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Question words find the missing piece — Language, 7–10 years

Use who, what, where, when, why and how to ask for the exact information you need. Language, 7–10 years.

Each question word points somewhere

Question words tell the listener what kind of answer is missing. “Who” asks about a person, “where” about a place, “when” about a time, and “why” about a reason. “What” asks about a thing or idea, while “how” asks about a way or method.

Why ask a precise question?

A vague question can give a reply that is true but not useful. If you ask “Did you see it?”, the listener may not know whether you mean a bird, a film or a book. Question words save time by showing exactly which gap in your knowledge needs filling.

Repairing a mixed-up question

Suppose you need to know the time of a train. “Who does the train leave?” uses a person word, so it points the wrong way. Change “who” to “when”: “When does the train leave?” The answer can now be “At 10:15.”

“Why” is not “what happened”

People often ask “why?” when they really want the event: “Why did the glass break?” can mean “What happened to break it?” This is reasonable because causes and events are connected. Still, “why” asks for a reason; “what happened?” asks for the event.

Questions help you get things done

You use question words when following a recipe, finding a bus or solving a mystery. “What do I need?”, “How do I do it?” and “Where does it go?” turn confusion into a plan. A good question is often the quickest route to useful help.

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