Question Words: Useful Wh Questions Rules & Examples

In the English language, there are a variety of question words which can go at the beginning of a sentence,
for example who, when, what or why.
Who Questions What kind of music do you like?
 Ask about person What…for
 Act as subject of the sentence  Asking for a reason, asking why
 Example: Who is that woman?  Example: What did you do that for?
Whom Questions Which Questions
 Ask about person  Asking about choice
 Act as the object of the sentence  Examples:
 Example: Whom did you see? Which is better exercise – swimming or tennis?
Whose Questions Which of the applicants has got the job?
 Asking about ownership How Questions
 Example: Whose are these keys? “How questions” is used for asking for a way,
manner, form
Where Questions
Examples:
 Asking in or at what place or position
How does it work?
 Examples:
How do you go to school?
Where do you live?
List of how questions in English with rules and
Where are my boots? examples.
When Questions How much Questions
 Asking about time, occasion, moment  Asking about quantity or price
 Examples:  Used with uncountable nouns
When did you last see him?  Example: How much are those earrings?
When can I see you? How many Questions
Why Questions  Asking about quantity
 Asking for a reason, explanation  Used with countable nouns
 Examples:  Example: How many people were there?
Why were you late? How often Questions
Why was he late?  Asking about frequency
Why don’t  Example: How often do you go
 Making a suggestion swimming?
 Example: Why don’t you take a nap? How far Questions
What Questions  Asking about distance
 Asking for a specific thing, object  Example: How far is it from your house to
your school?
 Examples:
How old Questions
What‘s the matter?
 Asking about age
What time is it?
 Example: How old are you