Information Questions — I can ask common information questions (who/what/where/when/how/how much) in simple sentences.

Asking questions is one of the most fundamental acts of human communication, and every known language has developed systematic ways to request specific information from others. In English, this system revolves around a small but powerful set of words that linguists call wh-question words (also known as interrogatives) — who, what, where, when, how, and how much. These words descend from the earliest roots of the English language and have been shaped by centuries of linguistic evolution. Understanding the history of these question words helps us appreciate why English forms questions the way it does today, and why mastering them is the gateway to meaningful interaction.

Today, information questions remain the most practical grammar structure for any beginning English learner. Unlike yes/no questions — which can be answered with a single word — information questions demand detailed responses and therefore drive richer, more meaningful conversations. The central challenge this lesson addresses is: How do you select the right question word and arrange it in a correct English sentence to get the specific information you need?

Before we examine each question word individually, it is essential to understand the foundational principles that govern how information questions work in English. These principles apply universally to every wh-question you will ever form, whether you are asking about a person, a place, a time, or a quantity. Internalizing these core ideas will give you a reliable framework for generating correct questions in any conversation.

This visual map is worth memorizing as an internal reference. Whenever you want to ask a question, identify what kind of information you are missing — a person? a place? a time? — and then select the corresponding question word from the map. The structure of the sentence that follows will be largely the same regardless of which word you choose, which means once you master the basic pattern for one question word, you can apply it to all six.

English information questions follow a predictable sentence pattern. While the specific question word changes depending on what you want to know, the underlying grammatical architecture remains remarkably consistent. This section presents the two main formulas that cover virtually every beginner-level information question.

Formula 1: With the Verb "Be"

Examples: Where is the hospital? — "Where" (question word) + "is" (be) + "the hospital" (subject). Who are your teachers? — "Who" (question word) + "are" (be) + "your teachers" (subject). Notice how the verb "be" simply moves in front of the subject.

Formula 2: With Other Verbs (Do-Support)

Examples: What do you study? — "What" + "do" + "you" + "study." When does the class start? — "When" + "does" + "the class" + "start." The key detail is that the main verb ("study," "start") remains in its base form because "do/does" carries the tense information.

Special Case: "Who" as Subject

Now that we have established the two core formulas, let us examine each question word in detail. The table below provides a comprehensive reference showing each word, the type of information it seeks, and example sentences at the beginner level. Study these examples carefully, noting how each one follows the patterns from Section 4.

Notice in the flowchart that the decision at Step 2 is the most critical moment. If you determine that the sentence uses the verb "be" (am, is, are), you simply invert the verb and the subject. If the sentence uses any other verb (work, eat, study, live, etc.), you must insert "do" or "does" before the subject and keep the main verb in its base form. This single decision point accounts for the majority of errors that beginning learners make.

Let us walk through a complete example of converting a statement into an information question. Suppose someone tells you: "Maria works at a hospital." You want to know about the place. Here is how to construct the correct question.

Let us also see a quick example with the verb "be." Suppose you see a sign that says "The exam is on Friday," but you want to know the time. The category is "time," so you use when. The main verb is "is" (a form of "be"), so no do-support is needed — just invert the subject and verb: "When is the exam?" This contrast between the two patterns — be-inversion versus do-support — is the single most important structural distinction to master in this lesson.

It is helpful to compare information questions with the other major question type in English — yes/no questions — to see what makes each type useful and where learners commonly stumble. The table below highlights the key differences.

Top Five Errors and How to Fix Them

The six basic question words you have learned in this lesson are the foundation upon which more advanced English question structures are built. As your proficiency grows, you will encounter extended forms that combine these question words with other elements, as well as question types used in more formal or academic contexts. The table below previews these connections so that you can see where this lesson fits within the larger arc of English grammar acquisition.

As you can see, the beginner-level questions in the left column use the exact patterns taught in this lesson. The intermediate column introduces more complex tenses (past continuous, present perfect) and extended question phrases like "how long" and "what kind of." The advanced column demonstrates formal academic register and conditional structures. Crucially, every advanced form still begins with a wh-word and still uses subject-verb inversion. The principles you learn now will remain relevant at every stage of your English development.

The following five problems test your ability to select the correct question word and form grammatically accurate information questions. They increase in complexity from conceptual recall to critical thinking. Try to answer each one before reading the solution.