Wh - question words' is a very important topic in English language. We all know about sentences and its classification. To make an interrogative sentence, Wh - question word is used. There are a few number of Wh - question word available in English language. To know about these words and how to use these words in sentences, you must follow this article. In this article we discuss each and every points relating to Wh - question word along with examples.
WH - Question Words
A question word is a word that is used to ask a question. Wh - question starts with a wh word such as who, what, when, where, why, whose, how, which, whom etc. These words are called Wh words because most of them start with 'Wh'. It's main purpose is to seek content information relating to persons, time, place, facts, things, reason, manner etc. Here we do not want a yes - no answer to a wh question, we want complete information about it.
Wh question words are used in both direct and indirect questions.
Why is she crying ? (Direct )
I wonder why she is crying. (Indirect)
Structure
We can make Wh question in two ways -
i ) Wh + auxiliary verb ( be, do or have ) + subject + main verb
What is her father name ?
ii ) Wh + modal verb + subject + main verb.
What can I do for you ?
Some WH words
What :
It is used to know about something.
Ex : What are they playing?
Where :
It is used to know about place or position.
Ex : Where are you going ?
Why :
It is used to know about reason or cause.
Ex : Why are they laughing ?
When :
It is used to know about time of an event or action.
Ex : When did it happen?
Which :
It is used to know about choices.
Ex : Which food do you like ?
Whose :
It is used to know about the ownership or the possession.
Ex : Whose pen is this ?
Whom :
It is used to know about a person (object).
Ex : Whom did you see ?
Who :
It is used to know about a person ( subject) who did the action.
Ex : Who did the job ?
How :
It is used to know about a process, condition, quality or manner.
Ex : how is the weather?
Use of WH words :
| WH words | Uses | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| What | To know about something Asking for information Asking for confirmation or repetition | What is her name ? |
| Where | Asking for a place/position | Where do you live ? |
| Why | Asking for reason | Why did they go? |
| When | Asking for time of an event | When did you meet her ? |
| Which | Asking for a choice | Which dress you like? |
| Whose | Asking for ownership or used to show possession | Whose are these books? |
| Who | Asking for the person who did the action (subject) | Who did this? |
| Whom | Asking for a person (object) | Whom did you meet? |
| How | Asking for a process, manner, quality or condition etc. | How is she? |
WH Question Words List :
There are a few numbers of Wh question words available in English language. These words are given below -
What, where, why, when, which, whose, whom, who , how etc.
Examples of WH Question Words
1) Where is your hometown?
2) When is your examination?
3) Why is she crying?
4) Who is the boy?
5) What can I do for you?
6) Where did they go?
7) How is the weather in kolkata ?
8) Whom did you meet?
9) Who won the match?
10) Which is your favourite song?
11) What happened to you?
12) Which is the best book ?
13) why did you ask this?