Content code
a0010
Slug (identifier)
question-words
Parent content
Grades
Primaire 3
Primaire 4
Primaire 5
Primaire 6
Secondaire 1
Secondaire 2
Topic
Anglais
Content
Contenu
Content
Corps
A question word is a type of word placed at the beginning of a question. It indicates the type of information the person asking the question is looking for.
Title (level 2)
Question Words List & Meanings
Title slug (identifier)
question-words-list-meanings
Contenu
Image
Description
Visit the questions page to learn more on how to use question words.
File
Question Words Vocabulary List - downloadable
Texte bouton
Click to download.
Contenu
Title
Click to listen to the Question Words
Content
Sons
Title
Who
Son
Who.mp3 (35.71 KB)
Title
What
Son
What.mp3 (40.82 KB)
Title
Where
Son
Where.mp3 (43.88 KB)
Title
When
Son
When.mp3 (41.84 KB)
Title
Why
Son
Why.mp3 (46.94 KB)
Title
How
Son
how.mp3 (45.92 KB)
Title
How many
Son
How many.mp3 (45.92 KB)
Title
How much
Son
how much.mp3 (51.02 KB)
Title
Which
Son
Which.mp3 (41.84 KB)
Title
Whose
Son
Whose.mp3 (42.86 KB)
Corps
How many vs. how much
| How many | how much | |
| Countable? | yes | no |
| To ask for a quantity | Represented by a number, something that can be counted. | Represented by a word or a number with a measuring unit. |
Adding a word for additional information
You can also add a noun to how many and how much for context, to make the question clearer.
Contenu
Title
Click to see examples.
Content
Corps
| Question | Possible answers |
| How many times did you watch that movie? → Added noun: times → Asking for number of times | At least 20. |
| Once or twice. | |
| Too many times to count. | |
| How many cookies are left? → Added noun: cookies → Asking for number of cookies | 12. |
| None. | |
| Not enough to share, sorry. | |
| How many people were there? → Added noun: people → Asking for number of people | Around 50. |
| I counted 42. | |
| The place was jampacked | |
| How much time is left in the movie? → Added noun: time → Asking for time measurement | 20 minutes or so. |
| We’re about halfway through. | |
| More than I can handle. | |
| How much popcorn did you eat? → Added noun: popcorn → Asking for food quantity measurement | About half a large bag. |
| Just a few flakes. | |
| Maybe a little too much. | |
| How much did you pay for the popcorn? → Verb to pay implies price, money. → Asking for price measurement | 15 bucks. |
| As much as the movie ticket itself! | |
| More than I wanted to. |
Corps
Should I use what or which?
| Used when | What | Which |
| The number of options are | Unlimited | Limited |
| Too numerous to count | Clearly identified | |
| Unknown, not specified | Clearly stated, specified |
Contenu
Title
Click to see examples.
Content
Corps
| Question | The answer is about |
| What animal is your favourite? | Any animal you can remember or imagine. |
| Which animal is your favourite? | An animal from a limited number of options. |
| What colour will you use? | One of the numerous colours available. Ex: a 100-marker set |
| Which colour will you use? | One of the smaller numbers of colours available. Ex: an 8-marker set |
| What food do you like best? | Any food, of any type, from anywhere. |
| Which food do you like best? | Food from a specified selection, type, origin… |
Title (level 3)
Exercise
Title slug (identifier)
exercise
Title (level 2)
Advanced Question Words Vocabulary
Title slug (identifier)
advanced-question-words-vocabulary
Contenu
Text
Table of content
Links
Type
Anchor
Title
Using “How” With Another Word
Anchor
using-how-with-another-word
Type
Anchor
Title
Using “What,” “Which” & “Whose” With Another Word
Anchor
using-what-which-whose-with-another-word
Type
Anchor
Title
Advanced Question Words Vocabulary Exercise
Anchor
advanced-question-words-vocabulary-exercise
Title (level 3)
Using “How” With Another Word
Title slug (identifier)
using-how-with-another-word
Corps
How can be used with another word to make a question more specific.
Words added to how are usually adjectives or adverbs.
You can use any adjective or adverb in combination with how, as long as it makes sense in the context of the question.
Contenu
Title
Click to see examples.
Content
Corps
| Question | Asking for |
| How old is this forest? | The age of the forest |
| How long was your walk? | The duration of the walk (time) or length of the walk (measurement) |
| How tall was the creature? | Height of the creature |
| How high can the creature jump? | Distance from the ground the creature can jump |
| How big was the sasquatch you saw? | The size of the creature |
| How fast did you run away? | The speed of the escape |
| How heavy is the creature? | The weight of the creature |
| How far did you run? | The running distance |
| How soon are you going back? | The duration of the wait before going again |
| How often have you seen it? | The number of times it was seen |
Title (level 3)
Using “What,” “Which” & “Whose” With Another Word
Title slug (identifier)
using-what-which-whose-with-another-word
Corps
What, which and whose can be used with another word to create a more specific question.
Words added to them are nouns.
You can use any noun in combination with what, which and whose, as long as it makes sense in the context the question is used.
The difference between using what or which
| Implies the question is about | |
| What + noun | an unlimited, very numerous, unknown or unspecified number of options |
| Which + noun | a limited or a clearly stated, identified or specific number of options. |
Contenu
Title
Click to see examples.
Content
Corps
| Question | Asking for |
| What time does class start? | A precise moment, a specific time. |
| What kind of food is your favourite? | To ask for a category, a classification. It can be any kind of food. |
| What sort of job are you looking for? | To ask for a category, a classification. It can be any type of job. |
| What day is you panio lesson? | To ask for a specific day or date. It can be any day. |
| What size do you wear? | To ask about dimension or scale. It can be any day. |
| Which colour should I choose? | To ask for a colour choice in a limited or predefined number of options. |
| Which one is better? | To ask for a choice of a single item when the options are obvious. Can also be used in the plural. |
| Which option will you pick? | To ask for a choice between a limited number of options to choose from. |
| Whose turn is it? | To ask about the position in a sequence, like in a game or discussion. |
| Whose book is this? | To ask about the ownership of the object. |
| Whose house is the closest? | To ask for the ownership of the place or to identify the owner of the place. |
Title (level 3)
Advanced Question Words Vocabulary Exercise
Title slug (identifier)
advanced-question-words-vocabulary-exercise
Title (level 2)
See Also
Title slug (identifier)
see-also
Contenu
Links
Type
External
Title
Questions
Type
Internal
Title
Countable & Uncountable Nouns
Remove audio playback
No
Printable tool
Off