Just like in English, the Spanish language has many irregular verbs. Fortunately for you, the majority of the irregular verbs in Spanish follow a pattern. Therefore, they are much easier to learn once you have learnt the rules when conjugating irregular verbs. With this supreme guide, you will be a master at conjugating irregular present tense verbs before you can say “Spanish”!
Remember, in Spanish, we have to conjugate all verbs according to the person, tense, voice and mood. Let’s get started!
If you remember from our previous lesson about regular verbs, there are three types of infinitives in Spanish: verbs that end in -ar, -er, or -ir. Infinitives are made up of two parts: the stem and the ending. Below you will notice that the stem is written in italics and the ending is in bold:
- Caminar
- Correr
- Vivir
With regular verbs, the stem does not change when it is conjugated.
| Persona | -AR | -ER | -IR |
| yo | camino | corro | vivo |
| vos | caminás | corrés | vivís |
| Tú | caminas | corres | vives |
| él/ ella/ usted | camina | corre | vive |
| nosotros/ nosotras | caminamos | corremos | vivimos |
| ustedes | caminan | corren | viven |
| ellos/ ellas | caminan | corren | viven |
With many verbs in Spanish, the stem changes when you conjugate them, and this is what makes them irregular. In the present tense, we have three main groups of stem changing verbs (with some other exceptions that we will talk about later):
The three main groups of stem changing verbs are as follows:
- e → ie
- e → i
- o → ue
Irregular Conjugations as Used in Argentina
| e → ie sentir | e → i pedir | o → ue poder | |
| yo* | siento | pido | puedo |
| vos | sentís | pedís | podés |
| él/ ella/ usted* | siente | pide | puede |
| nosotros/ nosotras | sentimos | pedimos | podemos |
| ustedes* | sienten | piden | pueden |
| ellos/ ellas* | sienten | piden | pueden |
*You will notice in the above chart that the stem changes in the first person, third person singular and third person plural forms. That is to say: yo, él/ ella/ usted, ustedes y ellos/ ellas.
Irregular Conjugations as Used in Spain:
| e → ie sentir | e → i pedir | o → ue poder | ||
| yo* | siento | pido | puedo | |
| tú | sientes | pides | puedes | |
| él/ ella/ usted* | siente | pide | puede | |
| nosotros/as | sentimos | pedimos | podemos | |
| Vosotros/as | sentís | pedís | podéis | |
| ustedes* | sienten | piden | pueden | |
| ellos/ ellas* | sienten | piden | pueden |
*Here you will notice that the stem changes in the first person, second person (which we can notice is different than the vos form used in Argentina which is not considered irregular), third person singular and third person plural forms. That is to say: yo, él/ ella/ usted, ustedes y ellos/ ellas.
Below is a list of common stem changing verbs in Spanish:
| e → ie | e → i | o → ue |
| calentar, empezar, despertar, mentir, sentir, perder, entender, querer | medir, reír, despedir, impedir, vestir, repetir, servir | contar, costar, dormir, encontrar, volver, soñar, recordar, volar |
Now that we have learned about basic stem changing verbs, we can take a look at some of the exceptions that we talked about earlier.
‘Irregulares Totales’ or Total Irregulars:
| ser | ir | |
| yo* | soy | voy |
| vos* | sos | vas |
| tu* | eres | vas |
| él/ ella/ usted* | es | va |
| nosotros/as* | somos | vamos |
| vosotros/as* | sois | vais |
| ustedes* | son | van |
| ellos/ ellas* | son | van |
Audio for the conjugation of the verb ser in Argentina:
Audio for the conjugation of the verb ir in Argentina:
Audio for the conjugation of the verb ser in Spain:
Audio for the conjugation of the verb ir in Spain:
Now we are going to take a look at irregular verbs that only change their stems in the first person singular. There are three different changes that we make when conjugating these irregular verbs in the first person singular.
