Interview Me

Elementary (A1-A2) 25 minutes
Elementary A1-A2 worksheet preview for question words: forming, asking and answering questions in pair work

ESL Question Words Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Completing, Asking and Answering Questions, Controlled and Freer Practice - Group and Pair Work

In this free question words activity, students complete interview questions with question words and then ask and answer the questions with a partner. First, in two...

ESL Question Words Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Completing, Asking and Answering Questions, Controlled and Freer Practice - Group and Pair Work In this free question words activity, students complete interview questions with question words and then ask and answer the questions with a partner. First, in two groups, students complete interview questions using What, Where, When, Who and What time. Next, students pair up with someone from the other group. Students then take turns asking the questions to their partner and writing down short answers. Finally, pairs share one or two things they found out about their partner.
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Introduction to Question Words

Elementary (A1-A2) 30 minutes
Elementary A1-A2 worksheet preview for question words: matching, categorizing, gap-fill, writing questions

ESL Question Words Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Matching, Categorizing, Gap-fill, Writing Questions

In this productive question words worksheet, students practice basic question words for everyday classroom conversations. First, students match answers with questions. Students then sort words...

ESL Question Words Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Matching, Categorizing, Gap-fill, Writing Questions In this productive question words worksheet, students practice basic question words for everyday classroom conversations. First, students match answers with questions. Students then sort words and phrases according to the question word they can be used with. Next, students match question words with the things they are used to ask about. After that, students use question words to complete questions. Finally, students write questions that would elicit given answers.
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Question Word Partners

Elementary (A1-A2) 30 minutes
ESL Questions Words Activity preview, Elementary A1-A2, error correction, asking and answering questions from prompts

ESL Questions Words Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Error Correction, Asking and Answering Questions, Controlled and Freer Practice - Group and Pair Work

In this useful question words activity, students correct everyday questions by choosing the correct question words before asking and answering the questions...

ESL Questions Words Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Error Correction, Asking and Answering Questions, Controlled and Freer Practice - Group and Pair Work In this useful question words activity, students correct everyday questions by choosing the correct question words before asking and answering the questions with a partner. First, in two groups, students read each question and change the question word to 'What', 'Where', 'When', 'Who', or 'What time'. Students then write the corrected question in the 'Corrections' column without changing any other words. Next, students pair up with someone from the other group. Students then take turns checking their corrected questions by reading them to their partner, who has the answer key. When all the questions have been checked, students take turns asking the corrected questions to their partner, who answers them. Finally, students tell the class what they found out about their partner.
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Questions, Questions, Questions

Elementary (A1-A2) 30 minutes
Elementary A1-A2 activity for question words: completing, asking and answering questions with a partner

ESL Question Words Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Completing, Asking and Answering Questions, Controlled and Freer Practice - Pair Work

In this insightful question words activity, students use short answers to choose the correct question words, then interview a partner to find out...

ESL Question Words Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Completing, Asking and Answering Questions, Controlled and Freer Practice - Pair Work In this insightful question words activity, students use short answers to choose the correct question words, then interview a partner to find out simple personal information. First, students complete questions with question words, using the short answers to help them. In pairs, students then take turns asking their partner the questions and writing down their answers in the last column. Finally, students report back to the class on two things they found out about their partner.
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Questions for me

Pre-intermediate (A2) 30 minutes
Pre-intermediate A2 group activity writing, answering, and exchanging question word questions as an icebreaker

ESL Question Words Activity - Grammar, Writing and Speaking: Completing, Writing and Answering Questions - Group Work

In this engaging question words activity, students write questions using different question words and phrases for other students to answer. This activity can also be used as an icebreaker...

