Question words

It's mid morning on a Sunday. Oliver has just got up and is in the kitchen when Daisy comes home. Sophie is in Tanzania for work. 

Instructions

As you watch the video, look at the examples of questions. They are in red in the subtitles. Then read the conversation below to learn more. Finally, do the grammar exercises to check you understand, and can use, questions correctly.

Transcript

Daisy: Hi, I'm home!
Oliver: Hi there, I didn't know you were out. I thought you were still in bed. What have you got that bag for? Where have you been?
Daisy: I've been swimming! This is the new me. No more lying in bed on Sunday mornings. I want to get fit again. It's been a long, lazy summer!
Oliver: Oh yeah? What's all that about? Or rather ... who have you met?
Daisy: No one! I went with a new girl in my class – Amy. She's cool. Anyway, what about you? Why are you having breakfast so late? Who were you out with last night?
Oliver: Would you like some tea? I went to the cinema with Alfie and a couple of others, then we went for a curry in town. It was cool.
Daisy: That sounds like a good night. What did you see?
Oliver: Dale wanted to see that new sci-fi thriller, the one with ... oh, what's his name?
Daisy: I know the film. What was it like?
Oliver: Not bad. The curry afterwards was better though. We had a laugh.
Daisy: Speaking of laughs, do you want to see something funny?
Oliver: Go on then.
Daisy: Tara! What do you think? Does it suit me?
Oliver: What do you look like!!?? Can you get it? It's behind you.
Daisy: Ummm, ah, it's Mum. Hi, Mum! How's Africa?
Sophie: Hi, honey! Africa's very well, thank you! How are you?
Daisy: Haha. You're in Tanzania, aren't you? What's it like?
Sophie: Oh, it’s amazing! Absolutely gorgeous. I'm at the coast now, near Dar-es-Salaam – it's wonderful. And the last few days have been perfect. I've taken so many photos!
Daisy: Yeah? What have you been taking pictures of?
Sophie: Well, I've been to Lake Victoria – incredible, it's as big as a sea and the sunrises, oh, with the fishing boats .... and I've been to Arusha, near Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. They're both snow-capped volcanoes in the north – very impressive – and I've spent two days in the Serengeti National Park.
Daisy: Did you see any lions? Or giraffes? 
Sophie: Oh yes!! And, and ... well, a lot of animals. What an experience! I am so lucky!
Daisy: Did you get many good photos? Stupid question, right?
Sophie: Haha. Yes, hundreds! I'll be home on Monday – shall we get some pizzas and look at my photos? Just the three of us?
Daisy: Yeah, cool! Hey, shall I pass you to Oliver? He's here with me ...
Sophie: OK, thanks love.
Oliver: Hi, Mum ... no, I'm fine! It's just ... no, nothing ... how are you?

We use the question words who (for people), what/which (for things), when (for time), where (for places), why (for reasons) and how (for more details).

What do I need to know about question words?

I know you know the basics, but questions are quite tricky. Let’s just go over the main rules.

We usually form questions by putting an auxiliary verb, or a modal verb, before the subject.

Does it suit me?
Has Mum called?
Can you get the tea?
Shall I pass you to Oliver?

When the verb 'to be' is the main verb, we don’t use auxiliary verbs.

Is Oliver there?
Was it good?

We can add question words to get more or different information.

Where did you go swimming? > In the swimming pool in town.
Why did you go there? > Because it’s a nice, big pool.
Who did you go swimming with? > With Amy.
What time did you meet Amy? > At 10 o’clock.
Which pool did you go in? > The serious one, without the slides!
How did you get there? > On the bus.

I see that questions sometimes finish with prepositions.

Yes, that’s very common.

Who were you out with?
What have you got that bag for?
What’s all that about?
Where are you calling from?

OK, that all seems straightforward.

Yes, but do you know about  subject  and object questions? 

Sorry?

If who, what or which is the subject of the question, it comes before the verb and we don’t use do as an auxiliary.

Who went out for curry? (subject – who)
What happened? (subject – what)
Which looks better, this or that one? (subject – which)

Object questions follow the structure we looked at before.

Who did you go out for curry with? (subject – you; object – who)
Which restaurant does Oliver like most? (subject – Oliver; object – which)
What did they do after the restaurant? (subject – they; object – what)

I think I understand …

Here’s a little test for you, then. A cat killed a mouse and a dog killed the cat.

1 What killed the mouse?
2 What did the cat kill?
3 What killed the cat?
4 What did the dog kill?

OK, 1 the cat, 2 the mouse, 3 the dog, 4 the cat. Right?

Exactly! You’ve got it.

