Question Word WHAT — How to Ask About Things
Quick Answer
Use what to ask about things, names, or information. Pattern: What + helper + subject + verb? Example: What is your name?
Example: What is your name? (Asking for a name — a piece of information.)
WHAT in Action — See the Pattern
Read these three sentences. Look at how it works:
- What is this? (Asking about a thing.)
- What time is it? (Asking about time.)
- What do you want? (Asking about a wish.)
When to Use WHAT
What is the most common question word in English. You use it to ask about things, names, choices, or information. After “what,” add a helper word (is, are, do, does) and the rest of the question.
- Asking about a thing: “What is in the box?”
- Asking about a name: “What is her name?”
- Asking about a choice: “What do you want to drink?”
- Asking about activity: “What are you doing?”
Easy way to remember: What asks about things and information. It is the answer-anything word — perfect when you need any kind of detail.
The Rule in One Line: Use What to ask about things, names, choices, or information.
Real-Life Examples With WHAT
Here are examples you might say or hear in everyday life:
- What is your name? (Asking for a name.)
- What time does the shop open? (Asking for a time.)
- What do you do for work? (Asking about a job.)
- What are you eating? (Asking about a thing.)
- What is your phone number? (Asking for information.)
You are doing great. Now let’s look at the mistakes many learners make.
Three Mistakes to Avoid With WHAT
The most common slip is forgetting the helper word. After “what,” English usually needs “is,” “are,” “do,” or “does” before the rest of the question. Without the helper, the sentence sounds wrong even if the meaning is clear.
Forgetting the helper
✗ What your name?
✓ What is your name?
Using the wrong helper
✗ What is you do?
✓ What do you do?
Using which for an open question
✗ Which is your name? (when there is no list)
✓ What is your name?
How to remember: What + helper + subject + verb? The helper is small but never skip it.
Common what-questions: What is your name?, What time is it?, What do you do?, What are you doing?, What does it mean?
Test Yourself: WHAT
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. _______ is your name?
2. _______ time does the meeting start?
3. _______ are you doing?
4. _______ does this word mean?
5. _______ is in the bag?
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned what — the question word you will use more than any other. Names, things, choices, information — all of it starts with “what.”
But “what” cannot ask about place. “What is the bathroom?” sounds wrong because the answer is a location, not a thing. There is a different question word for place, and it has just five letters.
Next lesson: Question Word WHERE — How to Ask About Places
My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
