A1 Beginner Questions, comparison, future, prepositions
Wh- questions
Lesson goal. After this lesson you can ask for specific information — who, what, where, when, why, how — without forgetting the auxiliary.
When to use it
- Asking for specific information instead of a yes/no answer
- Starting a conversation: Where do you live? What do you do?
- Asking again about the part you did not catch
Form
| Question word | Asks about | Example |
|---|---|---|
| What | what | What do you want? |
| Where | place | Where do you live? |
| When | time | When does the class start? |
| Who | person | Who is your teacher? |
| Why | reason | Why are you late? |
| How | manner | How do you go to school? |
Step by step
- Choose the question word that matches what you want to know.
- Put it at the front.
- Add the auxiliary do / does — or is / are with the verb to be.
- Then the subject and the base verb.
Three word orders to tell apart
| Sentence type | Order | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary verbs | Wh- + do/does + S + V? | Where do you live? |
| Verb to be | Wh- + is/are + S? | Where is your school? |
| Who is the subject | Who + V? — no do/does | Who lives here? |
Examples
What do you want for lunch?
Where do your parents work?
When does the class start?
Who is your English teacher?
Why are you late today?
How do you go to school?
What does your sister do?
Who lives in that house?
Common mistakes
Where you live? → Where do you live?
The auxiliary is missing. Vietnamese has no equivalent of do, so learners simply leave it out.
What does she likes? → What does she like?
The -s is already inside does; the main verb must be the base form.
Who does live here? → Who lives here?
When Who is the one doing the action it is already the subject — no do/does needed.
Memory tip
Remember four slots: [Question word] [do/does] [subject] [verb]? The second slot is the one most often dropped. Only leave it out when Who is the subject.
Summary
- Wh- + do/does + subject + base verb?
- With the verb to be use is/are instead of do/does.
- Who lives here? — when Who is the subject, drop do/does.
Practise this lesson
Do exercises with an explanation for every question, take mini tests and track your progress on GrammUp.