Understanding WH-Words
WH-words are question words that introduce questions. They help us seek specific information. Here are the most common ones:
* Who: Used to ask about people.
* What: Used to ask about things, actions, or ideas.
* Where: Used to ask about location.
* When: Used to ask about time.
* Why: Used to ask about reason or cause.
* How: Used to ask about manner or method.
* Which: Used to ask about a choice or selection from a group.
* Whose: Used to ask about possession.
Rules for Transforming Statements into WH-Questions
1. Identify the Information You Want to Ask About:
* Example: Statement: The dog is chasing the cat.
* What do you want to know? Who is chasing the cat? What is the dog doing? Where is the dog chasing the cat?
2. Choose the Appropriate WH-Word:
* Example: *Who* is chasing the cat?
3. Invert the Subject and Verb:
* Example: Is *who* chasing the cat?
4. Add the Rest of the Statement:
* Example: *Who is chasing the cat*?
Important Notes:
* Question Mark: Always end your WH-question with a question mark.
* Auxiliary Verbs: If the original statement uses an auxiliary verb (e.g., is, are, was, were, have, has, do, does, did), it's usually moved before the subject.
* Word Order: The WH-word often comes at the beginning of the question, followed by the auxiliary verb, the subject, and then the rest of the statement.
Examples
Statement: The students are studying in the library.
* Who: Who is studying in the library?
* What: What are the students doing?
* Where: Where are the students studying?
* When: When are the students studying?
* Why: Why are the students studying in the library?
Practice Makes Perfect!
The best way to master this is to practice. Try turning different statements into questions using various WH-words.