In the first category, we change the ending to y:
| dar | estar | |
| yo* | doy | estoy |
In the second category, we change the stem to g.
| hacer | valer | poner | salir | caer | traer | |
| yo* | hago | valgo | pongo | salgo | caigo | traigo |
In the third category, we change the stem to zc.
| parecer | agradecer | conocer | traducir | producir | conducir | |
| yo* | parezco | agradezco | conozco | traduzco | produzco | conduzco |
Now that we have seen irregular stem changing verbs and total irregular verbs, we are going to take a look at the “irregulares mixtos” or mixed irregular verbs.
When dealing with ‘irregulares mixtos’ in Argentina, a -g is added when conjugating in the first person singular, and stem changes in the third person singular and plural.
Take a look at the examples below:
| tener | venir | decir | oír | |
| yo* | tengo | vengo | digo | oigo |
| vos | tenés | venís | decís | oís |
| él/ella/usted* | tiene | viene | dice | oye |
| nosotros | tenemos | venimos | decimos | oímos |
| ustedes* | tienen | vienen | dicen | oyen |
| ellos/ellas* | tienen | vienen | dicen | oyen |
When in Spain, the same rules apply for ‘irregulares mixtos’ as in Argentina, but we must must also implement a stem change when talking in the second person, tú:
| Tener | Venir | Decir | Oír | ||
| yo* | tengo | vengo | digo | oigo | |
| tú | tienes | vienes | dices | oyes | |
| él/ella/usted* | tiene | viene | dice | oye | |
| nosotros/as | tenemos | venimos | decimos | oímos | |
| vosotros/as | teneís | venís | decís | oís | |
| ustedes* | tienen | vienen | dicen | oyen | |
| ellos/ellas* | tienen | vienen | dicen | oyen |
Finally, we are going to look at irregular stem changing verbs with y
In Argentina, the stem changes to -y in the first, third person singular, and third person plural form:
| huir | construir | sustituir | incluir | |
| yo* | huyo | construyo | sustituyo | incluyo |
| vos | huís | construís | sustituís | incluís |
| él/ella/usted* | huye | construye | sustituye | incluye |
| nosotros | huímos | construímos | sustituímos | incluímos |
| ustedes* | huyen | construyen | sustituyen | incluyen |
| ellos/ellas* | huyen | construyen | sustituyen | incluyen |
In Spain, the stem changes to -y in the first person, second person, and third person singular and plural:
| Huir | Construir | Sustituir | Incluir | |
| yo* | huyo | construyo | sustituyo | incluyo |
| tú | huyes | construyes | sustituyes | incluyes |
| él/ella/usted* | huye | construye | sustituye | incluye |
| nosotros/as | huímos | construímos | sustituímos | incluímos |
| vosotros/as | huís | construís | sustituís | incluís |
| ustedes* | huyen | construyen | sustituyen | incluyen |
| ellos/ellas* | huyen | construyen | sustituyen | incluyen |
Ser – to be
Yo soy de España. (I am from Spain.)
Tú eres muy inteligente. (You are very smart.)
Él es mi amigo. (He is my friend.)
Nosotros somos felices. (We are happy.)
Ellos son estudiantes. (They are students.)
Estar – to be
Yo estoy enfermo. (I am sick.)
Tú estás cansado. (You are tired.)
Él está en la oficina. (He is in the office.)
Nosotros estamos en casa. (We are at home.)
Ellos están en la escuela. (They are at school.)
Tener – to have
Yo tengo hambre. (I am hungry.)
Tú tienes frío. (You are cold.)
Él tiene un perro. (He has a dog.)
Nosotros tenemos
And that’s it! Now you just need to practice
With a little bit of practice, you will be an expert in no time! And if you have any doubts, be sure to join us at any of our schools but especially our Spanish School in Toronto!
