QUESTION WORDS

I. WHAT / WHEN / WHERE / WHICH / WHO / WHOSE / WHY / HOW / HOW MUCH / HOW MANY / TO WHAT EXTENT

- What are you doing right now? I'm watching a thriller series on Netflix => asks about actions or things.

- When did you start English lessons? Early February. => asks about time.

- Where is the CEO? He is on his way to headquarters, from northern France to Paris. => asks about place.

- Who gave you these books? Anne Lavigne. => asks about people.

- Whose car is this? It's hers => asks about possession.

- Why didn't you eat at the restaurant? Because I had a busy schedule. => asks about reason or purpose.

- How did you get here? By car. => asks about means.

- How did you find me here? I was warned by your sister. => asks about manner.

- How much does it cost? It costs €10. => asks or talks about the cost of something.

- How much butter do you need to make a cake? Check the recipe, but 220g seems to be the ideal amount => asks or talks about the amount of something.

- How many people were in the room when I entered? About ten. => asks or talks about the number of people or things there are.

- To what extent has your English course been beneficial to your overall progress? => asks about degree.

II. WE CAN USE ELSE after WHAT and WHO

- What else would you like to know? (= what other things?).

- Who else was present at the meeting? (= what other people?).

III. WHAT and WHO ASKING ABOUT THE SUBJECT and OBJECT 

1) Asking about the subject: when what or who asks about the subject, the verb is the same as in a statement:

- What is making all that noise in the back? The generator, because of the power outage.

- Who cares about his appointment as vice-president? Some do; others don't.

- Who asked you to come? Hans Müller.

2) Asking about the object: when what or who asks about the object, an auxiliary or modal verb comes before the subject. We use a form of do in the simple present or simple past tense:

- What is Hans Müller doing in his kitchen? He is preparing the New Year's Eve meal.

- Who do you live with? Well, I live with my family.

- Who should I call on the phone? Friends. 

IV. FORM OF WHO, WHAT and WHICH

- Who is always without a noun: Who is your favorite American movie star? Clint Eastwood.

- What can be without a noun: What is your favorite sport on television? Judo.

- What can be with a singular noun: What drink do you like best? I like Coca-Cola.

- What can be with a plural noun: What clothes do you wear on the weekend? I wear casual clothes.

- Which can be without a noun: Which do you prefer, the red car or the yellow one?

- Which can be with a singular noun: Which language do you speak best? English.

- Which can be with a plural noun: Which seats are occupied here? Numbers 1 and 2. 

- Which can be with ones: Which ones are numbered? The first three seats are numbered. 

- Which can be with one: Which one is your car? The one in the middle. 

- Which can be with of: Which of these students are your classmates? The ones in front.

V. USE OF WHO, WHAT and WHICH

1) We use who, what or which, when there is a number of possible answers to choose from:

- Who is your favorite athlete? Usain Bolt.

- What is your favorite sports car? My favorite sports car is a Porsche.

- Which school subject would you choose? English.

2) We use who or what, when there is an indefinite (and often very large) number of possible answers, or when we do not know the possible answers:

- Who do you want to go to the party with? My boyfriend (or it can be another person).

- What solutions do we have to solve this problem? None at the moment (but this could change with the arrival of new solutions).

3) We use which, when there is a limited (and often very small) number of possible answers to choose from:

- Which room are we going to for our English class? Room number 1 or number 2?

- Which colleagues will you be working with on the new projects? Colleagues from the design department.

VI. QUESTION PHRASES WITH WHAT and HOW

- What time did you get home? Around 6pm.

- What color was your last car? Metallic black.

- What kind of store is it? / What sort of store is it? It's a clothing store located on a chic avenue.

- I'm exhausted. What about you? Me too.

- How much is this piece of furniture? One hundred euros.

- How many pets do you have? Three in total.

- How old are you? I'm in my thirties.

- How often do you cook at home? About twice a week.

VII. PREPOSITIONS IN QUESTIONS

1) In a question, we usually put a preposition in the same place as in a statement: 

=> Which department does Anne Lavigne work in following the merger of the two companies? 

- Anne Lavigne works in the purchasing department following the merger of the two companies. 

=> Who did you speak to in the lobby a few minutes ago? 

- We spoke to the future head of purchasing who will replace her predecessor, who has retired.

2) In more formal or written English we can put a preposition at the beginning of a question:

- In which department does Anne Lavigne work following the merger of the two companies?

- From which platform will the train depart?

3) We use whom instead of who after a preposition. Whom is formal and not often used in spoken English: 

- To whom did you send this email? (= Who did you send this email to?).

- To whom did you give this password when you joined the new purchasing department? (= Who did you give this password to when you joined the new purchasing department?).

4) What … for? = asks about the reason for something: 

- What are you watching this video for? For a better knowledge of English.

- What do you need extra English lessons for? For my general knowledge.

5) What … like? = asks for a description of someone or something: 

- What is the new purchasing manageress like? She is very organized and methodical.

- What is your new job like? My new job is quite demanding but very varied.

VIII. WHATEVER, WHENEVER ,WHEREVER ,WHOEVER

1) Use:

The suffix 'ever' added to interrogative pronouns expresses the idea of indeterminacy, of all things …

2) Examples:

- Whatever you do, of course do it within the legal framework.

- I'll be there to help you whenever you need me.

- They are willing to travel wherever you wish provided it remains within Europe.

- Whoever told you that simply lied.