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

By: Erin Kuester

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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 , , or . 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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