Pre-elementary Study Book 2nd edition

Unit 12 – interrogatives

What are those? …

We use ‘Who?’ for …

Buying ice-cream

Susan

What do you want to do now?

Peter

It’s very hot. Where can we get an ice-cream?

Susan

There are three ice-cream shops in this street.

Peter

Which one is best?

Susan

I don’t know. What kind of ice-cream do you want?

Peter

I want a cone with chocolate chip.

Susan

I think they’re all the same, but who knows?

Peter

I’ll get them here. What kind do you want?

Susan

Strawberry in a cup please.

Peter

How many scoops do you want?

Susan

Just one please.

Peter

Here you are.

Susan

Thank you. How much was it? I’ll give you the money.

Peter

That’s okay, it’s my treat.

Susan

That’s very kind of you.

what are interrogatives?

An interrogative is a word that introduces a question which can’t be answered with ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

Interrogatives are sometimes called question words because of how they’re used, or wh- words because of their starting letters: who, what, where, when, why, which, … and how). 

who?

Used to ask which person or people.

Who sent that email?
Do you know who did this?
Who wants ice-cream?

where?

Used to ask about a place or location.

Where do you live?
Do you know where Peter is?
Where are my sunglasses?

what kind of?

Used to ask about the type or style of something.

What kind of work do you do?
What kind of food do you like?
What kind of cheese is this?

how much?

Used to ask about an amount or quantity of something with uncountable nouns. Or to ask the price of something.

How much did you pay him?
How much did you drink last night?
How much time do we have?
How much is this shirt?

what?

Used to ask about an action or thing(s). (See Unit 6)

What is that?
Do you know what he said?
What do you want to do today?

which?

Used to offer a choice of two or more things. (See Unit 6)

They have vanilla and strawberry. Which do you want?
Which car are we going in?
There is an Italian restaurant, a Thai, a Japanese and a Chinese. Which do you prefer?

whose?

Used to ask about ownership.

Whose book is this?
Whose idea was it to eat here?
Whose house is that?

how many?

Used to ask about an amount or quantity of something with plural countable nouns.

How many days are there in April?
How many books did you buy?
How many countries have you visited?
How many pieces of cake do you want?

Make your own questions – your answers will be different

  1. Who is your best friend?
  2. What do you do on Saturdays?
  3. Where do you work?
  4. How much does this bag cost?
  5. What kind of phone is that?
  1. Which movies do you like?
  2. Whose phone is that?
  3. How many languages can you speak?
  4. Who is your favourite actor?