Interrogative words

Last updated on July 8th, 2021 at 07:56 am

Interrogative words or question words are words which are used to ask questions. Those words include what? who? which? when? where? whom? why? whose? and how?

WHAT?

What is used to ask information specifying something.

Examples:
What time is it?
What do you want for dinner?
What does she do at school?

WHO?

It is an interrogative pronoun used to ask questions about people.

Examples:
Who is there?
Who cleans the board today?
Who threw his bag in the river?

WHICH?

Which is used to ask for information specifying one or more people or things from a definite set.

Examples:
Which pen is yours among these?
Which car are we going in?
Which colour do you prefer?
Which girl have you invited to your party?

WHEN?

When means at what time.

Examples:
When do lessons start?
When will you come to visit me?
When does Kalisa arrive at home?

WHERE?

Where means in or to what place or position.

Examples:
Where do you live?
Where are you going to?
Where do those students come from?

WHOM?

It is used to ask questions about people but it should be used to refer to the object of a verb or preposition.

Examples:
Whom do you believe?
To whom was the letter addressed?
Whom is that woman inviting?
Whom does Sarah love?

WHY?

Why means “for what cause, reason, or purpose”

Examples:
Why are you crying?
Why do you study hard?
Why does Emma work day and night?

WHOSE?

It is used to ask the owner of something.

Examples:
Whose books are these?
Whose children are crying?
Whose dog barks every night?

HOW?

How means “in what manner, in what state or to what degree”

Examples:
How do you get to Kabuga?
How are they harvesting those apples?
How have your parents punished you?

How long? How long is used to ask questions about the amount or period (duration) of time.

Examples:
How long do lessons last?
How long have you been waiting for me?
How long will the concert last?

How many? How many is used to know the quantity or amount of something.

Examples:
How many students are in the class right now?
How many lessons do you have?
How many districts are there in Rwanda?

How much? It is used to know quantity of something.

Examples:
How much money did you spend?
How much milk is in the fridge?
How much sugar would you like in your porridge?
How much time does it take to walk to school?

   It can also be used to know the price of something.

Examples:
How much is that painting?
How much are those shoes?
How much is the dress in the window?
How much did your jacket cost?

How old? It is used to know the age of something or someone.

Examples:
How old are you?
How old are those discovered masks?
How old is Cynthia?