We use Question Words to form questions and ask for information.

What do you want? I want a cup of coffee.

Who is he? He is John.

We ask about people. Who is that girl? She’s my sister.

Who

We ask who something belongs

Whose ball is that? It’s Peter’s.
Whos to.
e
What is this? It’s a ball.
We ask about animals, things,
What does he do? He’s a doctor.
actions, professions, etc.
What What colour is your car? It’s red.
What time is it? It’s nine o’clock.

We ask about people, animals or

Which dress do you like, the
things (when we choose from a
Which small group).
green or the red one? The green
one.

Wher We ask about places.

Where do you live? In Rome.
e

We ask about time.

When When is he coming? On Monday.

We ask about the reason why Why is the baby crying? Because
Why something happens. he is hungry.

We ask about the way in which

How do you go to school? By bus.
something happens or about
How How are you? I’m fine.
someone's health.
HOW
We use How + adjective / adverb when we ask for specific information.

How often

We ask about the frequency of an action.

How old How often do you go to the cinema?

Every week.

How much + uncountable nouns

We ask about the age.

How old is she? She’s seventy.

How many + plural countable nouns

We ask about the

quantity or

the price.

How much tea do you drink? A lot.

How much is it? It’s 15 pounds.

Questions which take yes / no for an answer start with auxiliary verbs, not with
Question Words.

Is Betty your friend? No, she isn’t.

Have you got a pet? Yes, I have.
Does he go to the cinema on Fridays? Yes, he does.
We ask about the number.

How many children have you got? Two.

How long did he stay? One or two days. (We ask about the amount of time.)
How far is it to London from here? 20 miles. (We ask about the distance.)

Prepositions with Question Words

If the Question Word goes with a preposition, we place the preposition

at the end of the question.

Who

What + … with / at / for / of / in / to … ?

Which +

Who is this rose for?

Which hospital is he in?

What is he talking about?

from
Where + ?
to
…

Where did he buy the present from?

Where does he send the letter to?

A. Write questions using Question Words and the words below, as in the example.
Then answer them.

1. How many brothers / sisters have you got? ____________________

2. ________________________________ ? ____________________

3. ________________________________ ? ____________________

4. ________________________________ ? ____________________

5. ________________________________ ? ____________________

6. ________________________________ ? ____________________

7. ________________________________ ? ____________________

B. Complete the blanks with the words in the box.

1. ____________ legs has an elephant got? Four.

2. ____________ is ice? Frozen water.

3. ____________ do you go to work? By car.

4. ____________ is your birthday? In July.

5. ____________ is the Queen of England? Queen Elizabeth.

 6. ____________ shop is that? It’s Samantha’s.

7. ____________ do birds fly South? Once a year.

8. ____________ are they laughing? Because they are watching a funny film.

9. ____________ milk do you drink? Two glasses every day?

10. ____________ car is new, the blue or the red car? The blue car.

11. ____________ is the Parthenon? In Greece.

12. ____________ are you doing? I’m making a model aeroplane.

C. Complete the blanks with the following Question Words:

what where

when who

whose

which
Mike: Hello! I 'm Mike. Who are you?how

how
Jack: Hi! I'm Jack, often
your new roommate. ________ are you?

Mike: Fine,
how thanks. ________ are you from, Jack?
many
Jack: I'm from Canada.

Mike: Great! ________ bed do you want?

Jack: The bed near the window.

Mike: Fine. ________ suitcases have you got? Two?

Jack: No, just one.

Mike: Oh! ________ suitcase is that?

Jack: It's my brother's. He's staying here too.

Mike: ________ is he coming?

Jack: In a few minutes. He's downstairs.

Mike: ________ is he doing?

Jack: He's talking to our parents. ________ do you tidy up your room?

Mike: I never tidy up my room. I like it untidy.

Jack: Oh!
D. Complete the blanks with Question Words as in the example. The phrases in bold type are
the answers.

1. What is very hot? The sun is very hot.

2. __________ is Pam going? Pam is going to Africa.

3. __________ does Tom eat dinner? Tom eats dinner at 8 o’clock.

4. __________ is on the phone? Ben is on the phone.

5. __________ do you play the piano? I play the piano every Monday.

6. __________ diary is this? This is Janet’s diary.

E. Complete the questions with a preposition from the box.

from about to
with to at
for to
Who are you writing to? My friend Paul.
1. with

2. What are you looking _____ ? A painting.

3. Where is Marco _____ ? Italy.

4. What are you waiting _____ ? The bus.

5. Who is your sister playing _____ ? Mary and Rose.

6. What are they listening _____ ? Pop music.

7. Where did Ann send the parcel _____ ? Her mother’s house.

8. Who are you in love _____ ? Peter.

9. What is your book _____ ? History.