Lesson 3:

QUESTION WORDS
(Palabras para formular
preguntas)

Mtra. Marcela P. Morales Galindo

In this class we will talk

about question words,
and how we can use them
with the verb to be in
the present tense.

Question words are

those words that in English
may go in the beginning of
a question.
Example:
Who is the teacher?

When we use question words we do not use a

yes or no answer, but the answer is a sentence.

Example:
-What is your name?
-I am Marcela Morales (the answer is a sentence)
But:
-Are you Maria?
-No, Im not (The answer is a yes/no because
there isnt a question word)

Question words are used

togatherspecificinformation.

The following table shows the meaning of

the question words in Spanish:

Table # 1Question words (verb to be

practice)
English

Spanish

Where

Dnde

Why

Por qu

English

Spanish

Who

Quin

What (time)

Qu (a qu hora)

Which

Cul

How long

Por cunto tiempo

How often

Con qu frecuencia

Whose

De quin

How many/much

Cuntos

How old

Qu edad

How

Cmo

How + adjective

Descripciones

We can see some

examples with three of
the more usual:

Who?
Asks what or which
person is or does
something.
Examples:
Who is the teacher?
Who opened the door?

What?
Asks about things and
activities.
Asks for repetition.
Examples:
What is that?
What does is it?
What? I cant hear
you.

Which?
Asking to specify a thing
or a person from a
number of things or
people.

Examples:
Which color do you
want?
Which boy is your son?

Table # 2Question structure of the verb

to be in the present simple with
Question Words
Question
word

Verb to
be

Subject

Complement

What

is

your name?

(no complement)

How old

are

you?

(no complement)

Where

is

Juan

from?

Who

is

the present

for?

Remember:
In questions with the verb to be, only the
question words can go in the beginning.

Nothing may go in front of the question

words in full questions.

Example:
De dnde eres? -> Lo lgico sera:
Fromwhere are you? (INCORRECTO)
Where are you from? (CORRECTO)

Some typical questions with the above

properties:

Whatis thisfor? (Paraques esto?)

Whoare the booksfor? (Para quin son los

libros?)

Whatis the movieabout? (Dequse trata

la pelcula?)

Algunas preguntas importantes con sus

respuestas para aprender:

Whereare you from? Im from Australia,

Mxico

Whats (what + is) youraddress? Its 876

Snow Road.

Whats your nationality? Im Peruvian.

Whosepencil is this? This is my pencil

(Whose = de quin y va antes del
sustantivo)

How oldis Marcus? Hes twenty years old.

Whyare you sad? Because I am sick.

Howare you? Im fine, thank you.

For more go to:

http://www.ego4u.com/

Thank you very much!!!