Wh- Word and Wh- Question

Wh- words, also known as interrogative words, are question words used to introduce questions in English. They typically start with the letters “wh-” and include words such as:

What: Used to ask about things, actions, qualities, or events.
- Example: What is your favorite color?
Where: Used to ask about places or locations.
- Example: Where is the nearest restaurant?
When: Used to ask about time or occasions.
- Example: When is your birthday?
Who: Used to ask about people or identities.
- Example: Who is your best friend?
Which: Used to ask about choices or options.
- Example: Which book do you want to read?
Why: Used to ask about reasons or explanations.
- Example: Why did you miss the meeting?
Whose: Used to ask about possession or ownership.
- Example: Whose car is parked outside?
Whom: Used to ask about the object of an action in formal English.
- Example: To whom did you give the book?
How: Used to ask about manner, condition, or means.
- Example: How did you learn to play the piano?

These words are used to inquire about various aspects such as identity, location, time, reason, manner, and others. They are fundamental in constructing questions to gather information or seek clarification in conversations or written communication.

Table of Contents

Wh- Word: Structure

The structure of Wh- words, or interrogative words, generally follows a similar pattern. They typically consist of a “Wh-” part followed by any additional necessary words or phrases to complete the question. Here’s a breakdown of the structure:

Wh- Part: This is the initial part of the interrogative word that starts with the letters “wh-“. Examples include “what,” “where,” “when,” “who,” “which,” “why,” “whose,” and “whom.”
Additional Words or Phrases: Depending on the specific interrogative word and the context of the question, additional words or phrases may be added to complete the question. For example:
- “What time” (e.g., What time is it?)
- “Where in the world” (e.g., Where in the world have you been?)
- “Who else” (e.g., Who else is coming to the party?)
- “Why on earth” (e.g., Why on earth did you do that?)
Verb or Auxiliary Verb: In most cases, a verb or auxiliary verb follows the “Wh-” word to form a grammatically correct question. For example:
- What is your name?
- Where do you live?
- When will you arrive?
- Who ate all the cookies?
- Which one do you prefer?
- Why did you do that?
- Whose book is this?
- Whom did you see?
Subject and Object: The structure might involve placing the subject or object after the verb or auxiliary verb, depending on the question’s focus. For example:
- Who is coming to the party? (Subject after the verb)
- Whom did you see? (Object after the verb)
Complements or Modifiers: In more complex questions, there might be additional complements or modifiers to provide more information or context. For instance:
- What kind of car do you drive?
- Where in the city did you find it?

Overall, the structure of Wh- words in questions is flexible and can vary depending on the specific question being asked and the information being sought.

Wh- Question: Structure

The structure of a “Wh-” question involves the use of a “Wh-” word to introduce the question and typically follows a specific order in English grammar. Here’s the basic structure:

Wh- Word: The question begins with a “Wh-” word, which indicates the type of information being sought. Common “Wh-” words include:
- What
- Where
- When
- Who
- Which
- Why
- Whose
- Whom
- How
Auxiliary Verb or Modal: Following the “Wh-” word, an auxiliary verb or modal verb is used to form the question. The choice of an auxiliary verb or modal depends on the tense and aspect of the main verb. Common auxiliary verbs include:
- Do/Does/Did
- Is/Am/Are
- Was/Were
- Have/Has/Had
- Can/Could
- Will/Would
- Shall/Should
- May/Might/Must
Subject: If the question is about the subject, the subject usually comes after the auxiliary verb. However, in questions where the subject is the interrogative pronoun (Who, Which, What), it remains at the beginning.
Main Verb or Complement: After the subject (if applicable), the main verb or complement follows to complete the question. If an auxiliary verb is used, the main verb usually appears in its base form (infinitive) or in the past participle form if forming a passive or perfect tense.
Remaining Parts: Other parts of the sentence, such as objects, adverbs, or prepositional phrases, follow the main verb or complement, depending on the specific structure of the question.

Here’s an example using the “What” question structure in the simple past tense:

Statement: She ate pizza.
Wh- Question: What did she eat?

In this example:

“What” is the “Wh-” word indicating the type of information being sought (the object).
“Did” is the auxiliary verb used to form questions in the simple past tense.
“She” is the subject.
“Eat” is the main verb in its base form.
“Pizza” is the object of the verb “eat.”

So, the structure of the “Wh-” question is Wh- word + Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb + Remaining Parts.

