Wh Questions: Rules, When to use, How to use

At Belekar Sir’s Academy, we believe that mastering wh-questions is fundamental to effective communication in English. Wh-questions—such as who, what, where, when, why, and how—are essential tools for gathering information, clarifying ideas, and engaging in meaningful conversations. 

This lesson covers practical usage, examples across verb tenses, and interactive activities designed to build confidence in both spoken and written English. Whether you are a beginner or looking to polish your skills, understanding wh-questions will enhance your fluency and comprehension.

What Are Wh-Questions?

Wh-questions are questions that begin with words like who, what, when, where, why, which, whose, and how. These questions ask for specific information, not just a simple “yes” or “no.”

Examples:

• What is your name?
  
• Where do you live?

Why Are Wh-Questions Important?

Wh-questions are key to effective communication. They help us:

• Gather facts
  
• Understand reasons
  
• Learn about people, places, and events
  
• Solve problems
  They are used in daily conversations, education, work, and travel.

When and Why We Use Wh-Questions?

We use wh-questions when we need details:

• What time does the show start? (asking for a fact)
  
• Which book did you read? (clarifying)
  
• Why are you upset? (understanding a reason)
  
• Who is your teacher? (asking about a person)
  
• Where is the bank? (asking about a place)
  
• How did you fix it? (asking about a method)
  

They are useful in both formal and informal situations.

Common Examples in Daily English

• Who is coming to the meeting?
  
• What did you eat for breakfast?
  
• When does the movie start?
  
• Where do you live?
  
• Why are you late?
  
• Which color do you prefer?
  
• Whose bag is this?
  
• How do you solve this problem?
  

These show how we use wh-questions to ask clear, useful questions.

Breakdown of Wh-Question Words

Wh-Word	Function	Examples
Who	Asks about a person (subject)	Who opened the door?
What	Asks about things or actions	What is your name?
Where	Asks about a place or position	Where do they live?
When	Asks about time	When were you born?
Why	Asks for reasons or explanations	Why are you late?
Which	Asks for a choice from a group	Which color do you want?
Whose	Asks about ownership	Whose keys are these?
How	Asks about manner, degree, or process	How does this work?

Wh- Words by Function

Subject Questions

When the wh-word is the subject of the question, no auxiliary verb is needed.

Examples:

• Who called you last night?
  
• What caused the accident?
  

Object Questions

When the wh-word is the object, an auxiliary verb is required.

Examples:

• Who did you call last night?
  
• What did she say?
  
• Which book did they choose?
  

Descriptive vs. Decision-Based Wh-Words

• Descriptive wh-words (what, where, when, why, how) ask for open-ended information.
  
  • What is that?
    
  • Where do you work?
    
• Decision-based wh-words (which, whose) ask for a choice or specific selection.
  
  • Which dress do you like?
    
  • Whose notebook is this?
    

These wh-words are essential for gathering information and keeping conversations clear and meaningful.

Rules and Grammar: How to Form Wh-Questions

1. Wh-Questions Without Auxiliary Verbs

If the wh-word is the subject or part of the subject (who, what, which, whose), no auxiliary verb is used.

Structure:

Wh-word + main verb + rest of sentence

Examples:

• Who is that?
  
• What was that noise?
  
• Who called you?
  
• Which horse won?
  

2. Wh-Questions With Auxiliary Verbs

When the wh-word is not the subject, use an auxiliary verb (“be,” “do,” “have”) or a modal verb.

Structure:

Wh-word + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb

Examples:

• Where do you live?
  
• What did he say?
  
• Why does she cry?
  
• When are you leaving?
  

3. Wh-Questions With Modal Verbs

Use modal verbs when asking about ability, possibility, permission, or obligation.

Structure:

Wh-word + modal verb + subject + main verb

Examples:

• What should we do?
  
• Where can she go?
  
• Who would you invite?
  
• How might this work?
  

4. Wh-Questions in Passive Voice

Passive wh-questions follow this structure:

Wh-word + auxiliary (be) + subject + past participle (+ by + agent)

Examples:

• When was the book written?
  
• Who was it made by?
  
• Where were the photos taken?
  

5. Wh-Questions With Subjects and Objects

• Subject Questions: The wh-word is the subject; no auxiliary needed.
  
