Question words

It's mid morning on a Sunday. Oliver has just got up and is in the kitchen when Daisy comes home. Sophie is in Tanzania for work.

Instructions

As you watch the video, look at the examples of questions. They are in red in the subtitles. Then read the conversation below to learn more. Finally, do the grammar exercises to check you understand, and can use, questions correctly.

We use the question words who (for people), what/which (for things), when (for time), where (for places), why (for reasons) and how (for more details).

What do I need to know about question words?

I know you know the basics, but questions are quite tricky. Let’s just go over the main rules.

We usually form questions by putting an auxiliary verb, or a modal verb, before the subject.

When the verb 'to be' is the main verb, we don’t use auxiliary verbs.

We can add question words to get more or different information.

Where did you go swimming? > In the swimming pool in town.

Why did you go there? > Because it’s a nice, big pool.

Who did you go swimming with? > With Amy.

What time did you meet Amy? > At 10 o’clock.

Which pool did you go in? > The serious one, without the slides!

I see that questions sometimes finish with prepositions.

Yes, that’s very common.

What have you got that bag for?

OK, that all seems straightforward.

Yes, but do you know about subject and object questions?

If who, what or which is the subject of the question, it comes before the verb and we don’t use do as an auxiliary.

Who went out for curry? (subject – who)

Which looks better, this or that one? (subject – which)

Object questions follow the structure we looked at before.

Who did you go out for curry with? (subject – you; object – who)

Which restaurant does Oliver like most? (subject – Oliver; object – which)

What did they do after the restaurant? (subject – they; object – what)

I think I understand …

Here’s a little test for you, then. A cat killed a mouse and a dog killed the cat.

1 What killed the mouse?

2 What did the cat kill?

3 What killed the cat?

4 What did the dog kill?

OK, 1 the cat, 2 the mouse, 3 the dog, 4 the cat. Right?

Exactly! You’ve got it.

Any more tricky things about question words?

Well in reported speech or indirect questions, question words come in the middle of sentences. In these types of sentence, the word order does not change. We don’t put the verb to be before the subject or use an auxiliary to form a question, as in a normal question:

I asked her what she was doing at the weekend.

Do you know where the post office is?

Can you tell me how much it costs?

What are you doing at the weekend?

Hmm, why do you use indirect questions if they are more complicated?

Well, they are more polite, especially if you are talking to a stranger.

OK, I’ll remember to say: 'Do you know where the post office is?'

Good. Can you make that even more polite?

How about: 'Excuse me, could you tell me where the post office is, please?'

Fine! That’ll do. Do you really need a post office?!

Worksheets and downloads

Transcript

Oliver: Hi there, I didn't know you were out. I thought you were still in bed. What have you got that bag for? Where have you been?

Daisy: I've been swimming! This is the new me. No more lying in bed on Sunday mornings. I want to get fit again. It's been a long, lazy summer!

Oliver: Oh yeah? What's all that about? Or rather . who have you met?

Daisy: No one! I went with a new girl in my class – Amy. She's cool. Anyway, what about you? Why are you having breakfast so late? Who were you out with last night?

Oliver: Would you like some tea? I went to the cinema with Alfie and a couple of others, then we went for a curry in town. It was cool.

Daisy: That sounds like a good night. What did you see?

Oliver: Dale wanted to see that new sci-fi thriller, the one with . oh, what's his name?

Daisy: I know the film. What was it like?

Oliver: Not bad. The curry afterwards was better though. We had a laugh.

Daisy: Speaking of laughs, do you want to see something funny?

Daisy: Tara! What do you think? Does it suit me?

Oliver: What do you look like. Can you get it? It's behind you.

Daisy: Ummm, ah, it's Mum. Hi, Mum! How's Africa?

Sophie: Hi, honey! Africa's very well, thank you! How are you?

Daisy: Haha. You're in Tanzania, aren't you? What's it like?

Sophie: Oh, it’s amazing! Absolutely gorgeous. I'm at the coast now, near Dar-es-Salaam – it's wonderful. And the last few days have been perfect. I've taken so many photos!

Daisy: Yeah? What have you been taking pictures of?

Sophie: Well, I've been to Lake Victoria – incredible, it's as big as a sea and the sunrises, oh, with the fishing boats . and I've been to Arusha, near Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. They're both snow-capped volcanoes in the north – very impressive – and I've spent two days in the Serengeti National Park.

Daisy: Did you see any lions? Or giraffes?

Sophie: Oh yes!! And, and . well, a lot of animals. What an experience! I am so lucky!

Daisy: Did you get many good photos? Stupid question, right?

Sophie: Haha. Yes, hundreds! I'll be home on Monday – shall we get some pizzas and look at my photos? Just the three of us?

Daisy: Yeah, cool! Hey, shall I pass you to Oliver? He's here with me .

Oliver: Hi, Mum . no, I'm fine! It's just . no, nothing . how are you?

Discussion

What questions do you like to ask people when you first meet them?

what's your name?

Where are you from ?

How old are you?

How often do you like to go out ??

