We use Question Words to form questions and ask for information. What do you want? I want a cup of coffee.
Who is he? He is John.
Who
We ask about people.
Who is that girl? Shes my sister.
Whos e What
We ask who something belongs to.
Whose ball is that? Its Peters.
We ask about animals, things, actions, professions, etc.
What What What What
is this? Its a ball. does he do? Hes a doctor. colour is your car? Its red. time is it? Its nine oclock.
Which
We ask about people, animals or things (when we choose from a small group).
Which dress do you like, the green or the red one? The green one.
Wher e When
We ask about places.
Where do you live? In Rome.
We ask about time.
When is he coming? On Monday.
Why
We ask about the reason why something happens.
Why is the baby crying? Because he is hungry.
How
We ask about the way in which something happens or about someone's health.
How do you go to school? By bus. How are you? Im fine.
HOW
We use How + adjective / adverb when we ask for specific information.
How often
We ask about the frequency of an action.
How old
Every week.
How often do you go to the cinema?
How much + uncountable nouns
We ask about the age.
How old is she? Shes seventy.
How many + plural countable nouns
We ask about the quantity or
the price.
How much tea do you drink? A lot. How much is it? Its 15 pounds.
Questions which take yes / no for an answer start with auxiliary verbs, not with Question Words.
Is Betty your friend? No, she isnt. Have you got a pet? Yes, I have. Does he go to the cinema on Fridays? Yes, he does. We ask about the number. How many children have you got? Two.
Other examples:
How long did he stay? One or two days. (We ask about the amount of time.) How far is it to London from here? 20 miles. (We ask about the distance.)
Prepositions with Question Words
If the Question Word goes with a preposition, we place the preposition at the end of the question.
Who What Which + + with / at / for / of / in / to ?
Who is this rose for?
Which hospital is he in?
What is he talking about?
from Where + + to
Where did he buy the present from?
Where does he send the letter to?
A. Write questions using Question Words and the words below, as in the example. Then answer them.
1. How many brothers / sisters have you got? ____________________ 2. ________________________________ ? ____________________ 3. ________________________________ ? ____________________ 4. ________________________________ ? ____________________ 5. ________________________________ ? ____________________ 6. ________________________________ ? ____________________ 7. ________________________________ ? ____________________
B. Complete the blanks with the words in the box.
1. ____________ legs has an elephant got? Four. 2. ____________ is ice? Frozen water. 3. ____________ do you go to work? By car. 4. ____________ is your birthday? In July. 5. ____________ is the Queen of England? Queen Elizabeth.
6. ____________ shop is that? Its Samanthas.
7. ____________ do birds fly South? Once a year. 8. ____________ are they laughing? Because they are watching a funny film. 9. ____________ milk do you drink? Two glasses every day? 10. ____________ car is new, the blue or the red car? The blue car. 11. ____________ is the Parthenon? In Greece. 12. ____________ are you doing? Im making a model aeroplane. C. Complete the blanks with the following Question Words:
what when whose which Mike: Hello! I 'm Mike. Who are you?
where who
how
Jack: Hi! I'm Jack, your newoften roommate. ________ are you? how Mike:how Fine, thanks. ________ are you from, Jack? many Jack: I'm from Canada. Mike: Great! ________ bed do you want? Jack: The bed near the window. Mike: Fine. ________ suitcases have you got? Two? Jack: No, just one. Mike: Oh! ________ suitcase is that? Jack: It's my brother's. He's staying here too. Mike: ________ is he coming? Jack: In a few minutes. He's downstairs. Mike: ________ is he doing? Jack: He's talking to our parents. ________ do you tidy up your room? Mike: I never tidy up my room. I like it untidy. Jack: Oh!
D. Complete the blanks with Question Words as in the example. The phrases in bold type are the answers. 1. What is very hot? The sun is very hot. 2. __________ is Pam going? Pam is going to Africa. 3. __________ does Tom eat dinner? Tom eats dinner at 8 oclock. 4. __________ is on the phone? Ben is on the phone. 5. __________ do you play the piano? I play the piano every Monday. 6. __________ diary is this? This is Janets diary. E. Complete the questions with a preposition from the box.
from with for
about to to
to at
1. with Who are you writing to? My friend Paul. 2. What are you looking _____ ? A painting. 3. Where is Marco _____ ? Italy. 4. What are you waiting _____ ? The bus.
5. Who is your sister playing _____ ? Mary and Rose. 6. What are they listening _____ ? Pop music. 7. Where did Ann send the parcel _____ ? Her mothers house. 8. Who are you in love _____ ? Peter. 9. What is your book _____ ? History.