If you have read the other blogs in this grammar series, you will be aware that there are numerous differences in grammar between English and Spanish, such as the gender of a noun and articles which can often be confusing. Reflexive Verbs are another concept which we do not typically use in English.
What is a Spanish reflexive verb?
At the most basic level, a reflexive verb is something that the subject does to themselves. In English, we don´t specify that it is something we do to ourselves, but in Spanish this is necessary.
How do I know if the Spanish verb is reflexive?
After a while, you will get to know when you are writing if the verb should be reflexive because you will automatically think, “am I doing this to myself?” But when you are starting out and reading Spanish, the giveaway that the verb is reflexive is that it will end with se when using the infinitive and there will always be a pronoun preceding the verb.
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How to use a Spanish reflexive verb?
Using the reflexive is not that much different. You still conjugate it in exactly the same way, but, in addition to the conjugation, you add a pronoun before the verb. Let´s look at a verb which can commonly be used in the reflexive manner – llamar, which means to call. This verb will possibly be familiar to you, as it is one of the first things you learn in Spanish, ie how to introduce yourself. Commonly, you will say me llamo….which literally translated means I call myself…, but it takes the same form as my name is…
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In terms of the conjugation of this verb, in the present tense it is the same as any other verb:
- Yo – llamo
- Tu – llamas
- Él/Ella/Usted – llama
- Nosotros – llamamos
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes – llaman
What does change to make this verb reflexive is the addition of the reflexive pronoun. The pronoun is used to identify who the action is being done to.
| Subject | Reflexive Pronoun | Conjugated verb (llamarse) |
| Yo | Me | Me llamo |
| Tú | Te | Te llamas |
| Él/Ella/Usted | Se | Se llama |
| Nosotros/as | Nos | Nos llamamos |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Se | Se llaman |
List of common Spanish reflexive verbs:
To help you along, here is a list of verbs and their meanings which are commonly used in the reflexive sense. Note that they all end with the common se.
| Verbo | ¿Qué significa? |
| Bañarse | To shower |
| Cepillarse | To brush (teeth, hair) |
| Lavarse | To wash |
| Peinarse | To comb (hair) |
| Enojarse | To get angry |
| Levantarse | To get up |
| Acostarse | To lie down |
| Despertarse | To wake up |
| Dormirse | To fall asleep |
| Cortarse | To cut |
| Llamarse | To call |
| Sentarse | To sit |
| Vestirse | To dress |
| Quitarse | To take off (clothes) |
| Ponerse | To put on (clothes) |
| Irse | To go |
Caution: A verb may be reflexive in one context, but not in another
Don’t get caught up only learning verbs as reflexive. Always think about the context in which you are using the verb.
For example: Me levanto a las 5 de la mañana – I get up at 5 in the morning. One of the key giveaways that this is a reflexive verb is the use of the pronoun me, which signifies that this is an action I do to myself. The verb that is reflexive is levantarse, which means to get up.
Yo levanto mis hijos a las 5 en mañana – I wake my children at 5 in the morning. In this instance, the verb levantar is again being used, but in this case it is not in the reflexive sense. I wake my children is something I do to them, not to myself.
You may think there are many grammar rules (which there are) and you will never learn them (but you will). The important thing to remember is that learning a language is a process that takes time and discipline. Take a look at our blog about the important factors which will determine your success.
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Also read:
Espanhol em Argentina
By Charls Monz, Content Creator for Vamos Academy.
Argentina is the first Latin-American country to legally recognize other non-binary gender categories since July 2021. It became law through a presidential decree. With this action, Argentina joins the group of countries with advanced social rights which also have Non-Binary Documents like Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Canada, and some states of The US.
In this article, we’ll tell you about the important journey that Argentina has gone through in order to achieve a Non-Binary Document for its people.
When it comes to Latin American countries, Uruguay has an Integral Law for Trans People according to which they can change their name and gender on their document but they still only offer two options on their Civil Registry: “Trans Woman” and “Trans Men”, which are deeply stigmatized. It’s curious that neighbouring countries like Uruguay, which have come so far promoting social rights for their people, still have a long way to go.
