Question words and phrases
Introduction
Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? How old? What time?
How long? How often? How much? How many?
Definition
We use question words to ask for information.
Construction
| Question word or phrase + | 'to be' + | subject |
| What | is | it? |
Note that
Who's = who is
What's = what is
When's = when is
Where's = where is
Why's = why is
How's = how is
| 'to be' | (Modal) auxiliary verbs | Other verbs |
| Question phrase + 'to be' + subject
How long is it?
| Question phrase + auxiliary + subject + verb
How long will it take? | Question phrase + 'to do' + subject + verb
How long do you spend on the train? |
Examples
| Uses | Examples |
|
| Who? Person | | Who's the project manager? Olivia is.
|
|
Whose? Possession
|
| Whose wallet is it? It's Steven's.
|
|
What? Thing |
|
What is it? It's a kettle. |
|
When? Time |
|
When is lunch? At 12:30. |
|
Where? Place | |
Where's your company? In London.
|
|
Why? Reason | |
Why are you late? There is a lot of traffic. |
|
How? Characteristics |
|
How's your sandwich? It's delicious!
|
| How? Health and well-being | | How are your children? They're fine, thanks. |
|
How old? Age | |
How old is Hans? He's 35.
|
| What time? Time |
What time is it? 5 o'clock. |
| Question words | Use | Examples |
|
How long?
|
To ask about length.
To ask about duration.
|
How long is the Seine? How long was the film?
|
|
How often?
|
To ask about frequency. |
How often do you go to the cinema? |
| How much? | To ask about price. To ask about amounts. | How much is this book? How much time do you have?
|
How many? | To ask about quantities.
| How many meetings do you have? |
Examples
"Hi Helen. How are you?" "I'm fine, thanks. Where and when is the meeting today?"
"It's in Akira's office at 2.00." "Who's Akira?" "He's my Japanese colleague."
"What's in the box?" "It's a surprise!"
"Why are they happy?" "Because it's Christmas!"
"What time is the presentation tomorrow?" "10 o'clock."
"Whose car is this?" "It's mine." How old is it?" "It's new."
"How long will you be away?" "Three weeks."
"How long is this table?" "1.5m"
"How often do they go running? "Twice a week."
"How much cheese do we need and how many bottles of wine?"
"How much did the house cost?" "€350,000."
