We normally use the following question words to ask about:

people	animals/things	place	time	quantity	manner	reason
What	What	Where	How long	How many	How	Why
Which (of)	Which (of)		How often	How much
Who			What time
Whose (possession)			When

Who is used to ask about people. “Who is the author of this book?”

Whose is used to express possession. “Whose is this car?” (Whose car is it?) – “It’s Paul’s.”

Which is used for people, animals or things, alone or before nouns, one/ones or of. Which bag is yours? Which of these books do you want? Which is normally used when there is a limited choice. “Which is your car – the Ford or the Volvo?” (there are only two cars we are talking about – limited choice) It can also be used with the comparative and superlative. “Which is faster, a Ferrari or a Porsche?” “Which is the tallest building in America?”

What is used alone or before a noun to ask about things. “What can I say?” “What books do you enjoy reading?” What is used when there is an unlimited choice. “What kind of food do you enjoy eating?” (there are many kinds of food to choose from – unlimited choice) What can also be used in the following expressions: What ... look like? (asking for a description of physical appearance), What ... for? What colour ...? What size? What kind/sort? What time? What is he like? (asking for a description of character), What is it used for? etc. “What is your brother like?” “He’s very nice.” “What does Jack look like?” “He’s very tall.” “What colour is his hair?” “Dark brown.”

Exercise 86. Fill in: who, whose, which, what, where, how long, how often, what time, when, how many, how much, how or why.

1. “...What... does she do for a living?” “She’s a florist.” 2. “… bag is this?” “It’s Mary’s.” 3. “… skirt do you prefer, the long one or the short one?” “The short one.” 4. “… people work in this office?” “Thirty.” 5. “… is your mother coming back?” “Next week.” 6. “… didn’t you tell me that you were leaving?” “I forgot.” 7. “… does a ticket to Edinburgh cost?” “£50.” 8. “… have you been living in London?” “Three years.” 9. “… times a week do you go to the gym?” “Four.” 10. “… car is that parked outside?” “John’s.” 11. “… bus goes to the airport?” “The number 24.” 12. “… were you born?” “In Brighton.” 13. “… does the plane arrive at Heathrow?” “Twelve o’clock.” 14. “… don’t you come with us to the theatre?” “I’d love to.” 15. “… do you get to work?” “By bus.” 16. “… is that tall man over there?” “My uncle.” 17. “… times have you been to France?” “Three.” 18. “… is the cheapest way to get to Liverpool, by bus or by train?” “By bus.” 19. “… do you see your parents?” “Every month.” 20. “… kind of films do you like?” “Adventure stories.”