CONTENT
  1. Forming Wh- Questions
  2. Usage
  3. Responding to Wh- Questions
  4. Adding Emphasis to Wh- Questions
  5. Negative Wh-Questions
Wh-questions in English

Open questions, or Wh- questions in English, are specific types of questions that use question words to ask for information and can be answered freely.

Wh-questions begin with what, when, where, who, whom, which, whose, why, and how.

Example

Explanation

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Wh- question is used to ask more information about one's preferences.

Forming Wh- Questions

With an Auxiliary Verb

Rule 1: We can form wh- questions using the construction wh- question word + an auxiliary verb (be, do or have) + subject + main verb.

Example

Explanation

Where are you going?

Are is an auxiliary verb used to form an wh- question.

Who is your best friend?

The auxiliary verb in this sentence is is.

Note: We can also form wh- questions by using modal verbs instead of auxiliary verbs, following the construction wh- word + a modal verb + subject + main verb.

Example

Explanation

Where should I go?

Should is a modal verb used to form a wh- question.

Without an Auxiliary Verb

Rule 2: We don't use auxiliary verbs when question verbs what, who, which, or whose is the subject or part of the subject. We can form wh- questions using the word order wh- word (subject) + main verb.

Example

Explanation

Who let the dogs out?

Who replaces the subject in the sentence, so this wh- question is formed following the word order subject + main verb.

Note: In the wh- question with a preposition, the preposition comes at the end of the question.

Example

Explanation

Where are you from?

From is a preposition, so it comes at the end.

Usage

Rule 3: We can use wh- questions to ask for information about specific qualities, times, places, people, etc. by using different question words.

Here is how to use different wh- words:

Wh- WordUsageExample
what things What are you doing?
when time When will I see you again?
where place/location Where are we going?
who people Who told you that?
whom people (object of verb) Whom were you talking to?
whose possession/belonging Whose backpack is this?
which choices/preferences Which dress do you like the most?
why causes/reasons Why are you looking at me like that?
how process/manner How can I contact you?
Wh- WordUsageExample
what things What are you doing?
when time When will I see you again?
where place/location Where are we going?
who people Who told you that?
whom people (object of verb) Whom were you talking to?
whose possession/belonging Whose backpack is this?
which choices/preferences Which dress do you like the most?
why causes/reasons Why are you looking at me like that?
how process/manner How can I contact you?

Responding to Wh- Questions

Rule 4: We do not expect a yes-no answer to a wh-question. When answering a wh- question, we should give an answer that provides information.

Example

Explanation

Q: Where are you from?

A: I am from Genoa, Italy.

In our answer, we provide information that corresponds with the question word where.

Adding Emphasis to Wh- Questions

Rule 5: We can add emphasis to wh-questions in speaking by stressing the auxiliary verb do to show strong interest or if we have not received the information we expected from an earlier question.

Example

Explanation

Q: How was the movie?

A: I didn't like it as much as I expected I'd do.

Q: What did you expect from it?

A: More action and less world-building.

In this dialog, we add an emphasis to the second wh- question by stressing the auxiliary verb did to show interest.

Negative Wh-Questions

Rule 6: To ask negative wh-questions, we use the auxiliary verb do when there is no other auxiliary or modal verb, even when the wh-word is the subject of the clause.

English

English

Who likes dogs?

Who doesn't like dogs?

Quiz

1/4

Form a Wh- question. ___ did you do on the weekend?

0

correct answers.