WH- Questions

Questions can ask for information. You ask for information using WH- question words (who, what, where, how, whose, why, and when).

WH- questions have a different structure when "who" is the subject.

Information Questions

Question WH- Word Structure Answer
Where is the hotel? Where
Information about place
question word + auxiliary verb + subject The hotel is on Douglas Street.
What is your name? What
Information about things
question word + auxiliary verb + subject My name is Rachael.
Why is the road wet? Why
Information about the reason for something
question word + auxiliary verb + subject The road is wet because it was just raining.
When do you get up? When
Information about time
question word + auxiliary verb + subject (+ verb) I get up at 7:00 every morning.
How do you drink your coffee? How
Information about the manner or way in which something is done
question word + auxiliary verb + subject (+ verb) I drink my coffee with milk and sugar.
Who lives in that house? Who (subject)
Information about people
question word + verb My mother lives in that house.
Whose pen is this? Whose
Information about possession (who the owner is)
question word + subject + verb That is Camilla's pen.
(Question structure of the verb to be in the present simple with QW’s)

Question WordVerb (to be)SubjectComplement
Whatis(your) name?[no complement]
How oldareyou?[no complement]
WhereisJuanfrom?
Whois(the) presentfor?