Question words – 23 Common Grammar Topics in the Cambridge Starters Exam

Question words also called interrogative words, are used to ask questions and gather specific information. They are often called “Wh-words” because most of them start with “wh.” and help to ask about things like people, places, times, reasons, methods, quantity, possession and more.
Here’s a breakdown of the most common question words: What; Who; Whom; Where; When; Why; Which; How; How much; How many; How often; How far; How long; How old; How come; Whose; What kind (of); What time; What for

Question Basic Structure: Question Word + Auxiliary Verb (be/do/have/modals) + Subject + Main Verb
This pattern helps you frame questions clearly by placing the auxiliary verb before the subject.

🔴 What: Used to ask for information about things, objects, or activities. Focus: Something unspecified.
🎨 What is your favorite color to use when you paint pictures with watercolors?
🛍️ What did you buy from the store that you mentioned earlier this afternoon?
📱 What is that device on your desk? Is it a new smartphone or tablet?
🛠️ What tools did you use to fix the broken cabinet in your living room?
🏃‍♂️ What did you do at the gym today to improve your overall fitness level?
🎓 What are you planning to study this evening for your upcoming final exams?

🔴 Who: Used to ask about a person or people (the subject). Focus: People.
🧑‍🏫 Who is teaching the math class today in Mr. Johnson’s absence at school?
🎤 Who sang the national anthem during the opening ceremony at the football match last night?
🕵️ Who solved the mystery of the missing necklace in the detective story we read yesterday?
🏆 Who won the championship title in the tennis tournament last weekend at the sports center?

🔴 Whom: More formal, used to ask about the object of a verb (the person receiving the action). Focus: Object of the action (people).
🎓 Whom did the professor select for the prestigious research program last semester at the university?
📞 Whom should I contact if there are any issues regarding the delivery of my package?
🏆 Whom did the team nominate as the best player in the championship match last weekend?
🎤 Whom would you recommend as the keynote speaker for the upcoming international conference on technology?

🔴 Where: Used to ask about a place or location. Focus: Place.
⏩ To ask about a place (general location)
📍 Where did you leave your keys when you entered the house this morning?
🏖️ Where are we planning to go for the vacation next summer?
🏬 Where is the nearest shopping mall from our current location in the city?
⏩ To ask about a specific point in a process or journey
🚗 Where are you going to stop for fuel during your road trip to the countryside?
✈️ Where should we board the plane when we arrive at the airport for our flight?
🚢 Where does the ship anchor when it reaches the port after a long voyage?
⏩ To ask about origins or background
🌍 Where does this ancient artifact come from, and what is its historical significance?
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Where is your family originally from, and how long have they lived in this country?
🍽️ Where did you learn to cook such delicious dishes with those unique flavors?

🔴 When: Used to ask about time. Focus: Time (past, present, or future).
🕰️ When did you last visit your grandparents during the summer holiday in 2024?
📅 When was the final exam for your history class held in the previous semester?
✈️ When did you first fly on a plane for your trip to another country?
🏢 When is your meeting scheduled to begin at the office today?
🎉 When are we celebrating your birthday this week with friends and family?
⏰ When is the right time to start working on your new project this month?
🏖️ When will you go on vacation with your family to the beach next summer?
🚗 When are you planning to drive to the city for the conference next Friday?
🎶 When will the new music album be released by your favorite artist next month?

🔴 Why: Used to ask for the reason or cause of something. Focus: Reason or cause.
🔍 Why did you cancel the trip to the mountains if everything was already planned out?
📚 Why are the students studying so late at night instead of sleeping for the exam tomorrow?
🍽️ Why didn’t you eat breakfast this morning when you know it’s the most important meal of the day?

🔴 Which: Used when there is a choice between a limited number of options. Focus: Specific choice from a set.
⏩ Choosing between a limited number of options
🎨 Which color do you prefer for the living room, blue or green, for a calm feel?
📚 Which of the two books do you want to borrow, the novel or the biography?
🍽️ Which dish would you like to order tonight, the pasta or the grilled salmon?
⏩ Choosing from a specific set of items
🛒 Which product would you recommend, the budget phone or the premium one with more features?
🚗 Which car model is better for a long road trip, the sedan or the SUV?
🎒 Which backpack is more suitable for hiking, the lightweight one or the durable one with extra space?

🔴 How: Used to ask about the manner, condition, or way something happens. Focus: Manner, condition, or method.
⏩ Asking about Manner (How something is done)
🛠️ How did you fix the broken chair in such a short time yesterday?
🚴 How do you ride a bicycle so smoothly on rough roads?
🎤 How does she sing so beautifully during live performances without any technical help?
⏩ Asking about Condition (The state or quality of something)
🏥 How is your mother feeling after the surgery last week?
🌿 How are the plants growing in the garden after the recent heavy rain?
🧑‍💻 How is your project progressing now that the main tasks are complete?
⏩ Asking about Method (The way or process something is done)
📦 How do you pack so many items into a single small box efficiently?
💻 How do you troubleshoot technical issues when the computer won’t start?
📚 How did you manage to complete all your homework in just one evening?

