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English Step Up
A1 Beginner
07

Question Words

Who, what, where, when, why, and how.

Visual Explanation

Question structure

Question word+auxiliary verb+subject+verb?

Examples

Where do you work?

How many languages does she speak?

Why are they laughing?

When to Use

Who / What
Ask about people (who) and things (what): 'Who is your teacher?' 'What is your favourite colour?'
Where / When
Ask about places (where) and times (when): 'Where do you live?' 'When does the film start?'
Why / How
Ask about reasons (why) and manner (how): 'Why are you tired?' 'How do you get to work?'

Tip

When 'who' is the subject, you do not need 'do' or 'does.' Say 'Who lives here?' — not 'Who does live here?'

Practice Exercises