QUESTION WORDS EXERCISE 3: MIXED PRACTICE

A2–B1 · Intermediate

Choosing a question word starts with recognizing what information the answer supplies. This exercise reviews who, what, where, when, and why in short question-and-answer exchanges. Need a refresher? Review the grammar ↓

Complete each question (to correspond with the given answer) using Who, What, Where, When, or Why.
EXAMPLE: A: He laughed because the joke was funny. Q: Why did the man laugh?

Finished all three? Try How Questions →, or review Exercise 1.

Grammar review The five core question words: who, what, where, when, why

This exercise brings together the five question words you'll use most, each one built to ask about a different piece of information.

Who asks about a person: Who left this jacket here?
What asks about a thing or action: What are you cooking?
Where asks about a place: Where did she park the car?
When asks about a time: When is the concert?
Why asks for a reason: Why is the light on?

How to work through this type of exercise: the answer sentence is your guide. Ask yourself what piece of information the answer is providing: a name or person points to who, an object or event points to what, a location points to where, a time expression points to when, and a cause or justification (often with because) points to why.

Once you're comfortable with all five, you can move on to how and which, which ask different kinds of questions altogether.

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