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    WH Questions

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    Shammah Ferreras

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    WH Questions

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    Shammah Ferreras
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    3 views2 pages

    WH Questions

    Uploaded by

    Shammah Ferreras

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    WH Questions: Definition, Rules, and Examples

    WH questions are questions in English that begin with a "WH" word, typically used to gather
    information. These questions are designed to inquire about specific details, such as people,
    places, reasons, or methods. They are called "WH" questions because they begin with words like
    who, what, when, where, why, which, and how.

    1. Types of WH Questions and Their Use

    1. Who – Used to ask about a person or people.


    o Example: Who is your favorite author?
    2. What – Used to ask about things, actions, or ideas.
    o Example: What is your favorite book?
    3. When – Used to ask about time.
    o Example: When does the meeting start?
    4. Where – Used to ask about places or locations.
    o Example: Where are you going for your vacation?
    5. Why – Used to ask about reasons or causes.
    o Example: Why are you upset?
    6. Which – Used to ask for a choice or selection.
    o Example: Which color do you prefer: blue or red?
    7. How – Used to ask about the manner or method.
    o Example: How do you solve this problem?

    2. Rules for Forming WH Questions

    1. Word Order: The basic word order for WH questions is:


    WH word + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb (if necessary)
    o Example: What do you want for lunch?
    o WH word (What) + auxiliary verb (do) + subject (you) + main verb (want)
    2. Auxiliary Verbs: If the sentence requires an auxiliary verb (such as do, does, did, is, are,
    was, were), it should come after the WH word. For example:
    o Where did she go? (auxiliary verb did comes after Where)
    3. Questions without Auxiliary Verbs: If the question involves the verb to be or modal
    verbs, an auxiliary is not needed.
    o Who is your teacher? (no auxiliary verb needed, because is is the main verb)
    o Why are they upset?
    4. Use of "How": "How" can be used in various forms depending on the context:
    o How many (countable objects): How many apples do you have?
    o How much (uncountable objects): How much water is left?
    o How long (duration): How long will you stay?
    o How often (frequency): How often do you exercise?

    3. Examples of WH Questions

    1. Who:
    o Who is your best friend?
    o Who was at the party last night?
    2. What:
    o What do you like to eat for breakfast?
    o What time does the train leave?
    3. When:
    o When will you arrive?
    o When is the next bus?
    4. Where:
    o Where did you go on vacation?
    o Where can I buy a good book?
    5. Why:
    o Why are you crying?
    o Why did you choose that university?
    6. Which:
    o Which one do you prefer: tea or coffee?
    o Which route should we take to get there?
    7. How:
    o How did you learn to swim?
    o How much did it cost to renovate the house?

    4. Common Mistakes and Tips

    1. Omitting the Auxiliary Verb: In some cases, learners may forget to include an auxiliary
    verb (e.g., do, does, did) in questions, especially with "What" or "Where." Ensure the
    correct auxiliary verb is used in the sentence.
    o Incorrect: Where you live?
    o Correct: Where do you live?
    2. Incorrect Word Order: Sometimes, learners confuse the order of words in a WH
    question.
    o Incorrect: Where you are going?
    o Correct: Where are you going?
    3. Using the Right WH Word: Make sure the appropriate WH word is selected based on
    the information you're asking for. For example, use "How" to ask about methods or
    manner, but not to inquire about people (for that, use "Who").

    APA 7th Edition References

    Here is how you can cite sources related to WH questions and grammar rules in APA 7th edition
    format:

    1. Books:
    Azar, B. S. (2002). Understanding and using English grammar (3rd ed.). Pearson
    Education.
    2. Journal Article:
    Hall, G., & Yip, V. (2012). How children acquire second language grammar. Linguistic
    Review, 29(2), 245-267. https://doi.org/10.1515/tlr-2012-0027
    3. Websites:
    Purdue Online Writing Lab. (2020). Grammar and mechanics: Questions (WH
    questions). https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/wh-questions.html

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