Unit 2:
1. What is a WH-Question?
2. Types of WH-Questions and t
heir functions
What is a WH-question?
WH-question is a question containing a WH-word, often in initial position, and calling for an item of information to be supplied.E.g.: Where do you live?
I live in Ho Chi Minh City.
Types of WH-Questions
Question word
Functions Examples
What Asking for information about somethingAsking for repetition or confirmation
What is your name?
What? I can’t hear you.
What… for Asking for a reason, asking why
What did you do that for?
When Asking about time When were you born?
Where Asking in/at what place/position
Where are you going?
Which Asking about choice Which color do you want?
Who Asking what/which person or people (Subject)
Who has opened the door?
Types of WH-Questions
Question word
Functions Examples
Whom Asking what or which person or people (object)
Whom did you go to the club with?
Whose Asking about ownership Whose book is it?
Why Asking for reason, what… for
Why do you have to get up early?
How Asking about manner
Asking about condition or quality
How does this machine work?How was your exam?
How far Asking distance How far is it from London to New York?
Types of WH-Questions
Question word
Functions Examples
How long Length (time or space) How long will it take to do this homework?
How many Quantity (countable) How many members are there in your family?
How much Quantity (uncountable) How much money do you have now?
How old Age How old is your sister?
How come(informal)
Asking for reason, asking why
How come I can’t see her these days?