Who are your parents?

Log in or register to post comments

Hello,I'm from Vietnam. Do you know about my country?

Log in or register to post comments

Hi Kip. I know something about your country, but not much

Log in or register to post comments

What is your name?

How old are you?

Where are you from?

What are your hobbies?

Log in or register to post comments

What's your name? How old are you? where are you from? what's your hobby? Do you like One Direction? because I'm Directioner (if is a teenage girl)

Log in or register to post comments

where are you from?

how old are you?

Can we take some photos?

Log in or register to post comments

where do you live?

what music you like?

What is your phone number?

who is your family?

Log in or register to post comments

what is your name ?

How old are you?

Where do you live?

What class are you?

Log in or register to post comments

if is a girl. so, how much time are you single?

if is a boy, how are you?

Log in or register to post comments

Hello ! How are you ? How old are you ? Where do you live ?

Log in or register to post comments

What's your favorite kind of music?

Wo you like video games?

What do you study?

Log in or register to post comments

hello!! what´s your name? how old are you? what is your habby?

Log in or register to post comments

What is your name?

How old are you?

what activities do you do?

Where do you live?

What class are you?

Log in or register to post comments

Hi . What is your name ? and How old are you ?

Log in or register to post comments

What is your name?, Where are you from?, What's your favorite music?, How old are you?, Where do you live? ,What do you do?, What's is your favorite sport?

Log in or register to post comments

What's your name?

How old are you?

Log in or register to post comments

What's your name? How old are you? What do you like to do?

Log in or register to post comments

What is your name,how are you,how old are you,what kind of music and film

Log in or register to post comments

What is your name?, what do you do? where are you from? What's your favorite music?, How old are you? How are you?, what time is it? Whose do you live with?

Log in or register to post comments

What is yor name? How olad are you? where are you from? where do you live? More" what is your hobby?"

Log in or register to post comments

hello.what is your name?How are you?What do you do?Where are you from?Where do you live?do you like plat basketbal? and so on.

Log in or register to post comments

Hi.What is your name?How old are you?In which school you study?I like meeting new friends.

Log in or register to post comments

Log in or register to post comments

Hi! What's your name? How old are you? Where you from?Do you have any brothers or sisters?In which school you study? Who are you favourite gropus, acters, singers, place, sity, country. ? Do you love yor country or sity? etc ..

I like meeting new people. And because of that I have friends in Italy, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Germany and Englend. ^_^

Ohh and "Nice to meet you" or "See you" in the end, :D

Log in or register to post comments

hi ellen i´m sorry to hear that you´re not ok. Here all week was raining,the temperature has been aroun 13-15°,it´s really cold considering the temperature is always around 20°C.

The most important dish here I think is MOLE POBLANO,it´s a sausace made out of like 30 ingredients from sweet to sour an lots of spices in fact many foreigners people that tase it find it too hot,but i love it and i´ts cooked for special ocassions like marriage and birthdays.

Another famous dish here is CHILE EN NOGADA is a poblano chile filled with meat,apple,banana and it´s covered with a mix of crem and CASTILLA NUTS and a little of sugar,mmmmm my mouth just water,this dish we do it in this month to celebrate our Independence.

Log in or register to post comments

I am not very fine, because, in my country temperature it is very bad. Temperature is 35C.

And you country temperature and climate?

In Azerbaijan Tourism development it is most.

Azerbaijan cooking it is very popular.

For example, stuffed, stuffed vine-leaves and s.on

İn my country Azerbaijan most popular main course in Azerbaijan is plov (made rice).The popular soft drinks are sharbats. They are made of sugar, lemon, saffron, seeds of mint and other fruit.

Do you like talking to people?

Do you prefer to work alone?

Are you energetic?

Do you like orqanizing things?

Are you patient?

your Azerbaijanian friend Ellen

Log in or register to post comments

Hi Ellen how are you?

Here the careers last for four years is you do it in a public University and if it´s private you can do it in three an a half years moreless.

The most famous carrers used to be Medicine,Laws and Accountant but these days are Robotics,Tourism and International cooking what about there?

Log in or register to post comments

Hello my friend Maline.

I think University of USA is Harvard Univercity.

Harvard it is my desire univercity.

Azerbaijan has got a lot of univercity.

Baku State Univercity

Maline, How are universities in Mexico?

Which are you go University of Mexico?

Log in or register to post comments

The most important universities hera are IPN and UNAM and it´s really difficult to get there,because just are space at the universities for 1/6 of the students and the students left can´t continue their studies.

What University of USA would you like to go?

Log in or register to post comments

Hello my friend Maline.

The difference is only 3 days of school time.

Yes, i prepare the Univercity.

I think one years I will read in Azerbaijan, and then i think and i want will go to the USA.

Which you are favorite Univercity?

Log in or register to post comments

Help & support

Top Post

Photo caption

Can you write a caption for this monstrous photo?

What is it?

Look carefully. What's this everyday object?

Play Wordshake and see how many points can you get in three minutes.

© British Council The United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland).