go on vacation?
6. ______ is the nearest supermarket?
7. ______ does she play the piano so well?
8. ______ did you buy that gift?
The correction of task 1 :
1) What
2) When
3) Why
4) What
5) When
6) Where
7) Why
8) Where
Task 2 : Correct the following WH-questions .
1. What your name is?
2. Where you are going?
3. Who is you favorite actor?
4. How you doing today?
5. When the class start?
6. Why he is crying?
7. Where did you went last weekend?
8. When she will arrive?
9. Who are you invited to the party?
10. How much does cost this book?
The correction of task 2 :
1) What is your name ?
2) Where are you going ?
3) Who is your favorite actor ?
4) How are you doing today ?
5) When does the class start ?
6) Why is he crying ?
7) Where did you go last weekend ?
8) When will she arrive ?
9) Ho are you inviting to the party ?
10) How much does this bok cost ?
Task 3 : Write WH-questions for the following answers
1. I go to the fitness club every morning.
WH-question: _______?
2. I am reading a book called "The black cat."
WH-question: _______?
3. My birthday is on July 10th.
WH-question: _______?
4. I am traveling to New York next month.
WH-question: _______?
5. Loe speaks three languages.
WH-question: _______?
The correction of task 3:
1. How often do you go to the fitness club ?
2. What book are you reading?
3. When is your birthday?
4. Where are you traveling to next month?
5. How many languages does Loe speak?
Task 4: Complete the table with the corresponding question or answer .
| The question |
The answer |
|---|---|
| |
My favorite singer is Adele . |
| What is your favorite sport ? |
|
| When did you start learning Chinese ? |
|
| |
I am from Germany . |
The correction of task 4:
| The question |
The answer |
|---|---|
| Who is your favorite singer ? |
My favorite singer is Adele . |
| What is your favorite sport ? |
My favorite sport is volleyball . |
| When did you start learning Chinese ? |
I started learning Chinese five years ago . |
| Where are you from ? |
I am from Germany . |
Recapitulation of the lesson
Great job, everyone! Today, we covered a very important part of communication in English: WH-questions . By now, you should feel more confident in not only forming WH-questions but also in answering them clearly and effectively.
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