Also read: Gay Rights in Argentina
This new document provides the possibility of a third option on the gender box in the Argentine DNI (National Document of Identity) besides the customary female and male: an “x” which can be used for non-binary people, as well as intersex, gender fluids, agender or any person who feels their identity doesn’t match with the binary categories. Thanks to this decree, all non-binary people have now the right to ask for an Identity Document and Passport respectful of their self-perceived Gender Identity. It will also help create new data and statistics for an invisibilized population.
This action takes part in a long history of gender rights and social rights for the Argentinian LGTBIQ+ Community. These include Equal marriage in July 2010 (Argentina was the 10th country to approve same-sex marriage), Gender Identity Law in May 2012 and the “Diana Sacayan” Law: which stipulates a quota for hiring transvestites and trans people in the public sector, approved in July 2021. The Gender Identity Law says that every person has the right to the recognition of their gender identity, and can also legally change the data in their National Documents. These actions were also possible thanks to the major social manifestations throughout the years, which became increasingly more important after the appearance of the movement “Ni Una Menos” in 2015.
The “Diana Sacayán” Law was approved in Congress and specifies that at least 1% of jobs in the State must be occupied by transvestites and trans persons who are qualified for the job. This Law intends to provide decent work opportunities for them. The average life span for Trans people in Argentina is around 41 years, due to poor conditions on their quality of life: the majority of them have to leave their houses at very young ages, it’s almost impossible for them to access formal jobs, and the social discrimination is huge. From institutional violence from medical professionals to symbolic violence such as calling trans people by their dead name (the name they were given when they were born). This law it’s named after Diana Sacayán, an activist for the LGTBQ+ community rights, who was brutally murdered in 2015. Her murder was the first one in the country to be contemplated as “aggravated homicide by gender identity or sexual orientation”.
Also read: 5 Best LGBT Hotspots in Buenos Aires
At the presentation event of the new Non-Binary Document, the president Alberto Fernandez, next to Elizabeth Gómez Alcorta (Minister of the Women, Genders and Diversity Ministry) delivered the first 3 Non-Binary Documents. One of the participants at the moment of receiving it opened their shirt and showed the caption: “we are not an X”, demanding that the gender area remain open for all diverse gender identities. Another participant in the public followed the claim shouting: “We are not an X, our internal feeling is not an x”.
For the moment, the “x” is the way Argentina found to follow the international conventions. It chose to adhere to the guidelines of the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization). This organization regulates the standard for international civil aviation and says that is mandatory to complete the gender box: it could be filled with “F” for female, “M” for male or “X” in case it’s indefinite. The Argentine president responded to the claim: “This is only a step we are making that I hope will end the day where nobody will ask you which gender you are” and finished with “Between the ideal and the possible thing, we have to take the possible way because we are each day closer to the ideal”.
One of the first persons that publicly showed their non-binary document was Tani Fernadez, aka “Dyhzy”, Alberto Fernandez’s child. They say: “It’s good to understand that a plastic doesn’t say who I am, nor defines your identity. But it includes me in a legal framework that respects my identity. So I’m very happy about it”. Tani is a reference for the Argentine LGTBQI+ community: they came out as bisexual and went to the presidential inauguration carrying a pin with the LGTBQI+ flag. They were also called out on Twitter by the son of Jair Bolsonaro, comparing a picture of himself with a gun with a picture of Tani dressed as Drag Queen. Dyhzy only sent a message to the LGTBQI+ community in Brazil: “Brasilian brothers, we are fighting together, I love you”.
So, there’s still a long way to go, especially concerning women and the LGTBQI+ community rights. But we are getting there, baby steps. It is crucial that its legal framework joins what is happening in its society and that the Argentine State hear its people out.
