Special questions with why in English: examples and rules

In English grammar, questions are divided into special and general. The general ones set for the purpose of learning about a fact general information about a person or an object. For example: Does Michael come today? “Will Michael come today?” By asking special questions (with why, who, when, which, etc.), you can find out more detailed, detailed information about an object or phenomenon. For example: When does Mike come today? “When will Mike come today?”

Special questions always begin with a question word and can be asked to the following parts of a sentence:

• subject;
• supplement;
• definition;
• circumstance.

Next, we consider what words are considered interrogative and how the special questions are constructed correctly.

The meaning of the question words

The most popular words that begin with special questions:

• what;
• where;
• why;
• when;
• how;
• who;
• which.

Let's analyze each word in more detail and give examples.

What and which

What [watt] (what? Which?) And which [witch] (which? Which?) Are applied when asked about an object or person. For instance:

• Which coffees do you want, cappuccino or latte? - What kind of coffee do you want, cappuccino or latte?

What is used if there are many or an indefinite number of possible answers to the question, and which - if there are several possible answers (usually two). For instance:

• Today there are tours to San Francisco and Dublin. Which would you prefer? - Today there are trips to San Francisco and Dublin. Which (ticket) would you prefer? (here you have to choose from two options; the noun may be omitted, as it is clear what is at stake)

• What is the name of our new employee? Nicholas? John? Michael? Albert? - What is the name of our new employee? Nicholas? John? Michael? Albert? (the answers are unknown in this case, there are many)

In addition, the word what can be used in such constructions:

• What time - What time? What time?
• What kind? - What kind? Which one? What?

Examples:

• What time do your school's lessons start? - What time do lessons start at your school?
• What kind of chrysanthemum does Nicole grow in her garden? - What chrysanthemums does Nicole grow in his garden?

Why

Questions with why [wye] (why? Why?) Are used when it is necessary to find out the reason for what is happening. For instance:

• Why did you come so late? - My car broke down on the way. “Why did you come so late?” - My car broke down on the road.
• Why did Stephanie wake me up so early? “Why did Stephanie wake me up so early?”
• Why did you do another task? - I made a mistake. - Why did you do another task? I made a mistake.

Where

Thanks to the word where [uee] (where?) You can find out the whereabouts of a person or object. For instance:

• Where is the city administration? - Where is the city administration located?
• Where did Sarah find that necklace? “Where did Sarah find this necklace?”
• Where were you this morning? “Where were you this morning?”

When

When [wen] (when?) Is applied if it is necessary to find out the time (moment) of the occurring action or phenomenon. For instance:

• When will Rob give you your money back? “When will Rob give you the money back?”
• When are your grandparents coming? “When will your grandparents come?”
• When are you gonna give me my tools back? “When will you return my tools to me?”

How

Using how [how] (how? How?) You can ask how an event happened. For instance:

• How did you solve this task? - I used the formula. - How did you solve this problem? I used the formula.
• How did the collision happen? - How did the collision happen?

In addition, how is applied in special constructions:

• How much? - How much? How many? (with objects and uncountable persons)
• How many? - How much? How many? (with items and countable persons)
• How far? - How far?

• How often? - How often?
• How long? - How long?

Examples:

• How many cats do you have at home? - How many cats do you have at home?
• How much spice to put in this sauce? - How many spices to add to this sauce?
• How far can you throw the ball? - How far can you throw the ball?
• How often does Megan go to this cafe? “How often does Megan go to this cafe?”
• How long is he going to stay at work? “How long is he going to stay at work?”

Who

Thanks to the word who [hu] (who?), You can ask about a person. For instance:

• Who's this? - This is my cousin. - Who is it? - This is my cousin.
• Who is that man in the maroon suit? - This man is my father. “Who is this man in a maroon suit?” “This man is my father.”

Interrogative sentences with who are not built in the same way as questions with why, where, how, when, which and what. We will analyze later.

How is a special question asked?

The meaning of the proposal depends on how the special questions are correctly constructed. What, where, when, how, why, who, which are always put at the beginning of a sentence, followed by the verb to be. The word order should be as follows:

You should know that interrogative constructions how many? how far? what time? and others in the proposal are not divided. Building a question with why, where, when, and other question words will not be difficult if you follow the pattern.

Examples:

• What did Megan wear to prom? - What did Megan put on graduation?
• How many children do you have? - How many children do you have?
• When is Easter celebrated? - When is Easter celebrated?
• Where do you spend your weekends? - Where do you spend your weekend?
• Why did kindergarten close on quarantine? - Why is the kindergarten quarantined?

How to answer a special question?

What, for example, can be the answer to the question: “Why does he study to be an accountant?” “Why is he studying for an accountant?”

Here you can answer both a complete sentence and a short one:

• Because he likes numbers. (short)
• He is studying to be an accountant because he likes numbers. (full)

What are special issues?

A question can be asked to any member of the proposal. Consider the varieties of special questions using the following sentence example:

• Margaret brought a beautiful flower to the house. - Margaret brought a beautiful flower to the house.

