Rule: Question Words ShowHide

Which word asks about what?

• What – a thing or an action: What is Emma reading? – A book.
• Who – a person: Who is that boy? – My brother.
• Whose – the owner: Whose cat is that? – It's mine.
• Where – a place: Where do koalas live? – In Australia.
• When – a time: When do kangaroos sleep? – During the day.
• Why – a reason: Why are you hungry? – Because I didn't have breakfast.
• How – the way: How do you go to school? – By bus.

How + another word

• How old are you? – I'm 11.
• How tall are you? – I'm 1.50 m.
• How often do you swim? – Every Saturday.

Word order

Question word + do / does / did / is / are / have + person + verb:

Where have they been?
What did you buy?

When Who asks about the person who does the action, there is no do or does: Who has eaten all the sandwiches? Who lives here?

Games on Question Words

Ready-made games on this topic. Open one on the board and play in teams.

Open the Box · 15 boxesQuestion Words team game (Primary)A team game for Primary: open a box and answer – Question Words.Play

Flashcards · 24 cardsQuestion Words practice (Primary)Cards for Primary: answer, then flip the card to check – Question Words.Play

Play this exercise

The sentences of this exercise as a game – nothing to set up.

Open the BoxTeam gameOpen a box, answer, win points.Play

FlashcardsFlip and checkSay the answer, then flip the card.Play