Argentina slowly becomes a country with more and more rights for those who “were previously considered minorities”, and also a safe environment for everyone to live, express and love. We can confidently say that Argentina is a great destination for the LGBTQ+ community to discover and to learn Spanish in Buenos Aires
Spain Passes Bill that Allows Individuals to Legally Change Their Gender on National ID’s
According to THE LOCAL Media Outlet “Spain approves trans law that allows easy gender change on ID”
The legislation also bans conversion therapies, promotes non-discrimination against LGBTI people in the workplace and seeks “to advance the inclusion” of transgender women in particular who tend to be disproportionately affected.
In a highly contentious vote, the draft bill aimed at simplifying the process of changing gender on a national identity card was approved by a majority of 188 votes in favor, with 150 against and seven abstentions. The bill is now expected to move to the Senate where it is expected to be passed into law within a matter of weeks, without any significant alterations.
The proposed bill seeks to streamline the gender change process by allowing individuals to request a change based on a simple statement. While this has been welcomed by some LGBTQ equality campaigners, it has sparked a bitter dispute among activists in Spain’s powerful feminist lobby.
Thinking of Visiting Spain? Discover more about gender related topics while visiting our Spanish School in Malaga.
In order to learn Spanish you will need to study vocabulary, grammar, spelling, expressions, intonation and many other aspects of the language that you will certainly learn in our Online Spanish classes. The tips to learn Spanish below will help you a lot.
Although vocabulary may be insufficient by itself , it is very important as it can save you to get through some bad situations. Many times, with just one word, a person can understand what you’re trying to express.
If you love Spanish consider visiting our Spanish School in Malaga or our Spanish School in Buenos Aires and start your language learning adventure!
Here is our basic list of Spanish words that every student needs to know:
| Word | Translation | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Hola | Hello | High |
| Gracias | Thanks | High |
| Por favor | Please | High |
| Amigo(s) | Friend(s) | High |
| Comer | To eat | High |
| Ver | To see | High |
| Escuchar | To listen | High |
| Amar | To love | High |
| Leer | To read | High |
| Chau | Goodbye | High |
| Gustar | To like | Medium |
| Nosotros | We | Medium |
| Tomar | To drink | Medium |
| Grande | Big | Medium |
| También | Also | Medium |
| Ahora | Now | Medium |
| Trabajar | To work | Medium |
| Conocer | To know | Medium |
| Pensar | To think | Medium |
| Encontrar | To find | Medium |
| Donde | Where | Medium |
| Otro | Other | Medium |
| País | Country | Medium |
| Saber | To know | Medium |
| Bien | Good (or well) | Medium |
| Boliche | Disco (or nightclub) | Medium |
| Noche | Night | Medium |
| Te | Tea | Medium |
| Siempre | Always | Low |
| Chico | Small | Low |
| Salir | To leave | Low |
| Hora | Hour | Low |
| Cuando | When | Low |
| Nuevo | New | Low |
| Mujer | Woman | Low |
| Todo | All (or every) | Low |
| Cerveza | Beer | Low |
| Llevar | To carry (or to wear) | Low |
| Día | Day | Low |
| Entender | To understand | Low |
| Other | Other | Low |
Learning Spanish is a valuable skill that can open up new opportunities in both personal & professional life. By mastering these super important Spanish words you’ll be well on your way to having better communication with Spanish speakers while traveling. Not only will this make for an easier time getting around, but will also allow you to connect with the locals.
If you’re interested in taking your Spanish skills to the next level… I highly recommend learning Spanish with us in BA or in Malaga. With a structured curriculum and experienced teachers, you’ll receive guidance and support as you improve your language skills.
Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, there’s always room for growth in language learning. So don’t hesitate, take the first step towards fluency today and sign up for Spanish classes!
Distinguishing the difference between “por” and “para” can be quite a tricky task for many Spanish language learners, and with good reason.
