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Question words in English

Question words, also known as interrogative words, are a group of words used to introduce questions in a sentence. They are used to seek specific information, clarification, or details about a person, thing, time, place, reason, manner, and other aspects. Question words help in forming interrogative sentences and are crucial for effective communication and gathering information in conversations or written texts. They play a vital role in facilitating conversations, interviews, surveys, and investigations by prompting the listener or reader to respond with relevant information. Common question words include “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” “why,” “how,” “which,” and “whose,” each serving a distinct purpose in seeking information or clarification.

Question words are an essential component of the English language, enabling effective communication and fostering meaningful conversations. They serve as valuable tools for gathering information, clarifying doubts, and expressing curiosity. In this article, we will explore the different question words in English, their usage, and provide examples to help you improve your English language skills.

Question words and their use

QUESTION WORD	USAGE	EXAMPLES
Who	Information about a person	Who are you?
What	Information about the nature or identity of something	What are you doing?
What + noun?	Specific information about something	What time is it?
What … like?	Asking about a person’s character or description of a place, object	What is your aunt like? What is your room like?
What … look like?	Asking about a person’s physical appearance	What does your grandfather look like?
When	At what time something happened	When do you finish school?
Where	Location	Where is Mary?
How	In what way, to know about someone’s health or to greet people	How are you?
How + adj?	Asking for the degree of a quality	How deep is the ocean?
Why	Cause or reason	Why can’t you jump?
Whose	Which person a thing belongs to	Whose is this book?
Which	To ask for a specific choice when there is a limited number of possibilities	Which season is your favourite?

Let’s take a closer look at some of them:

What: The question word “what” is used to seek information about objects, things, actions, or situations. It is a versatile word that can be combined with other question words to delve deeper into various aspects. Here are some examples:

What is your favorite color?
What time is it?
What did you do yesterday?

Who: “Who” is employed to inquire about people or the subject of a sentence. It seeks information about the identity of an individual or a group. Consider these examples:

Who is your best friend?
Who won the game?
Who is coming to the party tonight?

Where: The question word “where” is used to ascertain the location or place of an object, person, or event. It helps in gathering information about specific positions or destinations. Here are some examples:

Where is the nearest supermarket?
Where did you go on vacation?
Where are my keys?

When: “When” is utilized to seek information about time, dates, or periods. It allows you to inquire about specific moments, events, or schedules. Consider the following examples:

When is your birthday?
When did you start learning English?
When does the movie start?

Why: The question word “why” is used to understand the reason or purpose behind an action or situation. It helps in seeking explanations and clarifications. Here are some examples:

Why did you choose this career?
Why is the sky blue?
Why are you upset?

How: “How” is a versatile question word that seeks information about the manner or method of doing something. It allows you to inquire about processes, conditions, or ways to accomplish tasks. Consider the following examples:

How do you cook pasta?
How was your day?
How can I improve my English skills?

Which: “Which” is employed to choose or identify from a limited set of options or alternatives. It helps in making selections or seeking specific information. Here are some examples:

Which book do you prefer?
Which color do you like better, blue or red?
Which movie did you watch last night?

How much or how many?

One of the common questions that arise when speaking English is the difference between “how much” and “how many“. These questions are used for quantity or cost questions. However, they are used in different contexts. Let’s understand when to use “how much” and “how many”.

“How much” is used with non-possessive identifiers with countable nouns that are measured in indefinite units or have no clear numerical quantity. Here are some examples:
- How much money do you have?
- How much time did it take?
- How much milk is left in the bottle?
“How many” is used with countable nouns that can be counted separately. Use “how many” when a numerical answer is expected. Here are some examples:
- How many books are on the shelf?
- How many people attended the conference?
- How many cars are parked outside?

Remember that “how much” is used for uncountable nouns that are measured in units of weight or do not have a specific numerical amount, while “how many” is used for countable nouns that can be counted individually.

Interrogative pronouns and adverbs

In general, interrogative words are divided into interrogative pronouns and adverbs. Let’s consider them in more detail.

Table with interrogative pronouns

Interrogative pronouns	Examples
What	What is your name?
Who	Who is coming to the party?
Whom	Whom did you meet?
Whose	Whose car is this?
Which	Which book do you recommend?

Table with interrogative adverbs

Interrogative adverbs	Examples
When	When is your birthday?
Where	Where is the nearest supermarket?
Why	Why are you laughing?
How	How do you spell your last name?
Wherever	Wherever you go, I will follow.
How often	How often do you go to the gym?
How long	How long does it take to get there?
How far	How far is the beach from here?
How much	How much does it cost?
How many	How many siblings do you have?
In what way	In what way can I assist you?

These individual tables will help you better understand and remember interrogative pronouns and adverbs, along with examples and translations. Use them when learning English to practice formulating questions and understanding different aspects of the language.

Interrogative phrases

What is your favorite color?
Where were you born?
How do you like to spend your free time?
Who is your favorite author?
When did you start learning English?
Why did you choose this university?
How many siblings do you have?
Where do you work?
Which movie genre do you prefer?
What are your plans for the weekend?
Whom do you admire the most?
How often do you go on vacation?
Where did you meet your best friend?
What is your favorite food?
How long have you been studying English?
Why did you move to this city?
Where do you want to travel next?
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
How do you stay motivated?
What are your future aspirations?

Question words play a crucial role in effective communication and understanding in the English language. By mastering these question words, you can enhance your ability to ask questions, engage in conversations, and seek information. Practice using these question words in various contexts to become more confident in your English language skills. Remember, asking the right questions leads to a deeper understanding of the world around you. So, embrace the power of question words and explore the endless possibilities of language learning.

Video – Question Words in English