1. WH- Questions
Grammar Mini-Lesson on WH- Questions
Sharon Marie Gillespie
Wilkes University
ESL 502: Teaching English as a Second
Language

2. Lesson Background
Follows WIDA Can-Do Descriptors for Grades
3-5, Level 2- Beginning Language
Ask simple, everyday questions
Describe pictures, events, objects, or people using
phrases or short sentences
Complete/ produce sentences from word phrase
banks

3. Lesson Objective
TSWBAT...
Read, speak, listen, and write sentences
using WH- questions
Answer WH- questions to compose an
original story about a vacation

4. Let the Lesson Begin...
WH-
QUESTIONS

5. What are the WH- Questions?
Questions that start with WH-
What?
Who?
WH-?
Where?
When?
Why?
Which?
Whose?

6. WH- questions CANNOT
be answered with YES or NO.

7. The WH- questions give you INFORMATION.

8. What?
WHAT= names an object, idea, or action
What do you wear on your finger?
I wear a ring on my finger.

9. What?
WHAT= names an object, idea, or action
What did you think of the movie?
I liked the movie.

10. What?
WHAT= names an object, idea, or action
What will you do today?
I will go to the playground.

11. Who?
WHO= names a person

12. Who?
Who is this?
This is Barack Obama, the president of the
United States.

13. Who?
Who went on vacation?
The family went on vacation.

14. Who?
Who is crying?
The baby is crying.

15. Where?
WHERE= names a place or location
Where did you go?
I went to the pool in the park.

16. Where?
WHERE= names a place or location
Where is my hat?
Your hat is in the closet.

17. When?
When= names a time
When did you get home from school today?
I got home from school at 3:00 PM.

18. When?
When= names a time
When do you wake up?
I wake up early in the morning.

19. Why?
WHY= tells a reason or purpose
Why is he leaving?
He is leaving to go to work.

20. Why?
WHY= tells a reason or purpose
Why did you go to the store?
I went to the store because we needed eggs.

21. Which?
WHICH= gives a choice
Which way will you go,
right or left?
I will go left.
LEFT

22. Which?
Which apple do you want, the red apple or the
green apple?
I want the red apple.

23. Whose?
WHOSE= shows possession, ownership
Whose shirt is on the floor?
John's shirt
John's shirt is on the floor.
John
Shirt

24. Whose?
Whose pen is on the desk?
That is my pen on the desk.
my pen

25. Let's Review!
WHAT = names an object, idea, or action
WHO = names a person
WHERE = names a place
WHEN = tells a time
WHY = gives a reason
WHICH = makes a choice
WHOSE = shows ownership

26. Let's Practice!
Activity:
TELLING A VACATION STORY
Tell a story about a vacation.
Follow the example.
Answer the questions.

27. “Our Vacation”- WHAT
What did you do on your vacation?
Example: We took a tour of the waterfalls.
Your answer:

28. “Our Vacation”- WHO
Who went on vacation?
Example: My friends and I went on vacation.
Your answer:

29. “Our Vacation”- WHERE
Where did you go on vacation?
Example: We went to Niagara Falls in Canada.
Your answer:

30. “Our Vacation”- WHEN
When did you go on vacation?
Example: We went during Easter weekend in
2011.
Your answer:

31. “Our Vacation”- WHY
Why did you go on vacation?
Example: We went so our friends could see the
falls for the first time.
Your answer:

32. “Our Vacation”- WHICH
Which did you like more, being at home or being
on vacation?
Example: I liked being on vacation more.
Your answer:

33. “Our Vacation”- WHOSE
Whose car did you drive?
Example: We drove my boyfriend's car.
Your answer:

34. “Our Vacation” story
Now, put your answers into one paragraph.
You can add photos and drawings to tell more.
Good Job!
You told your vacation story.

35. Congratulations!
You have finished the lesson on WH- Questions.
Remember to use the WH- Questions to give and
receive information.
WH- Questions:
What, Who, Where, When, Why, Which, Whose