Any more tricky things about question words?

Well in reported speech or indirect questions, question words come in the middle of sentences. In these types of sentence, the word order does not change. We don’t put the verb to be before the subject or use an auxiliary to form a question, as in a normal question:

I asked her what she was doing at the weekend. 
Do you know where the post office is?
Can you tell me how much it costs?

What are you doing at the weekend?
Where is the post office?
How much does it cost?

Hmm, why do you use indirect questions if they are more complicated?

Well, they are more polite, especially if you are talking to a stranger.

OK, I’ll remember to say: 'Do you know where the post office is?'

Good. Can you make that even more polite?

How about: 'Excuse me, could you tell me where the post office is, please?'

Fine! That’ll do. Do you really need a post office?!

 

Discussion

What questions do you like to ask people when you first meet them?

Grammar
Average: 3.8 (13 votes)
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Comments

Submitted by GuadalupeFG on Sat, 09/09/2023 - 02:15

When I meet someone, I usually ask What is your name? How old are you? and What are your hobbies?

Submitted by cherry00 on Sat, 07/30/2022 - 10:31

When I meet someone for the first time I ask: What's your name? Ho old are you? Where are you from? Where do you live? What are your Hobbies?
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Submitted by Capixt on Sat, 06/25/2022 - 01:28

I always ask -> What is your name? -> Who old are you? -> What do you like to do? -> Which type of music do you like?

Submitted by Ema_tavo on Tue, 08/31/2021 - 13:19

I don't usually ask many questions, I just stay with them. If I were to choose some questions though, I would ask "What's your name?" and "How old are you?". I'd ask the other important questions later on.

Submitted by JoaoLuizAguiar on Sat, 08/21/2021 - 10:56

what's your name? how old are you? Where do you live

Submitted by Henrique323232 on Wed, 08/04/2021 - 01:25

I wouldn't ask a thing, that's all. Where is a tennis court.

Submitted by Netinho22 on Wed, 08/18/2021 - 18:26

I like to ask what is your name? How old are you? what is your favorite sport? where are you from? which team do you support?

In reply to by Henrique323232

Submitted by Kel on Wed, 08/04/2021 - 00:09

When i meet new people, i usually ask. What your name? How old are you ? Do you live here ? How life going ?

Submitted by Thiagob on Tue, 08/03/2021 - 23:47

When i meet new people for the first time, i like to ask things like: What's your name? How old are you? What kind of movie do you like? What are your hobbies?

Submitted by julial on Tue, 08/03/2021 - 23:31

when I meet someone I ask: What's your name? How old are you? Where do you live?

Submitted by valeriarocha on Tue, 08/03/2021 - 21:08

I usually use: What's your name? Where do you come from? How old are you?

Submitted by milkshake24 on Tue, 08/03/2021 - 20:28

How are you? Do you like anime? Do you like basketball?

Submitted by guilhermeglauber on Tue, 08/03/2021 - 20:10

Hello how are you. What is your name? Where you are from ? How old are you? Do you like computer games? What kind of music do you like? Do you have any hobbies?

Submitted by carlosferrando on Tue, 08/03/2021 - 20:06

How old are you? Where are you from? What is your name? Where do you live?

Submitted by trakres on Tue, 08/03/2021 - 19:55

just when I meet a person likes to ask what is your name ? where was born ? where do you study ? what do you like to do ? do you practice any sport?

Submitted by Gabeplimplom on Tue, 08/03/2021 - 16:48

When I meet someone I like to ask: how old are you?; what is your name?; what do you like to do?; where are you from?;

Submitted by Kaua_henri_41 on Tue, 08/03/2021 - 15:44

I like to ask: What do you like to do? What's your name? What's your hobbie? What sport do you do?

Submitted by JoseAugustoCH on Tue, 08/03/2021 - 15:18

Hi what's your name ? how old are you ? do you like to do some sport? what do you do in your free time?

Submitted by aluna240505 on Tue, 08/03/2021 - 14:06

I usually ask: Where are you from? What is your name? How old are you?

Submitted by 140306 on Tue, 08/03/2021 - 14:04

What is your name? Where are you from?

Submitted by PedorHugo on Tue, 08/03/2021 - 13:51

When I meet a new person, I ask him what he likes, what he likes to do, if some things are common with me, I will talk about that subject with him.

Submitted by Hilly1357 on Tue, 08/03/2021 - 05:48

When I meet someone I like to ask: what's your name? How old are you? where you are from? what do you like to eat? What would you like to do? I like to ask less invasive questions.

