Questions (wh)

1. What Are WH Questions?

In this lesson, we learn common WH question words (who, what, where, when, why, which, and how) and how to form WH questions.
They help us ask for specific information, not just “yes” or “no.” Learning WH questions helps you talk about people, places, things, and actions.

2. Common WH Question Words

Who – asks about a person

• Example: “Who is your teacher?” → “My teacher is Ruth.”

What – asks about a thing or an action

• Example: “What is your favorite color?” → “My favorite color is blue.”

Where – asks about a place

• Example: “Where do you live?” → “I live in London.”

When – asks about time

• Example: “When is your birthday?” → “My birthday is in May.”

Why – asks about reason

• Example: “Why are you tired?” → “Because I went to bed late.”

Which – asks to choose from options

• Example: “Which shirt do you want?” → “I want the red shirt.”

Tip: We often say “Which + noun”: Which bus? Which book?

How – asks about manner, condition, or quantity/price

• Example: “How are you?” → “I am fine.”
• Example: “How much is this?” → “It is five dollars.”

3. How to Make WH Questions

WH questions usually follow a clear structure. The pattern changes depending on the verb. Sometimes the WH word asks about the subject, and sometimes it asks about another part of the sentence.

3.1 WH questions with be (am/is/are)

When the main verb is be (am / is / are), the structure is different.

Structure: WH word + be (am/is/are) + subject + rest of sentence?

Examples with the verb "be":

• “Who is your teacher?”
• “Where is the bus?”
• “How are you?”

Important tip:

No do/does is needed with the verb be.

3.2 WH questions with do/does

Use this structure when the WH word is not the person/thing doing the action. The subject can be a pronoun (I/you/he/she/it/we/they) or a name/thing (Tom, my mother, the bus).

Use do/does when the WH word is not the "doer". The subject is the person/thing that does the action.

Example: “Who called you?” (Who = subject) vs “Who do you know?” (Who = object).

Structure: WH word + do/does + subject + main verb + rest of sentence?

Examples with the verb “do/does”:

• “What do you eat for breakfast?”
• “Where does she live?”
• “When do they go to school?”

Important tips:

• Use does for he, she, it
• Use do for I, you, we, they
• Notice: The main verb is without -s after does!
  Correct: “Where does he live?”
  Incorrect: “Where does he lives?”

3.3 When the WH word is the subject (no do/does)

Sometimes, the WH word itself is the subject (the WH word is the person/thing that does the action). Then we don’t use do/does.

Example: “Who called you?” Here, 'who' is the caller (the person who did the action).

When this happens:

• Do NOT use do / does
• Do NOT change the word order
• Use the verb directly after the WH word

Structure: WH word (subject) → verb → rest of sentence

Examples:

• “Who called you?”
• “Who lives here?”
• “What happened?”
• “What makes you happy?”

In these questions:

• Who / what = the subject
• In the answer, you say the person or thing: ‘Who called you?’ → ‘Tom called me.’

3.4 Subject vs object: quick comparison

This comparison helps you see the difference clearly.

WH word as SUBJECT (no do / does):

• “Who eats pizza?”
• “Who likes ice cream?”
• “What makes that noise?”
• “Who reads books?”

WH word as OBJECT (use do / does):

• “Who do you know?”
• “What do you need?”
• “What does he drink in the morning?”
• “Where does she work?”

4. Answers to WH Questions

WH questions ask for specific information, not yes/no. So the answer gives information (a person/place/time/thing).

• Q: “Where do you live?”

→ A: “I live in London.”

• Q: “Who is your friend?”

→ A: “My friend is Ruth.”

• Q: “What do you eat for breakfast?”

→ A: “I eat bread and eggs.”

5. Common Mistakes

• Incorrect: “Where you live?” → missing do
• Correct: “Where do you live?”
• Incorrect: “What she likes?” → missing does
• Correct: “What does she like?”
• Incorrect: “Who your teacher?” → missing is
• Correct: “Who is your teacher?”

Recap

1. With be: WH + am/is/are + subject + ...?
2. With other verbs: WH + do/does + subject + verb + ...?
3. WH word = subject: WH + verb + ...? (no do/does)