WH- questions (Question Words)
We use question words to ask certain types of questions (question word questions).
There are nine Question Words that are used to ask about specific qualities, times,
places, people and so on. WH-words including: what (qué), when (cuándo), where
(dónde), who (quién), whom (con/a quién), which (cuál), whose (de quién), why (por
qué) and how (cómo).
What is the relationship between the wh question and the verb to be?
In questions with the verb to be, only the question words can go in the beginning.
Nothing may go in front of the question words in full questions.
Formula
Question Word Verb (to be) Subject Complement
What is (your) name? (no complement)
How old are you? (no complement)
Where is Juan from?
Who is (the) present for?
Below is a list of question words and example sentences:
Questions word Usages Examples
What Used to ask about things - What are you doing? (¿Qué estás
haciendo?)
- What do you think about the movie?
(¿Qué piensas de la película?)
When Used to ask about time - When will the meeting start?
(¿Cuándo comenzará la reunion?)
- When are you leaving? (¿Cuándo
te vas?)
Where Used to ask about places - Where’s my bag? (¿Dónde está mi
bolsa?)
- Where do you live? (¿Dónde vives?)
Who Used to ask about people - Who do you love the most in your
family? (¿A quién amas más de tu
familia?)
- Who told you that story? (¿Quién te
contó esa historia?)
Whom Used to ask about people - Whom did you see in the morning? I
(object of verb) saw Mr. Mark, my English teacher. (¿A
quién viste en la mañana? Vi al señor
Mark, mi profesor de Inglés)
Whom was Jim talking to? He was talking
to Jack, his new roommate. (¿Con quién
estaba hablando Jim? Estaba hablando
con Jack, su nuevo compañero de cuarto
Which Used to ask about choices - Which one do you choose? The left
or right? (¿Cuál eliges? ¿La derecha o
izquierda?)
- Of all the drinks in the menu, which
one would you like? (De todas las
bebidas del menú, ¿Cuál te gustaría?)
Whose Used to ask about - Whose pencil is this? Is it yours? (¿De
possession quién es este lápiz? ¿Es tuyo?)
- Whose books are these? (¿De quién
son estos libros?)
Why Used to ask about - Why did it happen? I didn’t understand.
reasons/causes (¿Por qué pasó? No lo entendió)
- Why is he crying? (¿Por qué él está
llorando?)
How Used to ask about - How can you explain this problem?
manner/process Please tell us. (¿Cómo explicas este
problema? Por favor cuéntanos)
- How can I get there? (¿Cómo puedo
llegar allí?)
