We can ask questions using the question words who, what, where, when, why, and how. If a question starts with one of these words, it is not a yes/no question.
In this lesson, we will focus on the words what, where, and when.
- “What” asks about a thing.
- “Where” asks about a place.
- “When” asks about a time.
Use this pattern to make a present tense question with a verb.
Question Word + do/does + subject + verb…?
Remember to use “does” if the subject is he, she, it, or one person, one thing, or one animal (not I or You).
After the verb, you can put an infinitive, object, place, or time.
A) What do you want to eat?
B) I want to eat pizza.
A) What does she like to do in her free time?
B) She likes to do yoga in her free time.
A) Where do you live?
B) I live in New York City.
A) Where does he work?
B) He works at some company. I don’t know the name.
A) When do you need to leave?
B) I need to leave now.
A) When does the concert start?
B) The concert starts at 9 p.m.
You can make a negative question in two ways. You can use “do not” and “does not”, but these questions are not common. We do not use them a lot.
- What do you not want to eat?
- Where do you not like to go?
The best way to learn these questions is to see many examples and to practice making questions of your own.
Example Questions
- What do you want to do today?
- What do you need to do this morning?
- What does he do for a living?
- What does he like to drink?
- What does Michael do on the weekend?
- What does she need?
- What does she have to do now?
- What does Erin love to do with her boyfriend?
- What do we need to do today?
- What do we have to do tomorrow?
- What does it do?
- What does it need?
- What do they want to do?
- What do they like to eat?
- What today managers have to talk about at the meeting?
- Where do you live?
- Where do you like to work out?
- Where do we need to go today?
- Where you and I need to take these documents?
- Where does he work?
- Where does he like to hang out?
- Where does Bill want to go this weekend?
- Where does she study?
- Where does she eat breakfast every morning?
- Where does Erin go at night?
- Where does it come from?
- Where does it need to go?
- Where do they want to spend their vacation?
- Where do they have their annual meeting?
- Where do the children play?
- When do you start work?
- When do you exercise?
- When do you need to leave tomorrow?
- When do we want to eat dinner?
- When does he come to the office?
- When does Jon have to go to his doctor’s appointment?
- When does she have to go?
- When does your flight leave?
- When does the concert start?
- When does your vacation begin?
- When does the show start?
- When does the movie end?
- When do they need to finish the report?
- When do the children finish school?
- When do the singers come out?
English Conversation 1
A) Do you want to see some live music tomorrow?
B) Sure. That sounds fun. When does the show start?
A) It starts at 9. It is at Club RX.
B) Alright. Where do you want to meet?
A) Let’s meet in front of the club at 8:30.
B) Okay. See you then.
English Conversation 2
A) Where do you like to go on the weekend?
B) I really like to go to the beach with my friends.
A) That’s cool. What do you do there?
B) We usually hang out, talk, and play in the water. It’s a lot of fun.
A) What do you need to bring?
B) We just bring some towels, water, sunscreen, and a few balls or toys.
Improve your English grammar and learn to speak fluently with this simple practice. Finish the questions below and then practice making your own questions. It is a simple way to learn English.
Tip: Say the questions aloud. This will help you practice speaking English and improve your pronunciation and fluency. It will help your tongue get used to speaking English and making English sounds.
What do you _______________?
What do people in your country _______________?
What does he _______________?
What does your family _______________?
Where do you _______________?
Where does your friend _______________?
When does the movie _______________?
