What and When Questions

ALULA staff, Updated on September 14, 2023

  • "When" questions ask for time or date. "Where" questions ask for place or address.
  • "When" and "where" questions in simple present tense follow the structure: "When/Where" + do/does + subject + base verb...?
  • Remember to use "do" with "I", "you", "we", "they" and to use "does" with "he", "she", "it".
  • You can make a subject question like this: "When/Where" + "is/are" + complement (a noun)?

"When" questions are used to ask for time or date. "Where" questions are used to ask for place or address. Let's dive into it!

When Questions

To build a question with "when" in simple present tense, follow this rule: "When" + do/does + subject + verb...?

Remember, for subjects "I", "you", "we", "they", and many things/people, use "do".

For subjects "he", "she", "it", and 1 thing/person, use "does". The verb must be in base form.

Examples:

  • When do you leave for school?

    Question word ("When") + helping verb ("do") + subject ("you") + verb ("leave") ... ?

  • When does she eat lunch?

    Question word ("When") + helping verb ("does") + subject ("she") + verb ("eat") ... ?

When Questions - Subject Questions

You can ask a subject question with "When".

Use this form: When + is/are + complement?

Examples:

  • When is the party?

  • The party is on April 6th.

  • When is the time for your appointment?

  • My appointment is at 5 o'clock.

When questions grammar

Where Questions

Similar to 'when', the rule to construct "where" questions in simple present tense is: "Where" + do/does + subject + verb...?

Examples:

  • Where do you live?

    Question word ("Where") + helping verb ("do") + subject ("you") + verb ("live") ?

  • Where does she lunch?

    Question word ("Where") + helping verb ("does") + subject ("she") + verb ("eat") + object ("lunch") ?

Where Questions - Subject Questions

You can ask a subject question with "Where".

Use this form: Where + is/are + complement?

Examples:

  • Where is the party?

  • The party is at the hotel.

  • Where are the children?

  • They are in school.

Where questions grammar

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