Open questions (Wh-)

A1 Beginner

Open questions use question words to ask for specific information rather than a simple yes or no answer. They typically begin with words like what, where, when, who, why, and how.

Overview

Open questions, also known as wh- questions, allow the speaker to find out new information. Unlike closed questions, which only require a yes or no, these questions require a full answer containing a fact, a place, a person, or a reason.

What asks about things or actions.
Where asks about places.
Who asks about people.
How asks about the way something is done.

Form

Wh- word + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb?

In most cases, the question word comes first, followed by an auxiliary verb (like do, does, or is/are), then the subject and the main verb.

Examples

Common mistakes

Where you live?
Where do you live?
In English, you must include the auxiliary verb 'do' for most verbs in the present simple.
What is the time?
What time is it?
When asking about the time, 'it' is the necessary subject for the sentence.

Open vs. Closed Questions

Closed questions check if something is true, while open questions ask for new details.

Question Type	Example	Expected Answer
Closed (Yes/No)	Do you like coffee?	Yes, I do. / No, I don't.
Open (Wh-)	What do you like to drink?	I like tea and orange juice.

Practice

Complete the question: '____ is the bathroom?' (Asking for a location)
Show answer
Where
Answer:Where
Why:'Where' is the correct question word used to ask about locations or places.
Rearrange the words: 'do / what / want / you / ?'
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What do you want?
Answer:What do you want?
Why:The wh-word 'what' starts the sentence, followed by the auxiliary 'do', the subject 'you', and the verb 'want'.
Choose the correct word: '____ is that man?' 'He is my teacher.'
Show answer
Who
Answer:Who
Why:'Who' is used when the answer refers to a person.