Learn To Use Wh Questions With Fun Examples

Wh questions are the secret weapon of great conversations and strong writing. These questions that start with who, what, where, when, why, or how do much more than just fill awkward silences. We ask questions with wh words to gather information and start discussions; they also come with the added benefit of making your writing all the more interesting. Check out some of the best wh question examples:

• Who actually reads the terms and conditions?
• What makes a meme go viral?
• Where is the best place to pull an all-nighter?
• When did people decide pineapple belongs on pizza?
• Why do we hit "snooze" even when we know we'll regret it?
• How do some students manage to ace exams without studying?

This article will help you break down wh questions and learn how to use them in a way that actually makes sense. Asking good questions is a skill, and our clear examples are the perfect way to polish it. Understanding wh questions is one thing, though, but turning them into well-structured essays is another. Professional essay writing service EssayPro has your back during every step of your academic writing process.

Now, let's jump into the world of wh words!

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What Are Wh Questions?

Wh questions are the kinds of questions that start with who, what, where, when, why, or how. Unlike yes-or-no questions, these ones actually get people talking by demanding open-ended answers that explain, describe, or clarify something in detail. 

These questions are the very ones that help students research and explore different ideas, solve problems, and even improve their communication skills. In fact, they can be invaluable for those trying to learn how to be fluent in English. Here are some solid wh question examples:

• Who invented the internet, and do they regret it?
• What is the best way to survive a group project?
• Where can you find the best study spots on campus?
• When is cramming actually effective?
• Why do we always forget names but remember embarrassing moments forever?
• How does binge-watching affect your sleep?

Who

Ever needed to ask about a person but didn't know how to phrase it? That's exactly where you use 'who.' This particular wh question always refers to people: who they are, what they do, and how they fit into different situations. Shortly put, you can use 'who' anytime you ask about a person. Here's how this question works in real life:

What

Remember the last time you were hungry and asked, “What’s for dinner?” or checked the clock and wondered, “What time does class start?” If you’ve ever asked questions like these, congrats! You’ve already got a handle on the what question. It’s the go-to word when you’re asking about things, choices, or even time. But just to make sure you’ve got it down, let’s run through some common examples.

Where

"Where" is the question that can take care of you if you're lost. This wh question refers to places, locations, and destinations. So, the next time you're not sure where your missing sock went or where your academic degree will take you in life, "where" is the question that gets you the answers.

When

If time matters (and, let's be real, it mostly does), you should use "when." This question is used whenever you need to know about time: past, present, or future.

Why

The same curiosity that killed the cat has also led to some of the best discussions ever, most of which have started with "why." This is the question to ask when you want to go beyond the surface and get real answers. This question helps you understand reasons and causes and is usually the question behind every deep talk.

Which

Probably the biggest enemy of the indecisive, the "which" question is asked when a choice needs to be made between two or more options.

Whose

Ever found a random phone on the table and wondered, "Whose is this?" That's exactly how this particular question word works. It's asked when we're determining possession and ownership.

How

Whenever you need to understand how something works, you should ask a "how" question. This question is used to ask about processes, methods, and feelings. It can also be used to ask about the frequency of something when paired with the word "often."

Forming Wh Questions

Wh questions always start with wh question words we went over above. However, they follow different patterns depending on different factors. Are you dealing with 'be' verbs? Passive voice? Are you focusing on subjects and objects? The sentence structure changes slightly with the circumstances.

Let's dissect all the possible details so you can confidently form wh questions in any situation. While you’re at it, you can learn about the 4 types of sentences to structure your essays and speeches like a pro.  

Basic Sentence Structure

This is the basic pattern for most wh questions:

Wh-word + Auxiliary Verb (if needed) + Subject + Main Verb + Object/Complement

Sounds a bit technical? Don't worry, examples can make it all much easier:

• Where do you live? (Wh-word + Auxiliary “do” + Subject “you” + Main Verb “live”)
• What does she want for dinner? (Wh-word + Auxiliary “does” + Subject “she” + Main Verb “want” + Object “for dinner”)
• Why are they late? (Wh-word + "be" verb “are” + Subject “they” + Complement “late”)

If the wh question is about the subject of the sentence, you don’t need an auxiliary verb:

• Who wrote this book? (Wh-word + Subject “who” + Main Verb “wrote” + Object “this book”)
• What happened yesterday? (Wh-word + Main Verb “happened” + Time Complement “yesterday”)

Wh- Questions with "Be" Verbs

The good thing about the wh questions with "be" verbs (am, is, are, was, were) is that they allow you to skip the auxiliary verb. Instead, you put the wh-word first, then the correct form of "be", followed by the subject and complement. These questions are the most straightforward and easy to form, as they don't need an extra helping verb.

