WH-Question Words with Helpful Examples

Study the basic usage of WH-Question words in English. WH-Question words are who, how, whome, whose, which, where, what, how many, how much, why, and when. In this lesson, we are going to use these words in short sentences that are easy to read and memorize the concept of the WH-Question words. Let’s learn…

WH-Question Words with Answers

Question words play a very important role when we ask any kind of question to someone. We use these words to ask about person, frequency, quantity, choice, manner, reason, and asking in or at what place or position. This lesson is going to figure out the reasons that why we use these words when we ask any kind of questionin English. Let’s learn the entire lesson and enhance your question asking skills.

1. What

Function: Used to inquire about something

For Example:

• What’s your favorite color?
• What did you eat for dinner?
• What time is the meeting?
• What are you studying?
• What’s your name?

2. What for

Function: Used to ask about the purpose or reason

For Example:

• What are you saving money for?
• What did you buy those flowers for?
• What did you go to the store for?
• What are you taking medicine for?
• What did you call me for?

3. When

Function: Used to ask about the time or occasion

For Example:

• When is your birthday?
• When did you arrive?
• When will the concert start?
• When did you last visit your hometown?
• When is the deadline for submission?

4. Where

Function: Used to ask about a location or place

For Example:

• Where is the nearest ATM?
• Where did you go for vacation?
• Where are my keys?
• Where does she live?
• Where can I find a good restaurant?

5. Which

Function: Used to ask about a specific choice among alternatives

For Example:

• Which book do you want to read?
• Which car is yours?
• Which route should we take?
• Which movie did you watch?
• Which dress should I wear?

6. Who

Function: Used to inquire about a person or people

For Example:

• Who is your best friend?
• Who won the race?
• Who is knocking at the door?
• Who is coming to the party?
• Who is the CEO of the company?

7. Whom

Function: Used to ask about the object of an action

For Example:

• Whom did you invite to the party?
• With whom did you go to the movies?
• Whom did you see at the concert?
• To whom did you give the letter?
• Whom are you talking to?

8. Whose

Function: Used to inquire about possession or ownership

For Example:

• Whose book is this?
• Whose house are we visiting?
• Whose car did you borrow?
• Whose idea was it?
• Whose turn is it to clean up?

9. Why

Function: Used to ask about reasons or motives

For Example:

• Why did you choose this university?
• Why are you upset?
• Why did you quit your job?
• Why is the sky blue?
• Why didn’t you call me back?

10. Why don’t

Function: Used to suggest or inquire about reasons for not doing something

For Example:

• Why don’t you join us for dinner?
• Why don’t you take a break?
• Why don’t you try a different approach?
• Why don’t you ask for help?
• Why don’t you go to bed earlier?

11. How

Function: Used to ask about the manner or method of doing something

For Example:

• How are you feeling today?
• How do you make a cake?
• How did you learn to swim?
• How much does it cost?
• How long have you been studying English?

12. How far

Function: Used to ask about the distance

For Example:

• How far is the nearest gas station?
• How far is your house from here?
• How far did you run today?
• How far is the airport from downtown?
• How far away is the beach?

13. How much

Function: Used to ask about quantity or cost

For Example:

• How much does this shirt cost?
• How much time do we have left?
• How much sugar do you need for the recipe?
• How much water should I drink daily?
• How much does a ticket to the concert cost?

14. How old

Function: Used to ask about age

For Example:

• How old are you?
• How old is your dog?
• How old is this building?
• How old were you when you learned to ride a bike?
• How old is your sister?

15. How come

Function: Used to ask about reasons or explanations in an informal way

For Example:

• How come you’re late?
• How come you didn’t tell me?
• How come you’re not coming to the party?
• How come you’re not wearing your glasses?
• How come you changed your mind?

16. How many

Function: Used to ask about quantity of countable items

For Example:

• How many siblings do you have?
• How many books are on the shelf?
• How many students are in the class?
• How many cups of coffee did you drink?
• How many languages do you speak?

So, that is our today’s lesson about wh-question words in English with their functions and example sentences. As I said above, these words are used to ask certain types of questions in the English language. After learning this lesson, you will be able to ask any type of question to anybody in your daily life.

We attached a free PDF book of this lesson. You can download it for free from the bottom of this page. The PDF book will help you to revise this lesson after leaving this page.

PDF Book is Here

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

• Longman English Grammar Practice
• The Grammar of English Grammars Free PDF
• Tips for Mastering English Grammar
• Basic Vocab English PDF