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Activities: “What words do we use to ask questions in English?”

By: Erin Kuester
Associated Articles

These activities are part of our English Grammar series. The skills we are practicing here are covered in our article:

Activity 1: Which interrogative word?

Each of the questions below is missing an interrogative word - either an interrogative pronoun, adjective, or adverb. Use the list below to remember the options:

Interrogative pronouns
Interrogative adjectives
Interrogative adverbs

  • who

  • whom

  • whose

  • what

  • which

  • whose

  • what

  • which

  • why

  • when

  • where

  • how

Complete the sentences. You can use the words more than once, and you do not need to use all of them.

  • teaches your physics class?

  • color is your new sweater?

    → If there are only a small number of possible colors (e.g. red, blue, or purple) we would say which color, but without context we assume that any color is possible.

  • will the bus arrive?

    → Technically how, where, and why are also possible, but when is the most likely.

  • did you choose that restaurant for dinner?

    → Technically, how and when are also possible here, but why is the most likely.

  • should we leave for the party?

    → Technically, why is possible too, but when is the most likely.

  • Twelve teams competed in the tournament last year. won the championship?

    → We use which and not what because the number of teams is limited.

  • dirty dishes are in the sink? Please clean them!

    → Technically, which is also possible, but it is less likely.

  • To should I send the email?

    → We do not use who here because the interrogative comes directly after a preposition (to).

  • wants to go shopping with me?

  • are you doing this weekend?

  • is the nearest grocery store?

    → What and which are also acceptable, depending on the context.

  • were they late for the meeting?

    → Technically, how or when are also acceptable, but why is more likely.

  • This isn’t my book. is it?

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