Grammar: A1 - Sentence Structure - Basics - Lesson 7: Wh- Questions with 'be'

✨ Lesson 7: Wh- Questions with 'be'

We have learned how to ask Yes/No questions like "Are you happy?". The answer is "Yes, I am" or "No, I'm not".

But what if we want more information¹? We need to use special question words². Many of these words start with 'Wh', so we often call them Wh- Questions³.

The Structure of Wh- Questions

The rule is very simple: The question word always comes first!

[Question Word] + [am/is/are] + [Subject]...?

It's just like a Yes/No question, but with a question word at the beginning.

• Yes/No Question: Is he at home?
• Wh- Question: Where is he?

Common Question Words with 'be'

What (asks about a thing):

• What is your name? → My name is Dara.

Who (asks about a person):

• Who is that man? → He is my father.

Where (asks about a place):

• Where are you from? → I am from Kampot.

When (asks about a time):

• When is the meeting? → It is at 3:00 PM.

How (asks about a condition):

• How are you? → I am fine, thank you.

🧠 Practice Quiz: Choose the Right Word

Choose the correct question word (What, Who, Where, When, How) to complete the questions.

1. ___ is that woman? → She is my mother.
   Answer: Who
2. ___ is the weather today? → It is hot.
   Answer: How
3. ___ is the Durian Roundabout? → It is in Kampot.
   Answer: Where
4. ___ is your birthday? → It is in May.
   Answer: When
5. ___ is that on the table? → It is a book.
   Answer: What

📝 Homework: Ask a Friend

Imagine you are meeting a new friend. Write three Wh- questions you could ask them.

Example: What is your favorite food? Where is your house?

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Question 1: ___________________________________?

Question 2: ___________________________________?

Question 3: ___________________________________?

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Information: (Noun) - ព័ត៌មាន (pô'tâ'mean) - Facts or details about someone or something. ↩
2. Question Word: (Noun) - ពាក្យសំណួរ (peak sâm'nuŏr) - A word used to ask for information (e.g., Who, What, Where). ↩
3. Wh- Question: (Noun) - សំណួរ Wh (sâm'nuŏr Wh) - A question that starts with a question word like 'what' or 'who' and asks for information. ↩