Without an Auxiliary Verb

While many “Wh-” questions do use auxiliary verbs or modals to form questions, there are also structures for “Wh-” questions that don’t require them. These are typically found in informal speech, and they often involve inverting the subject and “Wh-” word. Here’s the structure without auxiliary verbs or modals:

Wh- Word: The question begins with a “Wh-” word, indicating the type of information being sought.
Subject: Following the “Wh-” word, the subject of the question is placed.
Verb: After the subject, the verb (in its base form) comes next.
Remaining Parts: Any other parts of the sentence, such as objects, adverbs, or prepositional phrases, follow the verb.

Here’s an example using the structure without auxiliary verbs or modals:

Statement: She knows the answer.
Wh- Question: Who knows the answer?

In this example:

“Who” is the “Wh-” word indicating the type of information being sought (the subject).
“She” is the subject, placed after the “Wh-” word.
“Knows” is the base form of the verb “know,” without an auxiliary verb or modal.
“The answer” is the object of the verb “know.”

So, the structure of the “Wh-” question without auxiliary verbs or modals is Wh- word + Subject + Verb + Remaining Parts.

Negative Wh- Question

Negative “Wh-” questions are interrogative sentences that include a “Wh-” word and have a negative form. These questions are used to ask about the absence or negation of a particular characteristic, action, or state described by the “Wh-” word. The structure of a negative “Wh-” question is similar to that of affirmative “Wh-” questions but with the addition of a negative auxiliary verb or the insertion of “not” after the auxiliary verb. Here are examples of negative “Wh-” questions using various “Wh-” words:

What: What didn’t you like about the movie?
Where: Where haven’t you been on vacation?
When: When didn’t they arrive at the meeting?
Who: Who didn’t attend the party last night?
Which: Which book didn’t you enjoy reading?
Why: Why didn’t she call you back?
Whose: Whose phone number didn’t you save?
Whom: Whom didn’t you invite to the wedding?
How: How didn’t you manage to finish the project on time?

In each of these examples, the negative form is achieved by adding a negative auxiliary verb (e.g., “didn’t,” “haven’t,” “wasn’t”) or by inserting “not” after the auxiliary verb. These questions are used to inquire about the absence or negation of specific information or actions related to the “Wh-” word.

How to Answer Wh- Questions?

Answering “Wh-” questions involves providing relevant information that directly addresses the inquiry posed by the question. Here are some strategies for effectively answering “Wh-” questions:

Understand the Question: Before responding, make sure you understand what the question is asking. Pay attention to the specific “Wh-” word used in the question (e.g., what, where, when, who, which, why, whose, whom, how) as it indicates the type of information being sought.
Provide Specific Information: Tailor your answer to address the specific aspect of the question. Be as precise and detailed as necessary to fully answer the inquiry.
Be Clear and Concise: Avoid providing unnecessary or unrelated information. Focus on directly answering the question without veering off topic.
Use Complete Sentences: Whenever possible, respond with complete sentences to ensure clarity and coherence in your answer.
Use Proper Grammar and Pronunciation: Ensure your answer is grammatically correct and articulated clearly for easy understanding.
Use Examples or Evidence: Support your answer with examples, evidence, or personal experiences to provide context and make your response more compelling.
Be Honest: Provide truthful responses to “Wh-” questions. If you don’t know the answer, it’s okay to admit it rather than guessing or providing inaccurate information.
Engage in Conversation: If appropriate, engage in further discussion or ask follow-up questions to clarify any ambiguities or provide additional context.

Example responses to various “Wh-” questions:

Question: What is your favorite color?
Answer: My favorite color is blue. I find it calming and soothing.
Question: Where did you go on vacation?
Answer: I went to Hawaii for my vacation. It was a beautiful and relaxing trip.
Question: When is your birthday?
Answer: My birthday is on October 15th.
Question: Who is your best friend?
Answer: My best friend is Sarah. We’ve been friends since elementary school.
Question: Why did you choose this career path?
Answer: I chose this career path because I’ve always been passionate about helping others, and I find fulfillment in making a positive impact in people’s lives.
Question: How do you make a chocolate cake?
Answer: To make a chocolate cake, you’ll need flour, sugar, cocoa powder, eggs, milk, and butter. Mix the dry ingredients, add the wet ingredients, and bake in the oven at 350°F for about 30 minutes.

By following these strategies, you can effectively answer Wh- questions in conversations, interviews, or written communication.

