Wh- questions: what, where, who and how
Short answer: Wh- questions ask for information. What asks for a thing, where for a place, who for a person, and how for a way or a number (How old are you?). The order is question word + helper + subject: Where is the ball? What do you like? Never put the subject before the helper.
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At a glance
| Question word | Asks for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| what | a thing | What do you like? |
| where | a place | Where is the ball? |
| who | a person | Who is your teacher? |
| how | a way, an age or a number | How old are you? |
In short
- what = thing, where = place, who = person, how = way or number.
- Question word + helper + subject.
- Use how old to ask about age.
What is the rule for “Wh- questions: what, where, who, how”?
The rule
What asks for a thing, where for a place, who for a person, how for a way or a number.
How it looks
question word + helper + the rest
What it means
The question word shows the answer: a thing, a place, a person or a number.
When to use it
Use them to ask for information.
How it works
- Choose the question word by the answer you want: a thing, a place or a person.
- Put the helper next: is, are, do, does or can.
- Then add the subject and the rest: Where do you live?
- Answer with the information, not with yes or no.
Examples of “Wh- questions: what, where, who, how”
- What do you like?
what asks for a thing: I like apples. - Where is the ball?
where asks for a place: Under the bed. - Who is your teacher?
who asks for a person: Mrs Lan. - How old are you?
how old asks for a number: I am eight. - Where do you live?
where asks for a place: I live in Hue. - Who is that boy?
who asks for a person: He is my cousin. - How many apples do you have?
how many asks for a number: Five. - What is your name?
what asks for information about a thing: My name is Linh.
Common mistakes with “Wh- questions: what, where, who, how”
Where the dog is?→ Where is the dog?
Put the helper before the subject.How many old are you?→ How old are you?
Use how old for age.What you like?→ What do you like?
Use the helper do.Where you live?→ Where do you live?
The helper do comes after the question word.Who you are?→ Who are you?
Put the helper before the subject.
Exceptions: watch out
- How many
How many asks about a number of things: How many apples? Five.
Wh- questions: a quick map
Many question words exist. These four are the most useful at the start.
| Word | Answer is | Example answer |
|---|---|---|
| what | a thing | an apple |
| where | a place | in the garden |
| who | a person | my teacher |
| how many | a number | five |
See also: Yes/No questions and short answers
Check yourself
- Make a question: “She lives in Hue.” (where)
Show the answer
Where does she live? Where + does + subject + plain verb.
- Choose: “Who you are?” or “Who are you?”
Show the answer
Who are you? Helper before subject.
- Ask about age.
Show the answer
How old are you? Use how old for age.
How to practice “Wh- questions: what, where, who, how”
The interactive version adds step-by-step help, spoken instructions and a quick check. One rule card, one sound lesson and the first lesson of every stone are free to try; the rest is part of Full Access. See Full Access.
- Practice lesson: Wh- questions: what, where, who, how
Questions
Do I use “do” in every wh- question?
Only with action verbs. With be, put be first: Where is the ball? With can, put can first: What can you see?
What about “whose” and “which”?
They are wh- words too: Whose bag is this? Which one do you want? You will learn them later.
Why not “How many old”?
Use how old for age. How many is for counting things.
More Sentence Building rules
- Subject + Verb: A sentence needs someone or something (the subject) and a verb: Birds fly.
- Verbs can have an object: Some verbs can have an object: the person or thing that gets the action.
- Present simple: I, you, we, they: For things we do again and again, and for likes, use the plain action word with I, you, we and they.
- Present simple: he, she, it + -s: With he, she, it or one name, the action word usually adds -s.
- Negatives: not with be and can: To say no with am, is, are or can, add not: I am not, she isn't, they aren't, it can't.
- Negatives: don't and doesn't: To say no with an action word, use don't or doesn't and then the plain action word.
Part of the 📘 Grammar tool. Level G2: Sentence Building. Đọc bằng tiếng Việt.
Written for English learners by the English for Fun team. How we write our lessons · Last updated 2026-11-05.
Reviewed by Chinh Q. Hoang, PhD, founder, English for Fun · 2026-10-30
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