The Wh-Questions. English ESL Worksheets. English grammar with exercises. Free eBook and Free printable PDF


The Wh-Questions


The Wh-Questions

Wh-questions begin with what, when, where, who, whom, which, whose, why and how. We use them to ask for information. The answer cannot be yes or no:

A: When do you finish college?

B: Next year.

A: Who is your favourite actor?

B: Johnny Depp for sure!


Forming wh-questions

With an auxiliary verb

We usually form wh-questions with wh- + an auxiliary verb (be, do or have) + subject + main verb or with wh- + a modal verb + subject + main verb:

Be: When are you leaving?Who’s been paying the bills?
Do: Where do they live?Why didn’t you call me?
Have: What has she done now?What have they decided?
Modal: Who would she stay with?Where should I park?

Without an auxiliary verb

Warning:

When what, who, which or whose is the subject or part of the subject, we do not use the auxiliary. We use the word order subject + verb:

What fell off the wall? Which horse won?

Who bought this? Whose phone rang?

wh-questions

The wh-questions

EXERCISE 1.

Complete the questions with the correct one of the above words.

e.g. Whose keys are these?

Who are you?

What are you doing this weekend?

Why aren’t you fastening your seat-belt?

Where is the laundrette, please?

_______ did you meet at the party?

_______ are you going to visit?

_______ did you see in Paris?

_______ did you buy that dictionary?

_______ is the centre of the town?

_______ did you see at the cinema?

_______ are they leaving?

_______ does Peter live?

_______ is the President of Peru?

_______ is Paul taking a taxi?

_______ is your personal teacher?

_______ was Peter last week?

_______ bags are these?

_______ is Ann angry?

_______ do you go to the bank every day?

QUESTIONS WITH “HOW”

EXERCISE 1.

Form questions by using the following adjectives, as shown in the example.

Good annoying  little silly  surprised  frightening nice impressed  boring similar dangerous

e.g.  How  GOOD are you at driving?

How ?

How ?

How ?

How ?

How ?

How ?

How ?

How ?

How ?

How ?

WHOSE…?

EXERCISE 1

Make questions with WHOSE and answer as in the examples

e.g. Book/my

Whose book is this?

It’s my book

1)  Office/your

2)  CD/Helen’s

3)  Children/their

4)  Video games/his

5)  Harley Davidson/John’s

6)  Scottish castle/Mr Mc Farland’s

7)  Cat/my

INTERROGATIVE WORDS AS SUBJECTS

EXERCISE 1. 

The interrogative words who, what, and which are sometimes the subject of a question.  

Compare the following;

John helped AndyJohn helped Andy.
  
Who did John help?Who helped Andy?
  • In the first example who is the object of the original sentence.
  • In the second example who is the subject of the original sentence.

Using the statements provided, form a question using who, which, or what.

Peter is very friendly.

The tree fell on the car.

Bus 65A goes to Manchester.Sheila is afraid of spiders.

That music is very loud.

Team C is better than Team E.

I don’t live at home.

The tower is 576 meters tall.

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