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English language
Interrogative words
Wh-question and other question words:
what, where, when, why, how many, how much (money,) how much (amount,) what time, how long (time,) how long (length,) who, which
Question Word
​
what






what...for



when



where


which



who



whom




whose



why





why don't



how​





how + adj/adv




how far




how long



how many


​
how much




how old


how come (informal)
Example
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What is your name?






What did you do that for?



When did he leave?



Where do they live?



Which colour do you want?



Who opened the door?



Whom did you see?



Whose are these keys?
Whose turn is it?



Why do you say that?




Why don't I help you?




How does this work?

How was your exam?



see examples below




How far is Pattaya from Bangkok?


How long will it take?




How many cars are there?



How much money do you have?



How old are you?


How come I can't see her?
Function
​
asking for information about something
​
asking for repetition or confirmation


asking for a reason, asking why


asking about time
​
asking in or at what place or position​
​
​

asking about choice


asking what or which person or people (subject)



asking what or which person or people (object)


asking about ownership




asking for reason, asking what...for



making a suggestion




asking about manner

asking about condition or quality


asking about extent or degree



distance



length (time or space)




quantity (countable)



quantity (uncountable)




age


asking for reason, asking why
Most English interrogative words can take the suffix -ever, to form words such as whatever and wherever. (An older form of the suffix is -soever, as in whomsoever.) Which is different case than this one.
How to make questions with auxiliary verbs?
We use the auxiliary verbs: to be, to do and to have to make questions, whenever there are no question words, to ask questions, by placing the auxiliary verb at the beginning of the question.
E.g.s.
I do------------Do I?
You have-----------Have you?
He is---------- Is he?
1) Yes/No questions -"to be"
We always use the short answer, not only "Yes" or "No".
This sounds rude!