Wh-words and questions with them

Dear students,

Last Thursday we started learning different types of questions and wh-words (or question words). Here is more information to review this grammar. I've also posted some exercises for you to practice it.
I hope you like it.
Good luck and have fun.

Irena

Basic types of questions

There are 3 basic types of question:

1. Yes/No Questions - the answer to the question is "Yes" or "No"
2. Wh- Questions - the answer to the question is "Information"
3. Choice Questions ("or" questions) - the answer to the question is "in the question"; you are given a choice of two or three different things

1. Yes/No Questions

auxiliary verb	subject	main verb		Answer Yes or No
Do	you	work	here?	No, I don’t.
Does	she	read	a lot?	Yes, she does.
Can	you	drive	me home?	No, I can't.
Can	he	help	me?	Yes, he can.
Is	Anne		French?	Yes, she is.
Was	Marc		at home?	No, he wasn't.
Are	you		single?	Yes, I am.
Were	you		at home yesterday?	No, I wasn’t.
Is	he	reading	a book?	Yes, he is.
Are	you	studying	English?	No, I’m not.

2. Wh- Questions

question word	auxiliary verb	subject	main verb		Answer Information
Where	do	you	live?		In Paris.
Where	does	your sister	work?		At the bookstore.
Who	knows			the answer?	I do.
Who	is		calling?		Your friend.
Where	is			Bombay?	In India.
How	was	your day?			Great.
What	are	we	having	for lunch?	Fish and vegetables.

 

3. Choice Questions ("or" questions)

auxiliary verb	subject	main verb		OR		Answer In the question
Do	you	want	tea	or	coffee?	Coffee, please.
Does	he	run	fast	or	slowly?	Fast.
Is	your car		white	or	black?	It’s white.
Are	these shoes		$15	or	$50?	They are $50.
Is	she	reading	a magazine	or	a newspaper?	A newspaper.

REMEMBER:

What? - it's about a thing or an object.
Who? - it's about a person or people.
When? - it's about time (days, dates, months, years).
Where? - it's about a place or location.
Why? - It's about a reason.
How? - it's about manner.

Let's talk about wh-words again. In class we've already talked about the meaning of each of these words. I'd like you to review all of them and memorize.

As you remember, wh-words start with 2 letters - "wh". That's where their name came from. We use question words to ask certain types of questions. We often call them wh-words because they include the letters wh- (for example why, how).

First, watch this video. It will help you to remember question words.

Here is another video with a lot of wh-questions. Listen and learn how to ask such questions.

Question Word	Function	Example
what	asking for information about something	What is your name?
	asking for repetition or confirmation	What? I can't hear you. You did what?
	asking for additional information o description	What kind of car do your drive?
what...for	asking for a reason, asking why	What did you do that for?
when	asking about time	When did he leave?
where	asking in or at what place or position	Where do they live?
which	asking about choice	Which color do you want?
who	asking what or which person or people (subject)	Who opened the door?
whom	asking what or which person or people (object)	Whom did you see?
whose	asking about ownership	Whose are these keys? Whose turn is it?
why	asking for reason, asking what...for	Why do you say that?
why don't	making a suggestion	Why don't I help you?
how	asking about manner	How does this work?
	asking about condition or quality	How was your exam?
how + adj/adv	asking about extent or degree	see examples below
how far	distance	How far is Washington, DC from New York?
how long	length (time or space)	How long will it take?
how many	quantity (countable)	How many cars are there?
how much	quantity (uncountable)	How much money do you have?
how old	age	How old are you?
how come (informal)	asking for reason, asking why	How come I can't see her?

Now, do some exercises, please.

Exercise 1 

Exercise 2 

Exercise 3 

Exercise 4 

Exercise 5

Now, watch this video and listen carefully.

So, did you learn some question words?

What words did you learn?

 

Please, watch this video and practice.

Here are some exercises. Please do them:

#1

#2

#3

#4 

Now do you know how to ask questions 
with question words?

I hope you do!

To check yourselves, please, take a quiz:

Quiz

Now, you know everything about question words!

Valentine's Day

Every February 14, across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. Valentine's Day is a special day for lovers and sweethearts. They exchange gifts such as candy, flowers, jewelry, books and clothing. On this day children also give cards and gifts to their parents, grandparents oe even teachers.

In some elementary schools there could be parties. Children give each other a small Valentine card, called "valentine".

So St. Valentine's Day is a spacial day. But who was this mysterious saint, and where did these traditions come from? Find out about the history of this centuries-old holiday, from ancient Roman rituals to the customs of Victorian England.



Saint Valentine's Day, simply called Valentine's Day, is always on February 14th. People in many countries around the world celebrate Valentine's Day, but it remains a working day in all of them. Valentine's Day is not a public holiday. Government offices, stores, schools and other organizations are open as usual. Public transit systems run on their regular schedule. Restaurants may be busier than usual as many people go out for an evening with their spouse or partner. Valentine's Day is also a very popular date for weddings.

The original "St. Valentine" was a celebration of one of the Christian saints named Valentinus. This day first became associated with romantic love. By the 15th century lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers and sending greeting cards known as "valentines". So the "valentine" is a special card for Valentine's Day with a message of love and a picture of a red heart which is a modern Valentine's Day symbol. The symbols also include doves and the figure of the Cupid.

In Roman mythology, Cupid is a God of of desire, affection and love that is usually portrayed as a small winged figure with a bow and arrow. In mythology, he uses his arrow to strike the hearts of people. People who have fallen in love are sometimes said to be 'struck by Cupid's arrow.



Cupid is also known in Latin as Amor ("Love") or in Greek mythilogy - Erotes (Eros). In Roman mythology Cupid was the son of Venus (goddess of love) and Mars (god of war). In the 15th century, singing and spoken "valentines" were slowly replaced by written letters in Europe. The first written "valentine" is credited to Charles, the Duke of Orleans, who wrote love poems to his wife while he was in prison in 1415. By the beginning of the 16th century, valentines were almost always written. 

In the 1800s valentines were made by factory workers. Black and white pictures were painted by the workers in the early part of the century. By the end of the 1800s, the cards were made by machines. These cards were elaborately decorated with gold leaf, satin, lace and flowers. In 1840, the first mass produced valentine's cards where made in America. Esther Howland, who sold $5,000 worth of the cards in her first year, created them. Since the 19th century, some companies started producing greeting cards for Valentine's Day.

Here is a Valentine's Day conversation. Please, watch this video and listen carefully.



Here is a video about how to make some Valentine's Day chocolate. Watch, listen and have fun!



HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!