Name:

Betania E. Santos G.
1-760-2090

University:
Universidad del Istmo

Teacher:
Rosalba Bryan

Activity 3
Expository essay
The Diverse World of WH Questions

Year:
2024
 The Diverse World of WH Questions

WH questions are a fundamental part of the English language, serving as essential tools

for gathering information, clarifying misunderstandings, and facilitating communication.

They derive their name from the initial letters "WH" found in words such as who, what,

where, when, why, and how. Each type of WH interrogative word performs a unique

function, and understanding their usage is important for both native speakers and

learners of English. This essay explores the different types of WH questions, illustrates

their practical applications with examples, and highlights common mistakes to avoid.

Who

The interrogative word "who" is used to ask about people. It is used to identify a person

or group involved in an action or situation. For example, "Who is your favorite author?" or

"Who called you last night? Misuse of "who" often involves confusing it with other WH

words, such as using "who" instead of "whom" in formal contexts. In everyday language,

however, "who" is commonly used regardless of its grammatical function. Another

example is "Who will be at the meeting tomorrow?" or "Who finished the report

yesterday? It is important to remember that "who" always refers to people.

Examples:

1. Who is the president of the United States?

2. Who wrote "To Kill a Mockingbird"?

3. Who will be attending the meeting tomorrow?

4. Who is your favorite actor?

5. Who can help me with this project?

6. Who did you see at the concert last night?

7. Who are you planning to invite to the party?

8. Who created this beautiful painting?

9. Who was the first person to climb Mount Everest?

10. Who do you think will win the game?

What

"What" is used to ask for information about things, actions, or ideas. It is very versatile

and can be found in a wide variety of contexts. Examples include "What is your name?"

or "What did you do last weekend? A common mistake with "what" is to use it incorrectly

instead of "which" when a limited choice is implied. For example, "What color do you

prefer?" should be "What color do you prefer?" when the choices are specific. Other

examples are "What are you going to eat?" and "What was the outcome of the meeting?

The key is to use "what" when the question is open-ended, and the answer is not limited

to specific options.

Examples:

1. What is your favorite color?

2. What did you have for lunch?

3. What will you do this weekend?

4. What kind of music do you like?

5. What happened at the meeting?

6. What is your opinion on the new policy?

7. What are you reading right now?

8. What did you buy at the store?

9. What will the weather be like tomorrow?

10. What are your plans for the summer?

Where

"Where questions ask for information about places or locations. For example, "Where do

you live?" or "Where did you go on vacation? A common mistake is to confuse "where"

with "when," especially for events. For example, asking "Where is the party?" instead of

"When is the party? Other correct uses include "Where is the conference?" and "Where

did you find that book? By making sure you use "where" to ask about the location, you

can avoid these common mistakes.

Examples:

1. Where is the nearest supermarket?

2. Where did you go on your last vacation?

3. Where will you be for the holidays?

4. Where do you live?

5. Where is the meeting being held?

6. Where can I find a good restaurant?

7. Where were you born?

8. Where does she work?

9. Where are you going?

10. Where did you buy that dress?

When

"When" is used to ask about time. Questions such as "When is your birthday?" or "When

did you start working here?" are examples of its use. A common mistake is to use "when"

instead of "what time" for specific time-related questions, such as "What time is the

meeting?", which may be more accurate as "What time is the meeting? Other examples

include "What time will you arrive?" and "What time did the event start? Precision in time-

based questions increases clarity and reduces ambiguity.

Example:

1. When is your birthday?

2. When did you graduate from college?

3. When will the movie start?

4. When do you usually wake up?

5. When is the next bus arriving?

6. When are you going on vacation?

7. When was the last time you visited your hometown?

8. When does the store close?

9. When will you finish your work?

10. When did you move to this city?

Why

"Why questions seek to understand reasons or causes. Examples include "Why do you

study English?" or "Why did the project fail? Misuse of "why" can occur when it is

substituted for other WH words that change the intent of the question. For example,

"Why is the sky blue?" versus "What makes the sky blue? In this case, "why" seeks the

reason, while "what" seeks an explanation. Other correct examples are "Why are they

changing the schedule?" and "Why did you choose this career? Always focus on

understanding the motives or reasons.

Example:
1. Why is the sky blue?

2. Why did you choose this career?

3. Why will you attend this seminar?

4. Why are you late?

5. Why did they cancel the event?

6. Why do you like this song?

7. Why is he upset?

8. Why are you studying English?

9. Why did she leave early?

10. Why is this project important?

Conclusion

WH questions are an integral part of effective communication, and each has a different

purpose. Who" identifies people, "what" seeks information about things or actions,

"where" asks about place, "when" asks about time, and "why" delves into reasons. To
master their use, it is necessary to recognize their specific functions and avoid common

mistakes, such as confusing them with similar WH words. The correct use of these

questions not only increases the clarity of the conversation, but also enriches the

command of the language and promotes interaction and understanding.

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