Wh Questions Explained: Who, What, When, Where, Why & How

Learn how to use wh questions like who, what, when, where, why, and how to ask clear, meaningful questions in English. Examples included!

Wh questions help you ask for information in English. Unlike yes/no questions, wh questions need detailed answers. Understanding how to form and use them correctly will improve your communication skills.

What Are Wh Questions?

Wh questions are open-ended questions used to gather information. They usually start with a wh-word like who, what, when, where, why, (and how) and follow a specific sentence structure. These questions help you learn about people, things, times, places, reasons, and methods.

Question Word	Usage
Who	Used to ask about a person
What	Used to ask about things, actions, or information
When	Used to ask about time
Where	Used to ask about a place or location
Why	Used to ask about reasons or causes
How	Used to ask about manner, method, or condition

Unlike yes/no questions that require only a simple “yes” or “no,” wh questions demand more detailed responses.

For example:

• Where do you live? → The answer is a specific location.
• Why are you late? → The answer gives a reason.

Why Are Wh Questions Important?

Wh questions are essential for everyday conversations, interviews, work, projects, storytelling, and learning. They help you gather detailed information, encourage deeper conversations, and improve communication skills. They allow you to ask about people, places, reasons, and methods rather than just getting a yes/no answer.

In learning and problem-solving, wh questions promote critical thinking by encouraging explanations and reasoning. Asking wh questions helps you understand situations better and express curiosity effectively.

In summary, they help:

• Gather specific details.
• Encourage deeper discussions.
• Improve critical thinking.
• Make interactions more engaging.

So, it’s important that you know how to ask wh questions!

How to Ask a Wh Question

To ask a wh question, follow this basic structure:

1. Standard Wh Question Structure

Wh-word + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb + (rest of sentence)?

Examples:

• Where is she going?
• What do you want to eat?

2. Wh Questions Without an Auxiliary Verb

If the wh-word is the subject of the sentence, an auxiliary verb is not needed.

Examples:

• Who called you? (Correct)
• Who did call you? (Incorrect)
• What happened? (Correct)
• What did happen? (Incorrect)

3. Wh Questions in Different Tenses

You can form wh questions in different tenses by changing the verb structure.

• Present Simple: Where does she work?
• Past Simple: What did you eat yesterday?
• Future: When will they arrive?

Wh Questions

The main wh questions are who, what, when, where, why, and how. They help you gather specific information about people, places, things, reasons, times, and methods. Each wh-word serves a unique purpose and follows a specific sentence structure. We’ll look at how each word is used below.

Who

Use who to ask about a person or people. It can be the subject or object of the sentence.

Examples:

• Who is calling? (subject)
• Who do you trust the most? (object)

Common Mistakes:

❌ Who did invite you? → ✅ Who invited you?

What

Use what to ask about things, ideas, or actions. It helps gather general information.

Examples:

• What is your name? (asking for information)
• What do you like to eat? (asking about preferences)
• What happened at the meeting? (asking about an event)

Common Mistakes:

❌ What you want? → ✅ What do you want?

When

Use when to ask about time.

Examples:

• When does the train leave? (asking about a schedule)
• When is your birthday? (asking for a date)
• When will we meet again? (asking about the future)

Common Mistakes:

❌ When the movie starts? → ✅ When does the movie start?

Where

Use where to ask about a place or location.

Examples:

• Where do you live? (asking about a general location)
• Where is the bathroom? (asking for a specific place)
• Where did you put my keys? (asking about an object’s location)

Common Mistakes:

❌ Where you are going? → ✅ Where are you going?

Why

Use why to ask for a reason or explanation.

Examples:

• Why are you late? (asking for an explanation)
• Why did she leave early? (asking for a reason)
• Why do you like this movie? (asking for personal opinion)

Common Mistakes:

❌ Why you didn’t come? → ✅ Why didn’t you come?

How

Use how to ask about the way something happens, a condition, or quantity.

Examples:

• How do you cook pasta? (asking for a method)
• How are you? (asking about well-being)
• How many books do you have? (asking for a quantity)

Variations of How:

• How much? → How much does it cost?
• How long? → How long is the journey?
• How often? → How often do you exercise?
• How far? → How far is your house?

Why is “How” a Wh Question?

Even though “how” does not start with “wh,” it is still considered a wh-question word because it functions like the other wh-words. It asks for information beyond a simple “yes” or “no” answer, just like who, what, when, where, and why. For example:

1. It Asks for Specific Information
   • How do you make bread? (asking for a method)
   • How far is the airport? (asking for distance)
2. It Follows the Same Question Structure
   • Like other wh-questions, “how” comes at the beginning of the sentence and follows the wh-word + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb pattern.
   • How does she know you? (Similar to “Why does she know you?”)
3. It Works with Other Question Words
   • How much? (asking about quantity)
   • How long? (asking about duration)
   • How often? (asking about frequency)

So, even though “how” does not begin with “wh,” it still functions like a wh-question by seeking detailed information rather than a yes/no response.

Other Common Wh Questions

Besides who, what, when, where, why, and how, other wh-words help you ask for specific details. These include which, whose, and whom, each serving a distinct purpose in questions. Their uses are summarized below:

Which

Use which to ask about a specific choice from a limited set of options.

Examples:

• Which color do you like more—blue or red?
• Which way should I go?

Whose

Use whose to ask about ownership or possession.

Examples:

• Whose bag is this?
• Whose phone rang?

Whom

Use whom when asking about the object of a sentence, though it is less common in spoken English.

Examples:

• Whom did you invite?
• To whom should I address the letter?

Common Mistakes with Wh Questions

Making mistakes with wh questions can lead to confusion and misunderstandings. Common errors include missing auxiliary verbs, using the wrong wh-word, or structuring the question incorrectly. You can find some examples of these common mistakes below:

1. Forgetting Auxiliary Verbs

❌ Where you live? → ✅ Where do you live?
❌ What he wants? → ✅ What does he want?

2. Using the Wrong Wh-Word

❌ Who car is this? → ✅ Whose car is this?
❌ Which is your name? → ✅ What is your name?

3. Using Yes/No Question Structure

❌ Do you go where? → ✅ Where do you go?
❌ Do you do what? → ✅ What do you do?

Understanding these mistakes will help you form clearer and more natural questions.

Using Wh Questions in Conversations

To sound natural in conversations, practice wh questions in real situations. Here are some tips:

Ask follow-up questions:

• Where do you work? → Oh, how long have you been working there?

Use them to start conversations:

• What do you do in your free time?

Combine wh questions for detailed answers:

• Where did you go on vacation, and why did you choose that place?

Conclusion

Wh questions help you gather information and make conversations more engaging. They allow you to ask about people, things, times, places, reasons, and methods. Mastering wh questions will improve your speaking and writing skills.

So, start using wh questions daily to build your confidence and fluency in English!