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CourseGrammarWords
  1. Home
  2. ›Grammar
  3. ›A1
  4. ›Question words: what, where, when, who, why, how
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PronounsA1

Question words: what, where, when, who, why, how

The wh-question toolkit: question word + do/does/did or be, plus how + adjective combos (how old, how much)

Learning Goal

I can ask wh-questions with do-support and use how-combinations.

Exam Skills:Key A2 · ListeningKey A2 · ReadingKey A2 · Writing

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Excuse me, where is the nearest subway station? - Two blocks that way.

Excuse me, where is the nearest subway station? - Two blocks that way.

Who made these pancakes? - Grandma did, and she won't share the recipe.

Who made these pancakes? - Grandma did, and she won't share the recipe.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Question word first, then the question machinery:

WordAsks aboutExample
whatthingsWhat do you do?
whereplacesWhere are you from?
whentimeWhen does the film start?
whopeopleWho is that?
whyreasonsWhy are you late?
howmanner + combosHow are you? How old is he? How much is it?

Pattern: Wh-word + do/does/did + subject + verb or Wh-word + be + subject. When who/what IS the subject, no do: Who knows? What happened?

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises
  • *Where you live? → Where do you live?
  • do added to subject questions: *Who does know? → Who knows?
  • *How many years have you? → How old are you?

Common Error Patterns

Auxiliary dropped after wh-word

Wh-word + do/does/did + subject + verb

do in subject questions

Who/what as subject: no do

Excuse me, where is the nearest subway station? - Two blocks that way.

Excuse me, where is the nearest subway station? - Two blocks that way.

where + be: no do needed with the verb be.

Who made these pancakes? - Grandma did, and she won't share the recipe.

Who made these pancakes? - Grandma did, and she won't share the recipe.

Who as subject: no do in the question.

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Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course
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Related grammar topics

Previous topic: Possessives: 's and my/yourNext topic: This, that, these, those

Also in Pronouns

  • Possessives: 's and my/your
  • This, that, these, those
  • Object pronouns: me, him, her, us, them
  • Possessive pronouns: mine, yours, whoseA2
  • Something, anything, nothing, everythingA2
  • One and ones: the small one, pleaseA2
  • Both, either, neitherB1

Prerequisites

  • Questions with do/does/did
  • The verb be (am/is/are)

Grammar A1·Grammar Reference