ESL Question Words Activity - Grammar, Writing and Speaking: Completing, Writing and Answering Questions - Group Work In this engaging question words activity, students write questions using different question words and phrases for other students to answer. This activity can also be used as an icebreaker on the first day of class. First, students write their name on the worksheet and give it to the person sitting on their right. This person thinks of a question that they would like to ask the student whose name is on the worksheet. Students write their question on the worksheet by completing one of the unfinished questions or by using the empty spaces at the bottom of the worksheet to write their own question. When students have written a question, they write their name next to it. Students then give the worksheet to the person on their right and repeat the process. The activity continues until the students receive their worksheet back. Students then find the person who wrote each question and answer it.
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Question Word Bingo

Pre-intermediate (A2) 30 minutes
Pre-intermediate A2 group bingo game using question words and racing to form questions on different topics

ESL Question Words Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming Questions - Group Work

In this fun question words game, students play bingo by racing to make questions from question words. Students take turns picking up a topic card and reading the topic to the group, e.g. hobbies and free time. The other group members then race...

ESL Question Words Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming Questions - Group Work In this fun question words game, students play bingo by racing to make questions from question words. Students take turns picking up a topic card and reading the topic to the group, e.g. hobbies and free time. The other group members then race to make a question relating to the topic using one of the question words on their bingo card. The first student to ask a suitable question to the student holding the card wins, e.g. 'What is your favourite hobby?' The student holding the card then answers the question and the other student crosses off the question word from their bingo card. The first student to cross off all the question words on their bingo card wins the game and shouts 'Bingo!'
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Same as me

Pre-intermediate (A2) 30 minutes
Pre-intermediate A2 activity for question words: sentence completion, writing and asking questions in freer classroom practice

ESL Question Words Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Sentence Completion, Writing, Asking and Answering Questions, Freer Practice

Here is a creative question words activity to help students practice forming questions with specific question words. This activity can also be used to help students...

ESL Question Words Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Sentence Completion, Writing, Asking and Answering Questions, Freer Practice Here is a creative question words activity to help students practice forming questions with specific question words. This activity can also be used to help students get to know each other. Students begin by completing 12 sentences with true information about themselves, e.g. 'I usually wake up at seven o'clock.' Next, students write a question for each sentence using 12 question words, e.g. 'What time do you usually wake up?' Students then go around the classroom asking the questions. When a student finds someone whose answer is the same as what they have written, they write down their name and ask Wh follow-up questions to gain more information. Finally, students give feedback to the rest of the class on what they found out.
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Guess the Word

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
Intermediate B1 game preview where students race to elicit words by asking question word questions in pairs

ESL Question Words Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming, Asking and Answering Questions, Guessing, Freer Practice - Pair Work

In this free question words game, students race to elicit words by asking questions. Set a ten-minute time limit. Student A then asks questions to their partner...

ESL Question Words Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming, Asking and Answering Questions, Guessing, Freer Practice - Pair Work In this free question words game, students race to elicit words by asking questions. Set a ten-minute time limit. Student A then asks questions to their partner to elicit as many words from their worksheet as possible in any order. When their partner says the correct word, Student A puts a tick next to the word. If their partner cannot guess the word after a few questions, they move on to another word. After ten minutes, students swap roles. Finally, students add up their ticks, scoring a point for each one. The pair with the highest combined score at the end of the game wins.
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How much do you know?

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
Intermediate B1 speaking activity for forming, asking, and answering How...? quiz questions

ESL How Question Words Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Quiz, Forming, Asking and Answering Questions, Guessing, Controlled and Freer Practice - Pair Work

In this entertaining How questions speaking activity, students form, ask and answer quiz questions beginning with 'How...?' First, in two groups, students look at...

