✦ B1 Level

Question Words: Wh- Questions & More

Master the main question words in English (what, where, when, why, who, how, which, whose) to ask clear, natural questions at B1 level.
5.1 — What, Who, Whose: People & Things
5.2 — Where, When: Place & Time
5.3 — Why, How: Reasons & Methods
5.4 — Which: Choices & Selection
5.5 — Question Word Order & Indirect Questions

1

5.1 What, Who, Whose: People & Things

Asking for information, identity and possession
📌

What asks about things or actions, who asks about people, and whose asks about possession. These words come at the beginning of the question and are followed by the verb (or auxiliary).

Form: Question word + auxiliary + subject + main verb? — e.g. "What do you do?" · "Who is that?" · "Whose bag is this?"
Use Signal Words Example
What thing / action / definition "What is your favourite film?"
Who person / identity "Who is the new teacher?"
Whose possession "Whose phone is ringing?"
What + be / do / does…?
Who + be / is / are…?
Whose + noun + verb…?
What do you do at the weekend?
Asking about activities.
Who is that man over there?
Asking about a person’s identity.
Whose car is parked in front of the house?
Asking about possession.
What time does the meeting start?
Common fixed expression with “what”.
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5.2 Where, When: Place & Time

Asking about location and timing
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Where asks about place or position. When asks about time. Both are followed by the correct auxiliary verb in questions.

Form: Where / When + auxiliary + subject + main verb?
Where + be / do / does…?
When + be / does / will…?
Where do you live?
Asking about place of residence.
When does the train leave?
Asking about time of an event.
Where are you going on holiday this year?
Present continuous for future plans.
When will you finish the report?
Future question with “will”.
3

5.3 Why, How: Reasons & Methods

Asking for explanations and ways of doing things
⚠️

Why asks for reasons or explanations. How asks about the way something is done or the manner. “How” can also combine with adjectives or adverbs (how often, how much, how many, how long…).

Why + auxiliary…?
How + auxiliary…?
How often / much / many / long…?
Why are you late?
Asking for a reason.
How do you spell your surname?
Asking about method.
How often do you go to the gym?
Frequency question.
How long have you been learning English?
Duration with present perfect.
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5.4 Which: Choices & Selection

Asking about specific options
📌

Which is used when there is a limited choice or selection. It is often followed by a noun or “one”.

Which book do you want to read?
Limited choice of books.
Which one is your car?
Selecting from visible options.
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5.5 Question Word Order & Indirect Questions

Correct word order and polite indirect questions
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In direct questions the auxiliary comes before the subject. In polite indirect questions we use the normal statement word order after the question word.

Direct: “Where do you live?”
Indirect: “Could you tell me where you live?”
Could you tell me what time the shop opens?
Polite indirect question.
Do you know where the nearest bank is?
Indirect question with “Do you know…”

Practice Quiz — B1 Level

20 questions selected from a pool of 50 · Question Words: Wh- Questions & More · Click your answer for instant feedback

Choose the correct question word (or word order) to complete each sentence. Think about the type of information being asked for. Click your answer for immediate feedback.

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