  • Who called you?
    
  • What happened?
    
  • Which student won?
    
• Object Questions: The wh-word is the object; auxiliary verb is required.
  
  • Who did you call?
    
  • What did she buy?
    
  • Which book did you read?
    

What Is an Auxiliary Verb?

An auxiliary (helping) verb works with the main verb to form questions, negatives, and different tenses. Common auxiliaries include “be,” “do,” and “have.” Modal verbs (can, should, will, etc.) also act as auxiliaries.

Role in Questions:

Auxiliary verbs help invert the subject and verb and add tense or mood to questions.
Examples:

• Do you like coffee? (“do” is auxiliary)
  
• What are you doing? (“are” is auxiliary)
  
• Where have they gone? (“have” is auxiliary)
  
• Why should we wait? (“should” is modal auxiliary)

Summary

• Use no auxiliary when the wh-word is the subject.
  
• Use auxiliaries (“be,” “do,” “have,” or modals) when the wh-word is not the subject.
  
• Passive voice questions use “be” + past participle.
  
• Auxiliary verbs are essential for forming correct wh-questions in English.

Variations and Nuances in Wh-Questions

Negative Wh-Questions

Negative wh-questions combine a wh-word with a negative auxiliary (like “don’t,” “isn’t,” “haven’t”) to express surprise, make suggestions, or confirm information.

Examples:

• Why don’t you come? (suggestion)
  
• Who isn’t here? (asking about absence)
  
• Why haven’t you finished your homework yet? (surprise or concern)
  
• Who hasn’t seen the latest episode?
  

The negative appears after the wh-word and before the subject or main verb.

Wh-Word at the End of a Sentence

In spoken English, sometimes a wh-word is added at the end of a statement to turn it into a question, adding emphasis or requesting clarification:

• You’re going where?
  
• He said what?
  
• She bought how many?
  

This structure is often used to ask someone to repeat or clarify information.

Emphasizing Wh-Questions

Emphasis can be added by:

• Stressing the wh-word or key words through tone
  
• Changing word order, especially in echo or clarification questions (e.g., “You did what?”)
  
• Using higher pitch or stronger stress on surprising elements
  

Example:

• Neutral: What did you say?
  
• Emphatic: You said WHAT? (with rising pitch)

Prepositions and Particles in Wh-Questions

Wh-questions sometimes end with a preposition or particle, especially in informal speech:

• Who with? (short for “With whom?”)
  
• What for?
  
• Where to?

Prepositions can be placed either:

• At the front (formal): “With whom are you going?”
  
• At the end (informal): “Who are you going with?”
  

Ending sentences with prepositions is common in everyday English.

Intonation in Wh-Questions

• Falling intonation: Most wh-questions use a falling tone to signal a request for information.
  
  • Where are you going? ↘
    
• Rising intonation: Used in echo or clarification questions to show surprise or prompt repetition.
  
  • You’re going where? ↗
    
  • He did what? ↗
    

Understanding intonation helps speakers sound natural and interpret meaning accurately.

Patterns and Structures of Wh-Questions

Basic Sentence Structure

Most wh-questions follow this pattern:

Wh-word + auxiliary/modal + subject + main verb (+ rest)

Examples:

• Where do you live?
  
• What can she do?
  
• Why are they late?
  
• How did you solve it?
  

If the main verb is a form of “to be,” the structure is:

Wh-word + be + subject (+ complement)

Examples:

• Where is your backpack?
  
• Who is that?

Subject vs. Object Questions

Type	Structure	Example
Subject	Wh-word + main verb (+ rest)	Who called you?
Object	Wh-word + auxiliary + subject + main verb	Who did you call?

• Subject questions: The wh-word replaces the subject, so no auxiliary verb is needed.
  
  • Who wrote this book?
    
  • Which student won the prize?
    
• Object questions: The wh-word replaces the object, so an auxiliary verb is required.
  
  • Who did you call?
    
  • What did she say?

With “To Be,” Modals, and Auxiliaries

When the verb is “to be,” a modal (can, should, will), or an auxiliary (have, has, had), the structure is:

Wh-word + (to be/modal/auxiliary) + subject + main verb (+ rest)

Examples:

• Where are you going?
  