Here are a few examples so you can get a better idea of how to form questions with "be" verbs:

• Where is your backpack? (Wh-word + "be" verb + Subject + Complement)
• Who is your best friend? (Wh-word + "be" verb + Subject + Complement)
• Why are they upset? (Wh-word + "be" verb + Subject + Complement)
• What was the problem? (Wh-word + "be" verb + Subject + Complement)
• When were you born? (Wh-word + "be" verb + Subject + Complement)

Wh- Questions with Modal Verbs

Modal verbs (can, could, will, would, should, must, might, may) are incredibly useful in daily communication and are used to express possibility, necessity, or ability. They follow a very specific pattern:

Wh-word + Modal Verb + Subject + Main Verb + Object/Complement

Let’s look at some examples to clear things up:

• What can I do to help? (Wh-word + Modal Verb “can” + Subject “I” + Main Verb “do” + Complement “to help”)
• Where should we go for dinner? (Wh-word + Modal Verb “should” + Subject “we” + Main Verb “go” + Complement “for dinner”)
• How might they react to the news? (Wh-word + Modal Verb “might” + Subject “they” + Main Verb “react” + Complement “to the news”)
• Why must you leave so early? (Wh-word + Modal Verb “must” + Subject “you” + Main Verb “leave” + Complement “so early”)
• Which book would she recommend? (Wh-word + Modal Verb “would” + Subject “she” + Main Verb “recommend” + Object “book”)

Wh- Questions with Subjects and Objects

Wh questions can either ask about the subject (who/what is doing the action) or the object (who/what is receiving the action). The main difference is that subject questions don't need auxiliary verbs, whereas object questions do.

Subject Question Examples (No Auxiliary Verb):

• Who called you last night? (Wh-word + Main Verb + Object)
• What caused the accident? (Wh-word + Main Verb + Object)
• Which movie won the award? (Wh-word + Main Verb + Object)

Object Question Examples (With Auxiliary Verb):

• Who did you call last night? (Wh-word + Auxiliary “did” + Subject “you” + Main Verb “call” + Object)
• What did she say? (Wh-word + Auxiliary “did” + Subject “she” + Main Verb “say”)
• Which book did they choose? (Wh-word + Auxiliary “did” + Subject “they” + Main Verb “choose” + Object)

Here's a simplified formula to keep in mind: if your question is about who or what is doing the action, skip the auxiliary verb; if you're asking about who or what is receiving the action, don't. If you’re still unsure if you’ve built your sentences correctly, our professional paper editing services can proofread your papers and make sure everything is ready to go. 

Wh- Questions in Passive Voice

Passive voice is used when the person doing the action isn't the focus of the question. For instance, we can build sentences in passive voice when we don't know who did the action or when the action is more important than the person who did it. In cases when we use passive voice, the question structure slightly changes:

Wh-word + "be" verb + Past Participle + (by + agent, if necessary)

Examples:

• Who was invited to the party? (Wh-word + Passive "be" verb “was” + Past Participle “invited”)
• What was stolen from the store? (Wh-word + Passive "be" verb “was” + Past Participle “stolen”)
• When was the painting completed? (Wh-word + Passive "be" verb “was” + Past Participle “completed”)
• Why was the project delayed? (Wh-word + Passive "be" verb “was” + Past Participle “delayed”)
• How was the problem solved? (Wh-word + Passive "be" verb “was” + Past Participle “solved”)

Ask Smarter!

If you’ve ever found yourself lost in a conversation or simply struggling to get your point across, a well-placed question can quickly become your best friend. Questions with wh aren't just used to get information but rather to guide dialogues. They can even make the studying process much easier for the students by helping them sharpen their writing and research more effectively for school projects. Let's go over the most important points of this article once again:

• Wh questions are the secret sauce of great conversations and sharp writing.
• They start with who, what, where, when, why, or how and engage people in a conversation instead of just nodding along.
• Each one pulls its weight. There are wh questions regardless of whether you're asking about a person, event, or the best way to survive a busy Monday morning.
• The sentence structure shouldn't be overlooked, either. The right verbs and grammar make all the difference.
• Asking the right questions helps you think deeper, research better, and communicate like a pro.

The right questions are the only first step in writing outstanding papers. Answering and structuring them to build an essay? That's a whole other thing. If you feel like your brain just hit a "loading" screen, EssayPro's academic writing services in USA can take your wh questions and turn them into A+ papers without any stress.