🔴 How much: Used to ask about the quantity of uncountable nouns (e.g., money, water, time).
🍚 How much rice do you need for the meal? We need to cook it carefully.
💧 How much water is left in the bottle? We should refill it before going outside.
🕒 How much time do we have until the event starts? We need to prepare quickly.
⏳ How much time do we need to finish the project? The deadline is approaching fast.
🍯 How much honey do you put in your tea? It adds a lot of sweetness.
🎨 How much paint is needed to finish the wall? We must buy more to complete it.
💼 How much work do you have left today? It seems like you’ve been busy all morning.
📚 How much information did you gather for the project? We need enough for the presentation.
🌧️ How much rain is expected today? The forecast mentioned heavy showers throughout the afternoon.
💰 How much money should we save each month? Having a plan helps with financial stability.

🔴 How many: Used to ask about the quantity of countable nouns (e.g., books, people).
🌟 How many stars can you see in the sky on a clear night in the countryside?
📚 How many books have you read this month from your library’s reading challenge list?
🚌 How many buses pass through this station every morning during the rush hour traffic period?
🏀 How many basketballs do we need for the sports event at school next Saturday afternoon?
🍎 How many apples are left in the basket after everyone took their share during lunch?
🧳 How many suitcases did you pack for the family vacation to the beach this summer holiday?
🎟️ How many tickets should I buy for the concert if we are inviting five more people?
🎂 How many cakes are you planning to order for the birthday party next weekend at the park?
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 How many people are attending the family reunion this weekend at the community center downtown?

🔴 How often: Asking about frequency.
🌞 How often do you visit your grandparents during the summer holidays for a family gathering?
🏋️ How often does your gym instructor recommend doing cardio exercises to stay in good shape?
🎬 How often do you watch movies on the weekends with your friends at the cinema?
📚 How often should you study English every day to improve your grammar and vocabulary skills?
✈️ How often do you travel by airplane for business meetings in different cities around the world?

🔴 How far: Asking about distance.
🚶‍♂️ How far do we have to walk to reach the park from this street?
🚌 How far is the bus station from the hotel? Should we take a taxi there?
🚗 How far can we drive before needing to stop for fuel on this long road trip?
🚀 How far is the moon from the Earth? It’s about 384,400 kilometers away in space.
🏞️ How far is the waterfall from the campsite? It looks like a one-hour hike ahead.

🔴 How long: Used to ask about the duration or length of time.
🌞 How long will you stay at the beach for your vacation this summer?
🕰️ How long does it take to drive from your house to the nearest train station?
🎶 How long have you been learning to play the piano with your teacher every week?
🍂 How long will autumn last this year before winter arrives in our town?
📚 How long do you plan to study at the library before the big exam tomorrow?

🔴 How old: Used to ask about someone’s age.
🌟 How old is your grandmother, and is she still able to go hiking regularly?
🎂 How old will you be when you finally finish your university studies in two years?
👶 How old was your baby when they first learned to crawl across the room?

🔴 How come: Informally used to ask about the reason or cause, similar to “Why.”
🍔 How come you didn’t eat your lunch today? Wasn’t it your favorite meal?
📅 How come the meeting was canceled at the last minute without any notice to us?
🏖️ How come you didn’t join us for the trip? The weather was perfect at the beach!
🎓 How come you didn’t apply for the scholarship? You had all the required qualifications.
🏠 How come you are moving to a new apartment? I thought you loved your current place.

🔴 Whose: Used to ask about possession.
🎒 Whose backpack is this on the table? I think someone left it behind.
🐕 Whose dog is barking outside? It has been making noise for the past hour.
🖋️ Whose pen did you borrow for the exam? I need to return it after the test.
📱 Whose phone is ringing during the meeting? Please turn it off immediately.
👓 Whose glasses are these on the desk? I think someone forgot them after class.

🔴 What kind (of): Used to ask about types or categories of something.
🌳 What kind of tree grows in your garden during the winter season near the fence?
🍔 What kind of food do you usually order when you visit the restaurant downtown?
🎵 What kind of music helps you relax when you’re feeling stressed after a long day?
🏡 What kind of house do you prefer to live in, a modern villa or a countryside cottage?
🐕 What kind of dog breeds are suitable for families with small children and limited space?

🔴 What time: Used to ask about the specific time.
⏰ What time does the train arrive at the station tomorrow morning? We need to plan.
🕒 Can you tell me what time the meeting starts? I don’t want to be late.
🎥 What time is the movie showing tonight? I’d like to go see it with friends.
📅 Do you know what time the doctor’s appointment is scheduled for next Monday afternoon?
🚌 What time does the bus leave for the airport? I need to catch an early flight.

🔴 What for: Used to ask for the purpose of something (often informal).
🎒 What did you bring that heavy backpack for? We’re only going on a short trip.
🛠 What are you using this tool for? It doesn’t seem to fit the task.
🏠 What is the extra room in your house for? Is it a guest bedroom?
📦 What did you order so many boxes for? Are you moving to a new place?
🧰 What are these screws for? I thought you didn’t need any more for the project.