ESL How Question Words Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Quiz, Forming, Asking and Answering Questions, Guessing, Controlled and Freer Practice - Pair Work In this entertaining How questions speaking activity, students form, ask and answer quiz questions beginning with 'How...?' First, in two groups, students look at quiz answers and write a 'How...?' question for each one. Next, students pair up with someone from the other group. Students then ask the quiz questions and read the multiple-choice answers to their partner who guesses each answer. After that, in their pairs, students create four multiple-choice quiz questions of their own starting with 'How..?' Next, each student finds a new partner and asks them the questions. Finally, students ask their quiz questions to the class for them to answer.
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How much? How many? Quiz

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
Intermediate B1 quiz activity for forming, asking, and answering How much and How many questions in pairs

ESL How Much How Many Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Quiz, Forming, Asking and Answering Questions, Guessing - Pair Work

In this useful How much and How many speaking activity, students take part in a quiz where they form, ask and answer 'How much' and 'How many' questions...

ESL How Much How Many Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Quiz, Forming, Asking and Answering Questions, Guessing - Pair Work In this useful How much and How many speaking activity, students take part in a quiz where they form, ask and answer 'How much' and 'How many' questions. In two groups, students read answers on the worksheet and write a 'How much' or 'How many' quiz question for each one. Working alone, students then guess the answer to each question and write the number in the answer. Next, students pair up with someone from the other group and take turns asking the quiz questions to their partner who replies using the answer key on their worksheet. For each correct guess, students score one point. The student with the most points wins.
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Make a Question

Intermediate (B1) 30 minutes
Intermediate B1 group game for matching question words to endings and asking questions to classmates

ESL Question Words Game - Grammar and Speaking: Matching, Asking and Answering Questions - Group Work

In this imaginative question words game, students match question words to endings and ask the questions to other students. In groups, students take turns picking up a question word card and...

ESL Question Words Game - Grammar and Speaking: Matching, Asking and Answering Questions - Group Work In this imaginative question words game, students match question words to endings and ask the questions to other students. In groups, students take turns picking up a question word card and trying to match it with one of their ending cards to make a question. If a student is able to make a suitable question, they lay the two cards on the table and ask the question to the other students in the group. After the question has been discussed, the two cards are removed from the game. If a question cannot be made, the question word card is placed at the bottom of the pile, and the next student takes their turn. The first student to get rid of all their ending cards wins the game.
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Question Words Practice

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
Intermediate B1 worksheet for matching, gap-fill, reading, and writing Wh questions in role-plays

ESL Question Words Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Matching, Gap-fill, Reading a Role-Play, Writing Questions

This comprehensive question words worksheet helps students practice or review question words and Wh questions. Students start by matching each question word with its usage. Next, students...

ESL Question Words Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Matching, Gap-fill, Reading a Role-Play, Writing Questions This comprehensive question words worksheet helps students practice or review question words and Wh questions. Students start by matching each question word with its usage. Next, students complete a dialogue with the question words and then role-play the conversation with a partner. After that, students use prompts to make questions and then match each question to the correct answer. Lastly, students write questions that elicit a set of answers.
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Yes/No Conversation Questions

Intermediate (B1) 30 minutes
Intermediate B1 group and pair activity for completing, asking, and answering yes/no conversation questions

ESL Yes/No Question Words Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Completing, Asking and Answering Questions, Controlled and Freer Practice - Group and Pair Work

In this enjoyable yes/no question words activity, students practice completing, asking and answering yes/no conversation questions that begin with are, do, were,...

ESL Yes/No Question Words Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Completing, Asking and Answering Questions, Controlled and Freer Practice - Group and Pair Work In this enjoyable yes/no question words activity, students practice completing, asking and answering yes/no conversation questions that begin with are, do, were, has, will, would, should, and can. First, in two groups, students complete the first conversation question in each pair with a word from a box and the second question with a suitable yes/no question word. Next, students pair up with someone from the other group and take turns asking and answering the yes/no conversation questions with their partner and developing a short conversation about the topic by giving more information and asking follow-up questions. Afterwards, students share what they found out about their partner with the class.
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Understanding Question Words

Question words are the question-forming words (What, Where, When, Who, Why, How, and compounds such as How much or What time) that tell a listener what type of information a speaker is asking for. Students who confuse them produce questions that mislead the listener, so asking 'Where did you go?' when they meant 'When did you go?' takes the conversation in entirely the wrong direction.

