We use question words to ask certain types of questions. We often refer to them as WH words because they include the letters WH (for example WHy, HoW).
Main WH words
These are the most common question words that we usually use:
Wh words |
Function |
Example sentences |
Translation |
| What | Asking for informationAsking for repetition | What is your name?What? I didn’t hear you. | Què…? |
| When | Asking about time | When did he leave? | Quan…? |
| Where | Asking in or at what place or position | Where do they live? | On…? |
| Which | Asking about choice | Which pen do you want? | Quin…? |
| Who | Asking what person or people | Who is that man? | Qui…? |
| Why | Asking for reason | Why do you say that? | Per què…? |
| How | Asking about mannerAsking about condition or quality | How does this work?How was your exam? | Com…? |
Other WH words
These question words are also very important although* we don’t use it very often at this level. You can read them and try to remember some because you will use them at high-school.
Wh words |
Function |
Example sentences |
Translation |
| Whom | Asking what person or people | Whom did you see? | A qui…? |
| Whose | Asking about ownership | Whose are these keys? | De qui…? |
| How far | Asking about distance | How far is Barcelona from New York? | A quina distància…? |
| How long | Asking about amounts or periods of time | How long was your stay in Paris? | Quant de temps…? |
| How many | Asking about quantity (countable) | How many cars are there? | Quants/quantes…? |
| How much | Asking about quantity (uncountable) | How much money do you have? | Quant/quante…? |
| How often | Asking about frequency | How often do you go to the cinema? | Amb quina freqüència…? |
* although: encara que
Videos
Questions structure
We are working how to make sentences in English, so here you have the chart we saw at class, it can help you to study ;).
| Wh- | Auxiliary verb | Subject | Main verb | Complements |
| What
When Where Which Who Why How |
Do / does
Did / didn’t Can / could Have / has
Is / are Was / were |
I
You He / your dad She / my sister It / this pen We You They |
Begin
Go Eat Forget Hurt Like Teach Understand Work … |
… playing football?
… at the market? … this pencil? … making cupcakes? … to the swimmingpool? … Mathematics? … on Sunday? … with them? |
Online activities and games
Here you will find online games and funny exercises to practice with WH words. Try to play and do as many activities as possible so you can practice a lot and learn. I hope you like it! 🙂
Thanks Cris .
These activities are very useful. 🙂
Thank you very much, Laia! I’m happy if the activities help you learn and practice :).
Hello Cris,
this activities it’s very easy and funnys thamks for your effort
Andra Piña “6èA”
Hello Cris,
Sorry in second line THAMS is Thanks
Andrea
Nice correction, well done!
Hi Andrea, thanks for your comment. I’m glad (happy) that you find these activities easy and funny :).