What Are Wh- Questions?
In English, we use Wh- questions to ask for particular details. They do not get a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. They ask for information like a name, a place, a time, a person, or a reason.
These questions are very common in daily conversations. They help you get to know people and understand situations better.
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Common Wh- Words in English
Here are the most common Wh- words you will use:
- What: Asks about things or actions. What is your favorite color?
- Where: Asks about places. Where do you live?
- When: Asks about time. When do you go to bed?
- Who: Asks about people. Who is your teacher?
- Why: Asks about reasons. Why do you study English?
- How: Asks about the way something happens or the condition of something. (Even though it doesn’t start with ‘Wh-‘, it works like a Wh- word.) How are you?
How to Make Wh- Questions with the Verb ‘Be’
When your question uses the verb be (am, is, are), the structure is simple:
- Start with the Wh- word.
- Then use is oppure are.
- Finally, add the subject (the person or thing).
Look at these examples:
- What is your name?
- Where are you from?
- Who is that man?
How to Make Wh- Questions with Other Verbs
When your question uses any verb other than be (like live, work, study), you need an auxiliary verb: do oppure does.
- Start with the Wh- word.
- Then use do (per I, you, we, they) or does (per he, she, it).
- Next, add the subject.
- Finally, add the main verb in its base form (without -s oppure -es).
Ad esempio:
- Where do you work?
- What does she study?
- When do they eat lunch?
Summary of Wh- Question Structures
Here is a quick overview of the two main structures for Wh- questions in the Present Simple:
| Verb Type | Wh- Word | Verb / Auxiliary | Subject | Main Verb (Base Form) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| With be | What | is | your name | – |
| With be | Where | are | they | – |
| With other verbs | Where | do | you | live |
| With other verbs | What | does | she | study |
Esempi
- What is your favorite food?
- Where are your friends?
- When is the English class?
- Who is your brother?
- What do you do on weekends?
- Where does he live?
- When do you usually wake up?
- Why do they learn French?
Esercitazione
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Spanish speakers often make these mistakes because of direct translation:
- Incorrect word order with be:
❌ What your name is?
✅ What is your name?
Remember: Wh- word + is/are + subject. - Missing do/does with other verbs:
❌ Where you live?
✅ Where do you live?
Remember: Wh- word + do/does + subject + main verb. - Adding -s to the main verb with does:
❌ What does she studies?
✅ What does she study?
When you use does, the main verb is always in its base form.
Domande frequenti
What is the most important rule for Wh- questions?
The most important rule is the word order. Always put the Wh- word first. Then comes the verb (is/are) or the auxiliary verb (do/does), and then the subject.
Do I always need ‘do’ or ‘does’ for Wh- questions?
No, you only need do oppure does when the main verb is NOT be. If the question uses is oppure are, you don’t use do/does.
What is the difference between ‘What’ and ‘Who’?
What asks about things, ideas, or actions. For example, What is your job? Who asks about people. For example, Who is your best friend?
Can I use contractions in Wh- questions?
Yes, you can use contractions, especially in spoken English. For example, What’s your name? instead of What is your name? oppure Where do you live? (no contraction for do).
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