Question words are used to ask about specific qualities, times, places, people, etc. They are different from yes / no questions (Do you live in France?). This chart provides question words, the use and example sentences. Study the question words, understand the uses and then look at the examples. Try to think of a few examples of your own. At the end, take the on the next page testing question words.
Who
Use: Asking about people
Examples:
Who do you like?
Who studies Russian?
What
Use: Asking about things or activities
Examples:
What does he do at weekends?
What is that?
What kind of / type of
Use: Asking about specific things or characteristics
Examples:
What type of car do you drive?
What kind of person is he?
What time
Use: Asking for a specific time
Examples:
What time is it?
What time does the show begin?
What ... like
Use: Asking about characteristics
Examples:
What was the weather like?
What is Mary like?
When
Use: Asking about general or specific times
Examples:
When do you like going out?
When does the bus leave?
Where
Use: Asking about places
Examples:
Where do you live?
Where did you go on vacation?
How
Use: Combined with many words to ask questions about specific characteristics, qualities, quantities, etc. For example: How much (price, quantity), How long (length), How often (frequency)
Examples:
How often do you go to the movies?
How long was the film?
How much does it cost?
Which
Use: Asking to specify a thing or person from a number of things or people
Examples:
Which book did you buy?
Which boy won the race?
ANSWERS to the Question Word Quiz:
* ____ is the weather like in July? ANSWER: What
* ____ much is the chocolate? ANSWER: How
* ____ did you get up this morning? ANSWER: What time / When
* ____ team won the World Cup in 2002? ANSWER: Which
* ____ does Janet live? ANSWER: Where
* ____ food do you like? ANSWER: What kind of / What type of
* ____ does it take to get to New York from Albany? ANSWER: How long
* ____ does the movie begin this evening? ANSWER: What time / when
* ____ is your favorite actor? ANSWER: Who
* ____ house does he live in? ANSWER: Which
* ____ is Jack like? ANSWER: What
* ____ does she study English with? ANSWER: Who
* ____ do the people in your country go for vacation? ANSWER: Where
* ____ do you play tennis? ANSWER: How often / When
* ____ sports do you play? ANSWER: Which / How many
