In English grammar, a wh- word is one of the function words used to begin a wh- question: what, who, whom, whose, which, when, where, why, and how.
Nouns
- what, whatever
- who, whoever
- whom, whomever
Adjectives
- whose
- which, whichever
Adverbs
- when, whenever
- where, wherever
- why
- how, however
While how and however don’t begin with wh-, it is said that these two words should be “treated as honorary members of the wh- family.”
| question word | function | example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| what | asking for information about something | What is your name? |
| asking for repetition or confirmation | What? I can’t hear you. You did what? | |
| what…for | asking for a reason, asking why | What did you do that for? |
| when | asking about time | When did he arrive? |
| where | asking in or at what place or position | Where do they live? |
| which | asking about choice | Which colour do you want? |
| who | asking what or which person or people (subject) | Who opened the door? |
| whom | asking what or which person or people (object) | Whom did you see? |
| whose | asking about ownership | Whose are these keys? Whose turn is it? |
| why | asking for reason, asking what…for | Why do you say that? |
| why don’t | making a suggestion | Why don’t I help you? |
| how | asking about manner | How does this work? |
| asking about condition or quality | How was your exam? | |
| how + adj/adv | asking about extent or degree | |
| how far | distance | How far is Kovalam from Trivandrum city? |
| how long | length (time or space) | How long will it take? |
| how many | quantity (countable) | How many cars are there? |
| how much | quantity (uncountable) | How much money do you have? |
| how old | age | How old are you? |
| how come (informal) | asking for reason, asking why | How come I can’t see her? |