In Spanish, both “por” and “para” mean not only for, but also through, on, in exchange for, by and many others. Taking this into consideration, it is understandable that this topic easily confuses most learners, even those who have an advanced level of Spanish. Por suerte (luckily) this blog is a sure fire way to help you master this confusing topic.
Let’s get started!
Por vs Para
Lets start with “por” as it is the more confusing of the two due to its many uses and different meanings. Por is used to talk about movement, modes and means of travel and communication, exchanges, duration, and motivation, among other things. Let’s take a closer look at some examples of these common uses of por:
- Rule: To express gratitude or apology
| Te pido disculpas por haberte molestado. | I am sorry for having bothered you. |
- Rule: Used for multiplication and division
| Seis dividido por tres es dos. | Six divided by three is two. |
- Rule: used for velocity, frequency or proportion
| El auto va a 150 kilómetros por hora. | The car goes 150 kilometers per hour. |
| Voy al supermercado 3 veces por mes. | I go the the supermarket 3 times per week. |
- Rule: referring to through, by, along, or in the area of
| Andamos por la zona. | We are walking around the area. |
- Rule: used to talk about exchanges, including in sales
| Me vendió las 3 paltas por 100 pesos. | He sold me the three avocados for 100 pesos. |
- Rule: to mean “on behalf of” or “in favor of”
| Yo no voté por el presidente actual. | I did not vote for the current president. |
- Rule: used to express a length of time
| Estuve en la fiesta por solo dos horas. | I was only at the party for two hours. |
- Rule: in cases of mistaken identity or to mean “they take me as/for”
| Me toman por boludo. | They take me for an idiot. |
- Rule: to show reason for an errand (with ir, venir, mandar, volver, and preguntar)
| Paso por el supermercado a las 18 hrs. | I am going to the supermarket at 6 pm. |
| ¿Alguien preguntó por mi mientras estaba en el baño? | Did anyone ask for me while I was in the bathroom? |
- Rule: When followed by an infinitive, an action that is yet to be completed
| Estamos por servir la cena. | We are about to serve dinner. |
- Rule: To express cause or reason
| Mi amiga se mudó con su madre por falta de dinero. | My friend moved in with her mom for lack of money. |
- Rule: “estar por” means to be in the mood
| Estoy por tomar una cerveza. | I’m in the mood for a beer. |
“Por” also appears in many idiomatic expressions. Below Is a list of some of the most common ones for you to familiarize yourself with. Learning these expressions will help you to express yourself in many situations!
- Por adelantado – in advance
- por ahora – for now
- por ahí – around there
- por aquí – around here
- por casualidad – by chance
- por cierto – by the way
- por dentro – inside
- por desgracia – unfortunately
- por ejemplo – unfortunately
- por lo general – generally
- por medio de – by means of
- por lo tanto – consequently
- por mi parte – as for me
- por ultimo – finally
- por primera vez – for the first time
- por todos lados – everywhere
- por favor – please
Now we will move on to “para” which has relatively fewer uses. Para is used to talk about destinations, recipients, deadlines, and goals. Check out the following examples of these common uses of para.
- Rule: to inidicate destination
| Mi abuelo salió para Mendoza. | My grandpa left for Mendoza. |
- Rule: to show the use or the purpose of a thing
| Este cuarto es para los huéspedes. | This room is for guests. |
- Rule: to mean “in order to”
| Para hacer una tortilla de papa, primero freí las papas. | To make a tortilla de papa, first you have to fry the potatoes. |
- Rule: to indicate a recipient
| Este libro es para vos. | This libro is for you. |
- Rule: to express a deadline or specific time
| Necesito la cena lista para las 8 pm. | I need dinner ready by 8 pm. |
- Rule: “estar para” is used to express an action that is about to be completed
| Estaba para salir cuando sonó el teléfono. | I was about to leave when the phone rang. |
It is quite important to learn to use these two prepositions correctly because if you inadvertently substitute one for the other, you might end up saying something altogether different from what you had intended.