We analyze the members of the proposal:

1. Margaret is a subject;
2. brought - the predicate;
3. a flower - a supplement;
4. beautiful (beautiful) - definition to complement;
5. to the house (in the house) - the circumstance of the place.

Question to the subject

This question is special, because here the word order remains the same (as in the affirmative sentence). Only the subject is replaced by the question word who. Compare the two sentences: narrative and interrogative:

• Margaret brought a beautiful flower to the house.
• Who brought a beautiful flower to the house? - Who brought a beautiful flower to the house?

“Margaret” is replaced by the word “who”.

Questions to supplement

Addition clarifies some information. Answers the questions: whom? what? to whom? to what? why? In this case, the sentence begins with the words “who” and “what”.

• What did Margaret bring to the house? “What did Margaret bring to the house?”

Additional examples:

• I built an oil distillation machine. - What did you build this machine for? “I built an oil distillation apparatus.” - Why did you build this device?
• Peter invited Alec to visit. - Who did Peter invite? - Peter invited Alec to visit. - Whom did Peter invite?
• I brought two sandwiches. - What did you bring with you? - I brought two sandwiches. - What did you bring with you?

Questions to determine

The definition characterizes the sign of a person or object and answers the questions: whose? which one? Such interrogative words may be used: what, whose, which, how many, how much. In most cases, the designated noun is appended to the interrogative word:

• Which flower did Margaret bring to the house? “What flower did Margaret bring to the house?”

Additional examples:

• Sofia likes to read historical novels. - What novels does Sophia like to read? - Sofia loves to read historical novels. - What novels does Sofia like to read?
• Cream and cottage cheesecakes are very tasty. - Which cake tastes are better? - Cakes with cream and cottage cheese are very tasty. - Which cake is tastier?
• This is mom's dress. - Whose dress is it? - This is mom's dress. - Whose dress is this?
• It needs to add a little sugar. - How much sugar does it be added? - You need to add some sugar. - How much sugar do you need to add?
• I have two pens in my bag. - How many pens are in your bag? “I have two handles in my bag.” “How many pens are in your bag?”

Questions to the circumstance

A sentence that begins with how, where, when or why, to which question relates? These are questions to the circumstance.

The proposal may include circumstances of the place, time, conditions, reason, mode of action. They answer the questions: how? why / why? from where to where? when? Where? Let's try to ask a question to our circumstance:

• Where did Margaret bring the beautiful flower? “Where did Margaret bring the beautiful flower?”

Additional examples:

• John will arrive on Monday afternoon. - When does John come? “John is coming on Monday afternoon.” “When will John come?”
• I drew your sister Marie looking at this photo. - How did you draw a portrait of my sister Marie? “I painted your sister Marie, looking at this photo.” “How did you draw a portrait of my sister Marie?”
• I took the day off because I was sick. - Why are you taking the day off? - I took the day off because I got sick. - Why did you take the day off?
• I cook this salad very quickly. - How long do you cook this salad? - I cook this salad very quickly. - How long have you been preparing this salad?
• My grandfather came from Australia. - Where did your grandfather come from? - My grandfather came from Australia. - Where did your grandfather come from?
• I did it to make dad happy. - Why did you do that? “I did this to make dad happy.” - Why did you do that?

Denial in special matters

To ask a special negative question, it is necessary to add the particle “not” to the auxiliary verb. The proposal would be:

Thanks to this scheme, compiling a question with why, what, where, etc. with a question word will be easier than ever.

Examples:

• What kind of candy don't you eat? - What kind of sweets do you not eat?
• Who didn't steven call? “Who didn’t call Stephen?”
• Where I won't see the pointers? “Where will I not see the signs?”
• Who didn't learn this poem? - Who did not learn this poem?
• How didn't worry about tomorrow's meeting? - How not to worry about tomorrow's meeting?
• Why didn't you bring the morning paper? “Why didn't you bring the morning newspaper?”

The negative question with “who” is different. The first is the subject “who,” then the auxiliary verb + “not,” the predicate and the secondary members.

Is an auxiliary verb always needed?

The auxiliary verb is not always necessary in a special subject. Consider the following situations:

1. If the sentence contains a modal verb, then the question is constructed by rearranging the predicate and the subject. For instance:

• I can jump with a parachute. What can you do? “I can parachute.” - What can you do?
• You should get a good night's sleep. - What should I do? “You need a good night's sleep.” - What should I do?
• Robert must buy fresh vegetables at the market. - What must Robert buy in the market? “Robert should buy fresh vegetables at the market.” - What should Robert buy in the market?

2. If the semantic verb in the sentence is to be, then to ask a special question, the subject also changes places with the predicate. For instance:

• Max was at school yesterday. - Where was Max yesterday? - Max was at school yesterday. Where was Max yesterday?
• I was there a week ago. - When were you there? “I was there a week ago.” - When you were there?
• Marisa was the prettiest girl at the party. - Who was the prettiest person at the party? - Marisa was the most beautiful girl at the party. - Who was the most beautiful person at the party?

So special questions are studied with why, where, who, when, etc., with question words. The topic is very interesting and simple. Continue to learn English! I wish you success!