**Interrogatives (Question Words) in English**
Interrogatives, or question words, are used to ask questions that seek specific information. Each question word has a particular function in gathering different types of information. Here’s a guide to the common question words and their usage:
### **1. Who**
- **Purpose:** Asks about a person or people.
- **Usage in Questions:**
- **Who** is coming to the party?
- **Who** did you meet yesterday?
- **Notes:** *Who* is used as the subject or object in questions about people.
### **2. What**
- **Purpose:** Asks about things, ideas, or actions.
- **Usage in Questions:**
- **What** is your favorite color?
- **What** did you do on your vacation?
- **Notes:** *What* can be used to inquire about a thing, concept, or event.
### **3. Where**
- **Purpose:** Asks about a place or location.
- **Usage in Questions:**
- **Where** are we going?
- **Where** did you put my keys?
- **Notes:** *Where* is used to seek information about locations or places.
### **4. When**
- **Purpose:** Asks about time or dates.
- **Usage in Questions:**
- **When** does the meeting start?
- **When** are you leaving for vacation?
- **Notes:** *When* is used to inquire about specific times or dates.
### **5. Why**
- **Purpose:** Asks about reasons or causes.
- **Usage in Questions:**
- **Why** are you late?
- **Why** did she leave early?
- **Notes:** *Why* seeks to understand reasons or motives.
### **6. How**
- **Purpose:** Asks about the manner, process, or condition.
- **Usage in Questions:**
- **How** do you make this recipe?
- **How** are you feeling today?
- **Notes:** *How* is used to inquire about the way something is done or the state of something.
### **7. Which**
- **Purpose:** Asks to specify or choose among a set of options.
- **Usage in Questions:**
- **Which** book do you want to read?
- **Which** color do you prefer?
- **Notes:** *Which* is used when there are multiple options to choose from.
### **8. Whose**
- **Purpose:** Asks about ownership or possession.
- **Usage in Questions:**
- **Whose** jacket is this?
- **Whose** turn is it to cook?
- **Notes:** *Whose* is used to ask about who owns or is responsible for something.
### **9. How many**
- **Purpose:** Asks about quantity or countable items.
- **Usage in Questions:**
- **How many** apples are in the basket?
- **How many** people attended the event?
- **Notes:** *How many* is used to inquire about the number of countable items.
### **10. How much**
- **Purpose:** Asks about quantity or amount, usually for uncountable items.
- **Usage in Questions:**
- **How much** water is in the bottle?
- **How much** does this cost?
- **Notes:** *How much* is used for asking about uncountable quantities or amounts.
### **11. How long**
- **Purpose:** Asks about the duration or length of time.
- **Usage in Questions:**
- **How long** will the meeting last?
- **How long** have you been studying?
- **Notes:** *How long* inquires about the length of time.
### **12. How often**
- **Purpose:** Asks about frequency or regularity.
- **Usage in Questions:**
- **How often** do you exercise?
- **How often** do you visit your grandparents?
- **Notes:** *How often* is used to ask about the frequency of an action.
### **Examples in Sentences:**
- **Who:** *Who is your teacher?*
- **What:** *What is the capital of France?*
- **Where:** *Where did you put the document?*
- **When:** *When is your birthday?*
- **Why:** *Why are you upset?*
- **How:** *How do you solve this problem?*
- **Which:** *Which route should we take?*
- **Whose:** *Whose car is parked outside?*
- **How many:** *How many students are in the class?*
- **How much:** *How much sugar do we need?*
- **How long:** *How long is the film?*
- **How often:** *How often do you travel for work?*
### **Summary:**
Interrogatives are crucial for asking questions and obtaining specific information. Each question word serves a unique purpose in gathering details about people, things, places, time, reasons, processes, choices, possession, quantity, duration, and frequency.
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