Lets take a look at these two examples:
Derek compró el regalo para Nacho.
Derek bought the gift for Nacho.
(he bought it to give to Nacho)
Derek compró el regalo por Nacho.
Derek bought the gift for Nacho.
(he bought it because Nacho could not)
Finally…
“Por” and “para” can also be used in questions. “¿Por qué?” means “Why?” (for what reason) while “¿Para qué?” means “Why?” (for what purpose).
¿Por qué estudias español?
For what reason do you study Spanish?
Possible answer:
Porque es un requisito.
Because it’s required.
¿Para qué estudias español?
For what purpose do you study Spanish?
Possible answer:
Para ser profesor de español.
In order to become a Spanish teacher
Real Life Examples Using Por y Para
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Voy a la tienda por pan. | I’m going to the store for bread. |
| Necesito un lápiz para escribir una carta. | I need a pencil to write a letter. |
| Trabajo por la tarde. | I work in the afternoon. |
| Compré un regalo para mi amiga. | I bought a gift for my friend. |
| Gracias por tu ayuda. | Thank you for your help. |
| Este regalo es para ti. | This gift is for you. |
| Pagué $10 por el libro. | I paid $10 for the book. |
| Este vaso es para agua. | This glass is for water. |
| Por lo general, me levanto a las 7 de la mañana. | Usually, I wake up at 7 am. |
| El regalo que compré es para mi sobrina. | The gift I bought is for my niece. |
| No puedo ir a la fiesta por mi trabajo. | I can’t go to the party because of my work. |
| Quiero estudiar español para viajar a España. | I want to study Spanish to travel to Spain. |
| Pagué $5 por un café. | I paid $5 for a coffee. |
| Compré leche para hacer un pastel. | I bought milk to make a cake. |
| Vamos por un paseo en el parque. | Let’s go for a walk in the park. |
| Esta chaqueta es para el frío. | This jacket is for the cold weather. |
| Agradezco el regalo por tu cumpleaños. | I appreciate the gift for your birthday. |
| Estudio para ser médico. | I’m studying to become |
As you can see, this topic is a bit more complex than what it seems at first glance. However, by learning the principle uses of these two important prepositions you will get the hang of it in no time. Take advantage of our go to guide to become a master of these precarious prepositions!
There are two main types of questions: Yes/No questions and WH- questions.
| Question Word | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| WHERE | Indicates a location or place | Where did you go on vacation last year? |
| WHEN | Indicates a time or date | When is the next meeting scheduled? |
| WHY | Indicates a reason or cause | Why did you choose to study engineering? |
| WHAT | Indicates a thing or idea | What is your favorite movie? |
| WHO | Indicates a person or people | Who is the CEO of Apple? |
| WHOSE | Indicates possession or ownership | Whose car is parked in front of the house? |
WH-questions are questions starting with WH- words including: where, when, why, what, who, whom, which, whose and how.
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Let’s have a look at the different types of question words:
WHERE:
WHERE is used when asking about a place or location.
Examples:
- Where did you buy that book?
- Where were you born?
- Where are you going this weekend?
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WHEN:
WHEN is used when asking about time, an occasion or a moment.
Examples:
- When will I see you again?
- When did they get married?
- When does your bus leave?
WHY:
WHY is used when asking for a reason or explanation.
Examples:
- Why are you always late?
- Why are you so fabulous?
- Why is the receptionist so shy?
WHY DON’T … is used for making a suggestion.
Examples:
- Why don’t we go play outside?
- Why don’t I help you with that?
- Why don’t you do something about it?
WHAT:
WHAT is used when asking information about a specific thing or object.
Examples:
- What is she wearing to the concert?
- What do we need to buy at the supermarket?
- What did the doctor say is wrong with you?
WHAT is also use when asking for a confirmation or repetition.
Examples:
- What did you say?
