
Wh-question in English means those questions that start with words like who, what, where, when, why, which, whose, and how. These all wh-question words help kids while asking for information about people, places, time, reasons, and ways to do something. Children use wh-questions in English almost every day at home or in school to learn and talk about the world around them.
From a young age, children are curious and always want to know more. Between the ages of one and two, they start to ask and answer basic wh-questions. Learning all wh-question words helps children build strong speaking skills and take part in conversations confidently.
Read more: Prepositions of Time
By understanding the use of all wh-question words, it becomes easy for kids to ask for different kinds of information. Each wh-question word has its own purpose and helps understand people, things, places, time, reasons, choices, possession, or ways of doing something.
Here are the main uses of all Wh-question words in English:
Who: to ask about a person
What: to ask about a thing
Where: to ask about a place
When: to ask about a time
Why: to ask about a reason
Which: to ask about a choice
Whose: to ask about possession
How: to ask about a way or method
When kids start learning wh-question words, these are a few basic wh-questions they often learn first. These questions are easy to understand because they are mostly about themselves. Here is a list of a few basic wh-questions for kids to start with:
What is your name?
Who is your mother?
How many siblings do you have?
Which fruit do you like?
Where is your tiffin box?
In which class do you study?
What is your class teacher's name?
Read more: Direct and Indirect Speech
To help kids understand better, here are some basic wh-questions that they can use every day. These 10 examples of wh-questions will help them learn how to ask and answer wh-questions in the right manner:
|
10 Examples of wh-questions with Answers |
||
|
Wh-Question Word |
Basic wh-questions |
Answer Wh-Questions |
|
Who |
Who is your best friend? |
My best friend is Riya. |
|
What |
What is your favourite food? |
My favourite food is pizza. |
|
Where |
Where do you live? |
I live in Delhi. |
|
When |
When is your birthday? |
My birthday is in April. |
|
Why |
Why do we need to sleep? |
We need to sleep to rest our body and mind. |
|
Which |
Which game do you like the most? |
I like football the most. |
|
Whose |
Whose book is this? |
This is Ravi’s book. |
|
How |
How do you brush your teeth? |
I brush my teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste. |
|
What |
What is your favourite colour? |
My favourite colour is blue. |
|
Where |
Where is your school? |
My school is near my home. |
Read More: Abstract Nouns
You can make teaching wh-questions at home fun and easy for your child by using some simple activities. These tips let your child practice and answer wh-questions in a natural way. Here are some easy tips to teach them:
Read and Ask: Read a short story to your child. After reading, ask questions that start with wh- question words like who, what, where, or when. Help and motivate your child to ask the same questions to you, too.
Daily Life Questions: Use daily activities to ask wh-questions. For example, when your child comes from school, ask them, "Who did you sit with at lunch? Or when did you eat your lunch?"
Picture Chart: Take pictures from books or magazines and make a chart with columns for all wh-question words. Show your child a picture and ask them to put it in the right column.
Pick and Ask: Make small cards with all wh-question words written on them. Let your child pick one and make a question with it. For example, if your child picks “when,” ask them to make a question out of it, like, “When will we go to the park?”
Point or Show the Answer: Ask simple questions to your child related to their daily routine, like “Where is your shoe?” Ask your child to answer either by pointing or bringing the object.
Also Read: Figures of Speech
CuriousJr’s online English classes help your child learn wh-questions and other important foundational English skills in a simple and fun way. These are live audio-video interactive classes, where friendly teachers guide your child step by step to make learning easy and enjoyable.
Here is how CuriousJr's English by Cambridge program helps your child become confident in English:
Simple Grammar Lessons: Children learn wh-questions and other grammar topics in a way that makes speaking and writing easy.
Live Interactive Classes: Teachers explain and practice all wh-question words with children using examples and activities.
Vocabulary and Pronunciation: Along with grammar, children improve word knowledge and speak clearly.
Fun Activities: Games, speaking tasks, and small exercises keep learning interesting and active.
Progress Reports: You get updates on how your child is improving, so you can track their progress.
So, why wait? Book a demo class today with CuriousJr and give your child a strong head start in English.
