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WH – Question Words

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Question Words

Question Words

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? 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Que 1. What are WH Question Words?  

Ans : 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) 

Que 2. What are some WH Question Words? 

Ans : 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. 

Que 3. What are some examples of WH Question Words? 

Ans : 

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? 



Last Updated : 21 Mar, 2024
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