Wh-Questions (what / where / when / why / who / how): A1 Exercises
A1We use wh-questions to ask for information: about things, people, places, time, reasons, and ways. Practice with 4 graded exercises and get confident with what, where, when, why, who, and how.
Exercise 1 (Easy): choose the question word
The answer in brackets tells you what the question is asking for.
Exercises:
1
___ is your surname? I need it for the form.
2
___ do you live? (in Krakow)
3
___ is that guy in the red jacket? (Ana's brother)
4
___ do you get to work? (by tram)
5
___ are you smiling? (I got the job)
6
___ old is your laptop? (about six years)
7
___ does the film start? (at eight)
8
___ are my keys? (on the shelf by the door)
9
___ do you spell your name? (K-A-S-I-A)
10
___ do you want for dinner? (pasta again)
Wh- Questions
Wh-questions ask for specific information. The wh-word at the start tells you exactly what kind of answer is needed.
Whatthings / actions
What is your name?
What do you do?
Whereplace
Where do you live?
Where is the station?
Whentime
When is your birthday?
When do you start?
Whoperson (subject)
Who is calling?
Who made this?
Whyreason
Why are you late?
Why do you study English?
Howmanner / degree
How are you?
How do you spell it?
Question formula
Wh-word+do/does/is/are+subject+verb+?
✅
Where do you live?
✅
What does she like?
✅
When is your birthday?
✅
How do you spell it?
Special case: WHO as subject (no auxiliary needed!)
When Who is the subject of the verb, you do NOT use do/does/is/are:
Who+verb+?
✅
Who lives here?
✅
Who called you yesterday?
✅
Who knows the answer?
!Structure comparison: to be vs do/does
| Auxiliary | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| to be | Wh- + is/are + subject? | Where is the station? · Who are they? |
| do / does | Wh- + do/does + subject + base verb? | What do you eat? · How does she travel? |
Common mistakes to fix right now
❌
Where you live?
✅
Where do you live?
❌
What you are doing?
✅
What are you doing?
❌
What does she likes?
✅
What does she like?
❌
How you go to work?
✅
How do you go to work?
Remember! Always use the auxiliary verb do / does / is / are after the Wh-word, except when Who is the subject. Where you live? is wrong. Where do you live? is correct.