- What was that? Please repeat.
- What? Are you sure?
WHAT … FOR? Is used when asking for a reason, explanation or asking why.
Examples:
- What will you use the camera for?
- What is Sarah looking for?
- What did Ben ask for?
WHO:
WHO is used when asking about a person or people (the subject of the answer)
Examples:
- Who is the best teacher in the world? Sally is the best teacher.
- Who should work harder? All the employees should work harder.
- Who will cook dinner tonight? My cousin will cook dinner tonight.
WHOM:
WHOM is used when asking about a person or people (the object of the answer)
Examples:
- Whom are they going to visit? They are going to visit their grandparents.
- Whom is she looking after? She is looking for the nurse.
- Whom did you see at the party last night? I saw Jane at the party last night.
WHICH:
WHICH is used when asking about a choice or decision between different alternatives or options.
Examples:
- Which restaurant did you eat at?
- Which colour do you prefer – red or blue?
- Which house is yours, the big one or the small one?
WHOSE:
WHOSE is used when asking about ownership or who something belongs to.
Examples:
- Whose car is parked in my parking space?
- Whose money was that on the table?
- Whose house did you have the party at?
HOW:
HOW is used to ask about the way, manner, condition or quality.
Examples:
- How was the class yesterday?
- How did you go to the park without your car?
- How is the magician doing that?
HOW COME: (Informal) is informally used when asking why or asking for a reason.
Examples:
- How come Jack is the only person with blue eyes in his family?
- How come Karen didn’t complain about the bad service?
HOW + (ADJECTIVE or ADVERB):
HOW + (Adjective or Adverb) is used to ask about different expressions or specific qualities of many different things.
Here are some examples:
- HOW MUCH (Uncountable Quantity)
- How much water is in the Mediterranean Sea?
- HOW MANY (Countable Quantity)
- How many brothers does your father have?
- HOW FAR (Distance)
- How far is the hotel from the beach?
- HOW LONG (Time Duration or Space)
- How long did you take to get home from work yesterday?
- HOW OLD (Age)
- How old was she when she got married?
- HOW OFTEN (Frequency)
- How often does he go to the theatre?
WH Questions Summarized:
The English language is full of complexities and nuances, but one of its most essential tools is the use of WH questions. These questions help us gather information, understand situations, and communicate effectively. In this blog post, we’ll explore the six most common WH questions: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and Whose. Let’s dive in!
- Who
“Who” is used to inquire about a person or people. It’s typically used when we want to know the identity of someone or when we’re looking for more information about a person or group of people.
Example:
- Who won the soccer match yesterday?
- Who is responsible for this project?
- What
“What” is employed when asking about things or situations. It’s a versatile question word, often used to request information, clarification, or the nature of something.
Example:
- What is the capital of France?
- What did you think of the movie?
- Where
“Where” is used to ask about the location or place of something. This question word helps us pinpoint the position of people, objects, or events.
Example:
- Where is the nearest gas station?
- Where did you meet your best friend?
- When
“When” is the question word we use to inquire about time or the chronological order of events. It helps us understand when something happened or is going to happen.
Example:
- When is the deadline for this assignment?
- When did the first humans land on the moon?
- Why
“Why” is the question word we use to seek reasons, explanations, or justifications. It’s essential for understanding the cause or motivation behind an action or situation.
Example:
- Why did she decide to quit her job?
- Why is it important to exercise regularly?
- Whose
“Whose” is the possessive form of “who” and is used to inquire about ownership or responsibility. It helps us identify the person to whom something belongs.
Example:
- Whose umbrella is this?
- Whose idea was it to start the business?
Conclusion:
The six WH questions – Who, What, Where, When, Why, and Whose – are essential tools for gathering information and understanding the world around us. By mastering these question words, you’ll be well on your way to effective communication and comprehension in the English language. So, the next time you’re in need of answers, don’t forget to ask the right WH question!
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