Wh- Questions: Adding Emphasis

Adding emphasis to “Wh-” questions involves emphasizing the interrogative word or the content of the question to convey strong interest, surprise, or importance. This emphasis can be achieved through various means such as intonation, stress, or using additional words. Here are some techniques to add emphasis to “Wh-” questions:

Intonation: Altering the pitch and tone of your voice can emphasize the “Wh-” word or the content of the question. Rising intonation at the end of the question can indicate surprise or urgency while falling intonation can convey seriousness or assertiveness.
- Example with intonation emphasizing the “Wh-” word: “What did you say?”
- Example with intonation emphasizing the content: “What did you SAY?”
Stress: Placing stress on the “Wh-” word or other keywords in the question can highlight the importance or significance of that part of the question.
- Example with stress on the “Wh-” word: “Who are you talking to?”
- Example with stress on other keywords: “Who are YOU talking to?”
Adding Intensifiers or Amplifiers: Using words like “really,” “truly,” “absolutely,” or “totally” can intensify the emphasis on the question.
- Example: “Where did you REALLY go last night?”
Repetition: Repeating the “Wh-” word or other keywords in the question can emphasize the importance or significance of the inquiry.
- Example: “Why did you do it? Why?”
Body Language: Gestures, facial expressions, and body language can also add emphasis to “Wh-” questions. Using gestures such as pointing or widening eyes can reinforce the importance of the question.
- Example: Pointing while asking “Who said that?”
Contextual Emphasis: Sometimes, the context of the conversation or the situation can naturally add emphasis to “Wh-” questions. For example, if discussing a serious matter, the urgency or importance of the question may be implied.
- Example: “Where were you LAST NIGHT?” (Context: Suspicion or concern)

By employing these techniques, you can effectively add emphasis to “Wh-” questions to convey your intent or feelings more strongly in conversation.

Interrogative Words

Interrogative words are divided into three groups:

Interrogative determiners
Interrogative pronouns
Interrogative adverbs

Interrogative Determiners

Interrogative determiners, also known as interrogative adjectives or question words, are a type of determiner used to ask questions about nouns. They help specify which noun the speaker is referring to or seeking information about. Interrogative determiners often correspond to the “Wh-” words used in questions. Here are some common examples:

Which: Used to ask about a choice between two or more options.
- Example: Which car do you prefer?
What: Used to ask about something unspecified or unidentified.
- Example: What color is your car?
Whose: Used to ask about possession or ownership.
- Example: Whose book is this?

These interrogative determiners are used before nouns to form questions, similar to how other determiners like “the,” “a/an,” “this,” or “that” are used. They help clarify the noun being referred to in the context of a question.

Interrogative pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are pronouns used to introduce questions. They are called “interrogative” because they are used to inquire about something. Interrogative pronouns replace nouns or noun phrases in questions, and they help elicit specific information. The most common interrogative pronouns in English are:

Who: Used to inquire about people or persons.
- Example: Who is coming to the party?
Whom: Used to inquire about the object of an action, especially in formal English.
- Example: Whom did you see at the concert?
What: Used to inquire about things or unspecified items.
- Example: What is your favorite food?
Which: Used to inquire about a choice between alternatives.
- Example: Which movie would you like to watch?
Whose: Used to inquire about possession or ownership.
- Example: Whose backpack is this?

Interrogative pronouns are essential for forming questions and gathering information in conversations and written communication. They help specify the information being sought and facilitate effective communication.

Warning!

Be careful not to confuse interrogative pronouns with interrogative determiners. They may look similar but serve different grammatical functions.
When the ‘wh-words’ precede a noun or pronoun and modify it, they are interrogative determiners. When they appear on their own, they are pronouns. Let’s see some examples:

Which book is the best?
- Which is an interrogative determiner
What color do you like?
- What is an interrogative determiner
Which is the best?
- Which is an interrogative pronoun
Whose should we take?
- Whose is an interrogative pronoun

Interrogative adverbs

Interrogative adverbs, like interrogative pronouns, are used to ask questions, but they specifically modify verbs, adjectives, adverbs, or entire clauses. They help to inquire about the manner, place, time, frequency, reason, or degree of an action or situation. Some common interrogative adverbs include:

How: Used to ask about manner, method, or condition.
- Example: How did you find the movie?
Where: Used to ask about place or location.
- Example: Where did you go yesterday?
When: Used to ask about time or timing.
- Example: When will you arrive?
Why: Used to ask about the reason or purpose.
- Example: Why did you do that?
How often: Used to ask about frequency.
- Example: How often do you exercise?
How long: Used to ask about the duration of time.
- Example: How long will the meeting last?
How far: Used to ask about distance.
- Example: How far is the nearest gas station?

