Question Words: What, Where, When, Why, How, Who
Start a question with what, where, when, why, how, or who depending on the information you want, then add an auxiliary verb (do/does/did/is/are) before the subject — except when the question word itself is the subject.
Formula
Examples
Usage
- •Ask for specific information (not yes/no answers)
- •Place WH-word at the start of the question
- •Follow with auxiliary verb (do/does/did/is/are) + subject + main verb
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Try 5 cards free — no signup →What are the question words in English?
What asks about a thing or information, where asks about a place, when asks about a time, why asks about a reason, how asks about manner or measurement, and who asks about a person: "What is your name?" "Where are you from?" "How old are you?"
Do you need do or does with question words?
Yes, in present simple most WH-questions need do or does before the subject: "Where does she work?" The exception is when the question word is the subject itself — then do/does is dropped: "Who works here?" not "Who does work here?"
With to be, no extra auxiliary is added: "Where is the bank?" not "Where does the bank is?"
How questions vs why questions
How asks about manner, method, or measurement — "How do you make coffee?" "How old are you?" Why asks for a reason — "Why are you late?" They're not interchangeable: "How are you late?" is wrong when you mean to ask for a reason.
Comparison Table
| Form | Asks about | Example question |
|---|---|---|
| What | a thing or information | What is your name? |
| Where | a place | Where are you from? |
| When | a time | When does the train leave? |
| Why | a reason | Why are you sad? |
| How | manner, way, or measurement | How old are you? |
| Who | a person | Who is at the door? |
Save this comparison chart
More Examples
What time is it?
Asking the time
Where are you from?
Asking origin
Why are you sad?
Asking the reason
How old are you?
"How" + adjective for measurement
Who is at the door?
Asking identity
How many books do you have?
"How many" + countable plural
Common Mistakes
- ✗No auxiliary: "Where you live?" should be "Where do you live?".
- ✗Wrong word order: "What you want?" should be "What do you want?".
- ✗Using "How" for reason: "How are you late?" — should be "Why are you late?".
Tips
- ✓Five Ws + How: WHAT (thing), WHERE (place), WHEN (time), WHY (reason), WHO (person), HOW (way).
- ✓With "to be", no extra auxiliary: "Where IS the bank?" not "Where do the bank is?".
Advanced Notes
"How" is the most versatile question word — it combines with adjectives and adverbs to form dozens of fixed patterns: "How long", "How far", "How much", "How often", "How soon". When the question word IS the subject, auxiliary do/does is dropped: "Who called?" not "Who did call?" (subject question). Embedded WH-questions (indirect questions) use statement order, not question order: "Can you tell me where the bank is?" — a persistent error even at B2 level.
FAQ
Is it "Where you live?" or "Where do you live?"?
"Where do you live?" — present simple WH-questions need do (or does) before the subject.
Is it "What you want?" or "What do you want?"?
"What do you want?" — the auxiliary do can't be skipped in a present simple question.
Do you use "how" to ask why something happened?
No — use why for a reason: "Why are you late?" How asks about manner or measurement, not reasons.
Do question words use do/does with present simple?
Yes, most WH-questions need do or does before the subject in present simple: "Where does she work?" — except when the question word is the subject: "Who works here?"
Do question words use did with past simple?
Yes: "When did you arrive?" The main verb stays in its base form because did already carries the past tense.
Practice
- 1. is your name?
- 2. are you from?
- 3. old are you?
- 4. is at the door?
- 5. are you sad?
Compare With
Other A1 Topics
Present Simple
Used for habits, facts, and permanent states
Past Simple
Used for completed actions at a specific past time
Future with Will
Used for predictions, promises, and spontaneous decisions
Verb "To Be"
Forms identity, location, feeling, and description
Articles: A, An, The
Used for specific vs general reference with nouns
Have Got
Used for possession and characteristics in informal British English
Plural Nouns
Forms plurals for more than one countable noun
Possessive Adjectives
Used for showing ownership or relationship before a noun
Demonstratives: This, That, These, Those
Used for pointing to near or far people, things, or ideas
There Is / There Are
Used for stating existence or presence of something in a place
Imperative
Used for commands, instructions, requests, or advice