QUESTION WORDS

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?

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

Does it suit me?

Has Mum called?

Can you get the tea?

Shall I pass you to Oliver?

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

Is Oliver there?

Was it good?

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!

How did you get there? > On the bus.

questions sometimes finish with prepositions.

Who were you out with?

What have you got that bag for?

What’s all that about?

Where are you calling from?

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)

What happened? (subject – what)

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)

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?

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?

Where is the post office?

How much does it cost?

Asking for Information:

Could you tell me how to get to the bus station?

Do you know that old man?

Do you know how much is this car costs?

Do you happen to know where to buy an umbrella?

Can you tell me what the time is?

I’d like to know your name.

I’d like to know what you think about this idea.

I wonder if you could tell me why the meeting was canceled?

Do you have any idea how to use this machine?

Could you find out where she lives?

I’m looking for a book about gardening.

Asking directions:

Sometimes we or someone need to find a place. And we need to ask someone else for help. When we’re
asking for directions to someone, we use some phrases. These are given below;

Examples:

Can you give me directions to the nearest hospital?

Are we on the right road for London?

How do you get to the bus stop?

Where is the carnival?

Where can I find the nearest car park?

How do I get to library?

Is there a pet shop near here?

Where is the nearest post office?

Do you know where the shopping center is?

Is there a sports shop around here?

Can you tell me how to get to train station from here?

How can I get to the pub?

What’s the best way to get to the amusement park from here?

What’s the quickest way to get to the airport from here?

What’s the easiest way to get to the nearest drugstore from here?

Could you tell me where the nearest grocery store is?

Where are you exactly?

How do you get to the supermarket from here?

I am looking for this address, am I in the right place / how can I get there?

Can you tell me the way to the Nature Hotel?

Is this the right way for the campground?

Do you have a map?

I am trying to find an exchange office. Could you tell me how to get there?

I am trying to get to the police station, Can you show me on the map?

Could you help me, please? I’m looking for the bank.

Does this bus go to the center?

Do you know the cafe?