Interrogative adverbs play a crucial role in forming questions and seeking specific information in conversations or written communication. They help clarify the details of an action or situation being discussed.

Five questions of each Wh words

Who:
- Who is your best friend?
- Who won the game last night?
- Who is coming to the party?
- Who called you this morning?
- Who is the president of the company?
What:
- What is your favorite color?
- What time is it?
- What are you reading?
- What did you have for breakfast?
- What is your dream job?
Where:
- Where is the nearest coffee shop?
- Where did you go on vacation last summer?
- Where is your hometown?
- Where are my keys?
- Where did you meet your spouse?
When:
- When is your birthday?
- When did you finish work yesterday?
- When does the concert start?
- When will you graduate?
- When is the next meeting?
Why:
- Why did you move to this city?
- Why did you choose that restaurant?
- Why are you late?
- Why did you quit your job?
- Why do you want to learn a new language?
Whose:
- Whose book is this?
- Whose car is parked outside?
- Whose idea was it to go on vacation?
- Whose turn is it to do the dishes?
- Whose dog is barking in the backyard?
How:
- How did you learn to cook so well?
- How are you feeling today?
- How can I help you?
- How much does it cost?
- How long have you been studying English?
Whom:
- To whom did you give the gift?
- Whom did you invite to the party?
- Whom did you see at the concert?
- With whom are you going to the movies?
- Whom did you call last night?
Which:
- Which color do you prefer, blue or red?
- Which movie should we watch tonight?
- Which book did you borrow from the library?
- Which team won the championship?
- Which path leads to the lake?

50 Question of Wh- words

What is your favorite book?
Where did you go on your last vacation?
When is your next dentist appointment?
Who is your role model?
Which movie did you watch last weekend?
Why did you choose that restaurant for dinner?
Whose phone is ringing?
Whom did you meet at the conference?
How did you learn to play the guitar?
What time does the train leave?
Where did you grow up?
When is the deadline for the project?
Who is the CEO of the company?
Which color do you prefer, blue or green?
Why did you decide to study abroad?
Whose car is parked in front of the house?
Who did you invite to your birthday party?
How often do you exercise?
What are your plans for the weekend?
Where did you find your lost keys?
When did you start learning French?
Who won the Nobel Prize last year?
Which restaurant serves the best pizza in town?
Why are you late for the meeting?
Whose idea was it to go camping?
How much does the new smartphone cost?
What time does the store close?
Where is the nearest gas station?
Who is in charge of the project?
Which university did you attend?
Why did you change your hairstyle?
Whose turn is it to do the dishes?
How did you celebrate your last birthday?
What did you have for breakfast this morning?
Where did you meet your best friend?
Who is your favorite musician?
Which language are you learning?
Why did you move to this city?
How many siblings do you have?
What are you passionate about?
Where did you get that beautiful dress?
When is the best time to visit Paris?
Who recommended this book to you?
Which department are you working in?
How do you solve a Rubik’s cube?
What is the capital of Australia?
Where did you get your hair done?
Who taught you how to swim?
Which way should we go, left or right?
Why did you choose that career path?

Negative Wh- Words

Negative “Wh-” words are used to form negative questions or statements that include interrogative words. These words combine the interrogative nature of “Wh-” words with negation to express denial, disbelief, or negation of a particular concept or idea. Some common negative “Wh-” words include:

Whatnot: Used informally to refer to unspecified additional things, activities, or items.
- Example: “He didn’t bring the groceries, the cleaning supplies, whatnot.”
Wherefore: Used archaically to mean “why” or “for what reason.”
- Example: “Wherefore did you abandon your duties?”
Wherewithal: Used to refer to the means or resources required to accomplish something.
- Example: “She lacked the wherewithal to start her own business.”
Whence: Used to ask about the origin, source, or place from which something comes or originated.
- Example: “Whence did the rumors originate?”
Wherewithout: Used to mean “without which” or “lacking the means to.”
- Example: “How can we proceed wherewithout proper funding?”

These negative “Wh-” words are less common and often more formal or archaic in their usage compared to their positive counterparts. They are typically used in specific contexts or literary or formal writing.