This page covers question words across Elementary (A1-A2), Pre-intermediate (A2), and Intermediate (B1) levels, with 13 activities and worksheets spanning gap-fill exercises, bingo games, and mingle activities, including two free downloads.

The table below shows each question word, the type of information it asks about, and a short example question.

Question WordInformation TypeExample Question
What Thing or fact 'What is your job?'
Where Place or location 'Where do you live?'
When Time or date 'When did you arrive?'
Who Person 'Who is your teacher?'
Why Reason or cause 'Why are you late?'
How Manner or method 'How do you get to work?'
Which Choice between options 'Which train do you take?'
Whose Possession 'Whose bag is this?'
How much Quantity (uncountable) 'How much water do you drink?'
How many Quantity (countable) 'How many students are in the class?'
How long Duration or length 'How long does the journey take?'
What time Specific time 'What time does the meeting start?'

When to Use Question Words

Asking for a location: A speaker uses 'Where' when they need to pinpoint a place rather than a time or a reason, making it the natural choice any time the expected answer is a location, such as asking a colleague 'Where is the meeting room?'

Requesting a reason or explanation: A speaker uses 'Why' to invite an explanation or justification, choosing it when the goal is to understand motive or cause rather than fact, as in asking a manager 'Why has the deadline changed?'

Checking manner or process: A speaker uses 'How' when they want to understand the method or way something is done rather than what, where, or when it happens, which is essential in instructional or professional contexts such as asking 'How do I apply for the position?'

3-Step Framework for Teaching Question Words

1. Build Accuracy First: Start with a structured written exercise that makes students work out which question word fits which information type before they speak. A strong controlled task has students sort words and phrases according to the question word they can be used with, building an accurate mental map of meaning rather than a memorized list. This stage prevents the word-level confusion that kills spoken fluency later.

2. Add Speed and Competition: Move to a group game where students race to produce a correctly formed question on the spot. One student draws a topic card and reads it aloud to the group, for example hobbies and free time, and the rest race to ask a suitable question using a question word from their bingo card. The first to ask a working question crosses that word off their card. This kind of time pressure trains students to retrieve and apply question words quickly, not just recognize them.

3. Open Up to Freer Practice: Finish with a mingle that turns question words into real communicative tools. Students complete 12 sentences with true information about themselves, for example 'I usually wake up at seven o'clock,' then convert each sentence into a question using a matching question word, for example 'What time do you usually wake up?' They then move around the room to find classmates whose answers match their own, giving them a genuine reason to keep asking questions throughout the activity.

Common Mistakes with Question Words

Using 'Who' instead of 'Whose' for possession: Students often use 'Who' when asking about ownership, treating it as the person-related question word for all situations rather than switching to 'Whose' when the answer should identify a possessor. Wrong: 'Who bag is this?' Correct: 'Whose bag is this?'

Missing the auxiliary verb after the question word: Students often drop the auxiliary verb after a question word, using statement word order instead of forming a proper question structure. Wrong: 'What time you finish?' Correct: 'What time do you finish?'

Common Questions About Teaching Question Words

What is a fun activity for practicing question words?

For a structured introduction to question words, the activity Interview Me gives students a set of interview questions using What, Where, When, Who, and What time to complete and then ask a partner. Students note short answers as they go and finish by sharing one or two things they found out.

What is an effective worksheet for teaching Wh questions?

The worksheet Question Words Practice takes students through five tasks. They start by matching each question word to its usage and completing a dialogue, then role-play the conversation with a partner. After that, they write questions from prompts, match them to answers, and finish by writing questions that produce a given set of answers.

What is an engaging game for forming questions in English?

In the game Make a Question, students take turns picking up a question word card and matching it with an ending card to form a complete question. If the question works, they lay both cards down and put the question to the group for discussion. The first student to get rid of all their ending cards wins.

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