Chapter 24: W-Questions
🧠 What are W-Questions (W-Fragen)?
W-Questions are used to ask open-ended questions that begin with a question word. In German, most of these question words start with "W", so they are called W-Fragen.
They are used when you are looking for information, not just yes/no answers.
✨ Structure of W-Questions
The typical word order in a W-question is:
W-Question word + Verb + Subject + ...?
✅ Example: Wo wohnst du? → Where do you live?
✅ Key W-Question Words (Basic A1.1 Level)
| W-Question | Meaning | Example (German) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Was | What | Was machst du? | What are you doing? |
| Wer | Who | Wer bist du? | Who are you? |
| Wo | Where (location) | Wo wohnst du? | Where do you live? |
| Wohin | Where to | Wohin gehst du? | Where are you going (to)? |
| Woher | Where from | Woher kommst du? | Where do you come from? |
| Wie | How | Wie geht’s dir? | How are you? |
| Wann | When | Wann kommst du? | When are you coming? |
| Warum | Why | Warum lernst du Deutsch? | Why are you learning German? |
| Welcher/Welche/Welches | Which | Welche Farbe magst du? | Which color do you like? |
| Wie viel / Wie viele | How much / How many | Wie viel kostet das? | How much does it cost? |
🧩 1. Was? (What?)
Used to ask for things, actions, or explanations.
🧠 Sentence Structure: Was + verb + subject + ...?
✅ Examples:
- Was machst du? → What are you doing?
- Was ist das? → What is that?
- Was lernst du? → What are you learning?
🧩 2. Wer? (Who?)
Used to ask about a person.
🧠 Sentence Structure: Wer + verb + ...? (NOTE: "wer" itself is the subject)
✅ Examples:
- Wer bist du? → Who are you?
- Wer ist das? → Who is that?
- Wer kommt heute? → Who is coming today?
🧩 3. Wo? (Where? — static location)
Used to ask where something/someone is (not moving).
✅ Examples:
- Wo wohnst du? → Where do you live?
- Wo ist das Buch? → Where is the book?
- Wo arbeitet sie? → Where does she work?
🧩 4. Wohin? (Where to? — direction)
Used when movement toward a location is involved.
✅ Examples:
- Wohin gehst du? → Where are you going (to)?
- Wohin fährt er? → Where is he driving to?
🧩 5. Woher? (Where from?)
Used to ask where someone/something comes from.
✅ Examples:
- Woher kommst du? → Where are you from?
- Woher ist sie? → Where is she from?
🧩 6. Wie? (How?)
Used to ask about manner, state, or way of doing something.
✅ Examples:
- Wie geht es dir? → How are you?
- Wie heißt du? → What’s your name? (literally: How are you called?)
- Wie alt bist du? → How old are you?
🧩 7. Wann? (When?)
Used to ask about time.
✅ Examples:
- Wann kommst du? → When are you coming?
- Wann beginnt der Kurs? → When does the course begin?
🧩 8. Warum? (Why?)
Used to ask about reasons.
✅ Examples:
- Warum lernst du Deutsch? → Why are you learning German?
- Warum bist du müde? → Why are you tired?
🧩 9. Welcher / Welche / Welches? (Which?)
Used to ask for a choice among options.
- Welcher – masculine
- Welche – feminine/plural
- Welches – neuter
✅ Examples:
- Welcher Tag ist heute? → Which day is today?
- Welche Farbe magst du? → Which color do you like?
- Welches Buch liest du? → Which book are you reading?
🧩 10. Wie viel / Wie viele? (How much / How many?)
Used to ask about quantities.
- Wie viel – uncountable nouns
- Wie viele – countable nouns
✅ Examples:
- Wie viel kostet das? → How much does that cost?
- Wie viele Geschwister hast du? → How many siblings do you have?
🧪 Practice Sentences (Translate to German)
- What are you doing?
- Where do you live?
- Who is that?
- Why are you sad?
- When is the meeting?
- How old are you?
- Where are you going?
- How many apples do you have?
- Which car do you like?
- Where do you come from?
✅ Summary Table of W-Questions
| Question Word | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Was | What | For things and actions |
| Wer | Who | For people (as subject) |
| Wo | Where | Location (static) |
| Wohin | Where to | Direction/movement |
| Woher | Where from | Origin |
| Wie | How | Manner, condition, name, age |
| Wann | When | Time-related questions |
| Warum | Why | Reasons |
| Welcher/e/es | Which | Choice |
| Wie viel/e | How much/many | Quantities |
🎯 Tips to Master W-Questions
- Practice forming questions with each W-word.
- Use question + verb + subject as a formula.
- Listen for W-questions in German conversations and try to answer them.
- Practice with friends or language exchange partners.