• Why can’t you come?
  
• What has she done?
  
• When is the meeting?

With Other Verbs (Using Do/Does/Did)

For all other verbs, use “do,” “does,” or “did” as the auxiliary:

Wh-word + do/does/did + subject + main verb (+ rest)

Examples:

• Where do you work?
  
• What does he want?
  
• When did they leave?

These patterns help form clear and correct wh-questions in both spoken and written English.

Practice and Usage Examples

Everyday Conversation Examples

Wh-questions are essential in daily conversations to gather information and keep communication flowing. Examples include:

• Who is your favorite actor?
  
• What do you want for dinner?
  
• When is your birthday?
  
• Where is the nearest coffee shop?
  
• Why are you upset?
  
• How do you make this recipe?
  

These questions are common in casual talks, workplaces, classrooms, and homes, helping people connect and understand each other.

Wh-Questions by Verb Tense

• Present Simple:

Where do you live?

What does she do?

Who plays the piano?

• Present Continuous:

What are you doing?

Who is coming to the party?

Where are they going?

• Past Simple:

What did you eat for breakfast?

Where did you go yesterday?

Who called you last night?

• Present Perfect:

How long have you lived there?

Who has finished their homework?

What have you done today?

• Future:

When will you arrive?

Who will help us?

What will you do tomorrow?

Sample Sentences for Each Wh-Word

• Who: Who is at the door?
  
• What: What is your favorite color?
  
• Where: Where did you buy your shoes?
  
• When: When does the movie start?
  
• Why: Why are you laughing?
  
• Which: Which book do you want to read?
  
• Whose: Whose phone is this?
  
• How: How do you get to school?
  

These examples show how wh-questions are used in different tenses and situations, forming a core part of everyday English communication.

Teaching and Learning Activities

Fun Classroom Activities

• Guess the Question: Students answer a wh-question on a card, and classmates guess the original question.
  
• Scavenger Hunt: Use wh-questions as clues for a treasure hunt.
  
• Role-Play: Practice wh-questions in real-life scenarios like a doctor’s office or store.
  
• Question Cards: Students draw cards with wh-words and ask questions to classmates.
  
• Line-Up Game: Teams race to ask and answer wh-questions to form a line.
  
• Bingo: Students ask wh-questions to match answers on bingo cards.

Activities for Parents and Teachers

• Visual Aids & Flashcards: Use picture cards with prompts like “Who is running?” to encourage question formation.
  
• Storytelling Prompts: Start a story and have children ask or answer wh-questions to continue it.
  
• Picture-Based Q&A: Show images and ask related wh-questions to reinforce understanding.
  
• Matching Games: Match wh-questions to answers or pictures for practice.

Speech Therapy Practice

• Wh-Question Drills: Structured prompts for each wh-word, e.g.,
  Who? “Who is eating?”
  What? “What is she holding?”
  Where? “Where are they going?”
  When? “When do you sleep?”
  Why? “Why are you happy?”
  
• Client-Centered Goals: Tailor practice to interests and daily life topics.
  
• Apps and Interactive Tools: Use digital games for engaging, repetitive practice with feedback.
  
• Downloadable Resources: Printable flashcards, worksheets, and question packs for home or therapy use.

Sample Interactive Activities

• Interview a Partner: Take turns asking and answering wh-questions about each other.
  
• Who Did It? Guess who performed an action, practicing “Who” questions.
  
• Why Are You So Happy? Use feelings and reasons cards to practice “Why” questions.
  
• How Many? Ask and answer “How many?” questions using pictures or objects.
  

These activities make learning wh-questions engaging, practical, and effective for all ages and settings, supporting language skills and social interaction.

Conclusion

Wh-questions are a cornerstone of English communication, enabling you to ask for details, confirm facts, and express curiosity. By practicing their different forms across tenses and contexts, and by engaging in fun, interactive activities, you can develop a natural and confident way to use wh-questions in everyday life. At Belekar Sir’s Academy, we encourage continuous practice through speaking, listening, and writing exercises to make wh-questions second nature. Mastery of this skill opens doors to clearer conversations and stronger language abilities.

Frequently Asked Questions: