Question 1

What are the basic wh- question words in English?

Accepted Answer

The most common wh- question words are who, what, where, when, why, and how. Each one asks about a different type of information: "who" asks about people ("Who is your teacher?"), "what" asks about things and information ("What is your favourite colour?"), and "where" asks about places ("Where do you live?"). There are also "when" for time ("When is your birthday?"), "why" for reasons ("Why are you late?"), and "how" for the way something is done ("How do you spell your name?"). Learning these six words helps you ask most everyday questions in English.

Question 2

How do I choose the right wh- word for a question?

Accepted Answer

Look at the answer you expect. If the answer is a person's name or identity, use "who" ("Who called you?" — "My mother called me"). If the answer is a thing, activity, or piece of information, use "what" ("What did you buy?" — "I bought a new book"). If the answer is a place or location, use "where" ("Where is the library?" — "It's on Park Street"). This trick works because each wh- word matches one type of answer. At this level, focus on who, what, and where — they cover most questions you need in daily conversation.

Question 3

What is the difference between "who" and "what" when asking about people?

Accepted Answer

Use "who" when you want a person's name or identity: "Who is your teacher?" expects a name like "Mr Johnson." Use "what" when you ask about a person's role, job, or description: "What is she?" or "What does he do?" expects an answer like "She is a doctor." The key difference is that "who" asks for the specific person and "what" asks about what that person does or is. A helpful test: if you can answer with a name, the question needs "who." If you can answer with a job title or description, use "what."

Wh- Question Words (Easy) — Who, What, Where Exercises

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