Submitted by Ju_matos on Tue, 08/03/2021 - 04:23

Hi what's your name? How old are you? What do you like to do most? Do you like or practice any sport?

Submitted by Drizinha123 on Tue, 08/03/2021 - 02:59

I like to ask what is your name? How old are you? what is your favorite sport? where are you from? which team do you support?

Submitted by Drizinha123 on Tue, 08/03/2021 - 02:58

I like to ask what is your name? How old are you? what is your favorite sport? where are you from? which team do you support? What is your favorite food?

Submitted by Estudante on Mon, 08/02/2021 - 20:26

When it’s the first time I see the person I ask: What is your name? Where are you from? How old are you? Where did you live before?

Submitted by r4v4 on Sun, 08/01/2021 - 06:24

i like to start by asking what hobbies the person has, musical style, if they have any religion, favorite networks, series they like, age, and then I think the conversation will flow.

Submitted by lanafrancis on Sun, 08/01/2021 - 01:06

First the most common questions like the What is your name? How old are you ? What do you like to do? where are you from? simple and not too invasive questions

Submitted by PHF on Sat, 07/31/2021 - 18:19

I like to ask: How old are you? What's your name? What's your hobbie? Do you like watch something?

Submitted by PHF on Sat, 07/31/2021 - 18:19

I like to ask: How old are you? What's your name? What's your hobbie? Do you like watch something?

Submitted by gustavocanedof on Fri, 07/30/2021 - 22:51

what's your name? where you are from ? where do you study?

Submitted by GabrielGiachini on Fri, 07/30/2021 - 17:47

Hello, my name is Gabriel, I'm from brazil. Do you have a favorite sport?

Submitted by NATY221206 on Fri, 07/30/2021 - 13:17

What questions do you like to ask people when you first meet them? What is your name? and how old are you ? Where are you from?

Submitted by bombom on Fri, 07/30/2021 - 13:07

what's your name? where are you from? how are you? which series and movies you like?

Submitted by DUDAMENDES on Wed, 07/28/2021 - 21:37

What questions do you like to ask people when you first meet them? - What is your name? and how old are you ? - Where are you from ? - What do you like to do in your free time ? - Do you have a brother or sister ? - How long does it take you to get ready in the morning ?

Submitted by gustavomachado on Tue, 07/27/2021 - 22:36

I like to ask if the person is ok and their age. Are you alright? or : how old are you/where do you live?

Submitted by RanielPedrodaSilva on Tue, 07/27/2021 - 22:34

What questions do you like to ask people when you first meet them? I like to ask where she came from which team she supports and age too, and also what she likes to do.

Submitted by JoaoPedroIF on Tue, 07/27/2021 - 22:29

How old are you? What´s your name? What you like to do? Where you are from?

Submitted by Arivelde on Mon, 03/22/2021 - 20:44

I like to ask: Hello, how are you? Excuse me, what did you say that your name was? Do you have any hobbies? How old are you?
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Submitted by Cfvdv on Mon, 03/15/2021 - 18:05

When I meet new people I like to ask: What´s your name? How old are you? How are you? Where are you from? What do you like to do?

Submitted by Didi on Wed, 03/10/2021 - 19:53

What is your name? How are you? How old are you? Where are you fron?

Submitted by Luna on Wed, 08/19/2020 - 08:20

Where are you from ? What music you like ? What is your hobbies ? What's your name ?

Submitted by Sumer2020 on Thu, 06/11/2020 - 10:12

Hello, I would like to ask about the sentence, 'I have been swimming". It is present perfect continues tense, right? but why use it when Daisy already finished her swimming in the video. Could you please explain it?

Submitted by isaascm on Wed, 06/03/2020 - 21:42

Hello!! How are you? What is your name? What are you doing? What sport do you play? Where do you live?

Submitted by BttChiara on Tue, 05/19/2020 - 17:11

When I meet someone for the first time I usually ask him/her: "What's your name?","How old are you?","Where are you from?" or "What are your hobbies?"
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Submitted by Sherry4869 on Fri, 05/15/2020 - 14:15

Hi, nice to meet you. What is your name? How old are you? Where are you from? What sport do you do? What do you like to do? What kinds of books do you like to read? How is your study going? Would you like to be my friend?

Submitted by MatildePace on Thu, 03/26/2020 - 15:27

When I meet a person for the first time I like to ask "what's your name?", "How old are you?", "What do you like to do?" or "what music do you listen to?".

Submitted by Desy on Thu, 03/26/2020 - 13:42

When I meet new people the first questions that I ask are: "What's your name?"; "Where do you live?"; "How old are you?"; "What's your favourite food, singer and sports?"
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