Question Words: The 5 W's and How

Who, what, when where, why, which, and how: these are the questions words in English that we will go over today.

Who

Who is used to asking about people. When we want to know about a person or a group of people we use the question word who.

1. Who is the president of the United States?

2. Who won the Nobel Prize in Literature this year?

3. Who is your favorite author?

4. Who is coming to the party tonight?

5. Who discovered the theory of relativity?

All of these questions ask for information regarding people.

What

What is used to ask for information.

1. What is the capital of France?

2. What time does the movie start?

3. What is the main ingredient in a traditional lasagna?

4. What are your plans for the weekend?

5. What is the purpose of the scientific method in research?

6. What is your name?

7. What do you do?

All of these questions ask for information.

When

When is used to ask about time. This can be the hour, year, or day for example.

1. When is your birthday?

2. When did the Declaration of Independence get signed?

3. When will the next solar eclipse occur?

4. When does the concert start?

5. When was the Great Wall of China built?

6. When will you arrive?

7. When are we leaving?

All of these questions ask about time. The speaker wants to know when an action happens or for example, what time it is.

Where

Asks for information about location.

1. Where is the nearest grocery store?

2. Where did you go on your last vacation?

3. Where is the Eiffel Tower located?

4. Where can I find a good place to eat around here?

5. Where was the first modern Olympic Games held?

6. Where are we?

7. Where are we going?

All of these questions ask about location. It can be where a place is located, or where an event happened for example.

Why

Why asks for the reason. Why asks for an explanation.

1. Why did you choose that career path?

2. Why is the sky blue during the day?

3. Why did the company decide to rebrand its products?

4. Why did you miss the meeting yesterday?

5. Why is it important to exercise regularly for good health?

6. Why did you quit your job?

7. Why did you leave early?

Which

Which is used when we have a limited number of options to choose from. For example, if you have a list of possibilities or answers, then we use which to ask questions.

1. Which color do you prefer, red or blue?

• This question asks someone to choose between two specific colors.

2. Which restaurant are we going to for dinner?

• Here, the question seeks to identify a specific restaurant among the options available.

3. Which book did you enjoy reading the most?

• This question asks about a specific book from the ones the person has read.

4. Which route should we take to get to the airport faster?

• In this case, the question seeks advice on a specific route choice.

5. Which team won the championship last year?

• This question inquires about a specific team that achieved victory in the previous year's championship.

In these examples, "which" is used to narrow down and specify a particular choice or option from a given set of possibilities.

How

How is used to ask for the way something is done. We can use how to ask about the way something is done, achieved or experienced.

1. Explanations and Descriptions: When you want to understand the process or method behind something.

• How does electricity flow through a circuit?

• How does the water cycle work?

• How is a rainbow formed?

2. Instructions and Procedures: When you're seeking guidance on how to perform a specific task.

• How do you tie a shoelace?

• How do you assemble this furniture?

• How do you cook scrambled eggs?

3. Evaluations and Assessments: When you're asking about the quality, state, or condition of something.

• How is your day going so far?

• How do you find the new restaurant in town?

• How did the team perform in the last match?

4. Methods and Approaches: When you're interested in learning about someone's approach to a situation or problem.

• How do you handle stress?

• How do you manage your time effectively?

• How do you stay motivated to exercise regularly?

5. Reasons and Motivations: When you want to know the reasons behind someone's actions or decisions.

• How did you come up with that idea?

• How did you decide to change your career path?

• How do you stay committed to your goals?

Summary

The five question words are:

1. Who

2. What

3. When

4. Where

5. Why

6. Which

7. How

They are used to ask for:

1. People

2. Information

3. Time

4. Location

5. Reason

6. Specific information from a limited set of answers

7. The way something was done or happened

For homework, answer some of the questions from the article, and also ask some questions of your own.