KS1 Question Words | Meaning of When, Where, How and Why

English Quiz - Question Words (Questions)

This quiz looks at question words and introduces children to who, when, what, where and why. The National Curriculum suggests Year 2 children in KS1 English and Literacy learn how to use question marks and with that, an understanding of question sentence openers will be expected. This task asks them to identify the most appropriate question word.

We know we are reading a question because at the end of the sentence there will be a question mark (?). When you see that sign, it means an answer or reply is needed. Many questions begin with the Five W words (who, where, what, when and why).

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Which of these words is not one of the Five W's?

[ ]	Who
[ ]	When
[ ]	Explain
[ ]	Why

Which of these words is not one of the Five W's?

[ ]	Where
[ ]	Describe
[ ]	When
[ ]	What

'...do sea otters hold hands?' Which word should be used at the beginning of this question?

[ ]	What
[ ]	Why
[ ]	Where
[ ]	Who

'...is the rabbit show jumping competition held?' Which word should be used at the beginning of this question?

[ ]	Where
[ ]	Who
[ ]	What
[ ]	Explain

'...can we play outside?' Which word cannot be used at the beginning of this question?

[ ]	When
[ ]	What
[ ]	Where
[ ]	Who

'...is hiding behind the sofa?' Which word can be used at the beginning of this question?

[ ]	When
[ ]	Why
[ ]	Who
[ ]	Where

'...colour is her hair?" Which word can be used at the beginning of this question?

[ ]	Why
[ ]	What
[ ]	When
[ ]	Where

'...are you going on holiday?' Which word cannot be used at the beginning of this question?

[ ]	Where
[ ]	When
[ ]	Why
[ ]	Who

Only one of these questions is correct; which one is it?

[ ]	What can an ostrich run faster than?
[ ]	When can an ostrich run faster than?
[ ]	Where can an ostrich run faster than?
[ ]	Why can an ostrich run faster than?

10.

Only one of these questions is correct and used for many jokes; which one is it?

[ ]	Where did the chicken cross the road?
[ ]	What did the chicken cross the road?
[ ]	Why did the chicken cross the road?
[ ]	Who did the chicken cross the road?

English Quiz - Question Words (Answers)

Which of these words is not one of the Five W's?

[ ]	Who
[ ]	When
[x]	Explain
[ ]	Why

The word 'explain' isn't one of the Five W's but it is a question word. When you read that word, it is asking for you to add detail in your answer.

Which of these words is not one of the Five W's?

[ ]	Where
[x]	Describe
[ ]	When
[ ]	What

Similar to 'explain', the word 'describe' is asking you to give details when answering a question.

'...do sea otters hold hands?' Which word should be used at the beginning of this question?

[ ]	What
[x]	Why
[ ]	Where
[ ]	Who

They hold hands so that they don't drift out to sea when they fall asleep.

'...is the rabbit show jumping competition held?' Which word should be used at the beginning of this question?

[x]	Where
[ ]	Who
[ ]	What
[ ]	Explain

There is a rabbit show jumping competition in Sweden.

'...can we play outside?' Which word cannot be used at the beginning of this question?

[ ]	When
[ ]	What
[ ]	Where
[x]	Who

By changing the first word of a question, you can change the answer. Asking 'What can we play outside?' can tell us what games we are allowed to play; compared to 'Where can we play outside?' which tells us locations.

'...is hiding behind the sofa?' Which word can be used at the beginning of this question?

[ ]	When
[ ]	Why
[x]	Who
[ ]	Where

Dalmatians are very active, sometimes hyper, dogs.

'...colour is her hair?" Which word can be used at the beginning of this question?

[ ]	Why
[x]	What
[ ]	When
[ ]	Where

If you have red hair, it is harder and takes more stages to change the colour of your hair.

'...are you going on holiday?' Which word cannot be used at the beginning of this question?

[ ]	Where
[ ]	When
[ ]	Why
[x]	Who

Two thirds of all British people go on holiday during July and August. Do you go on holiday during those months?

Only one of these questions is correct; which one is it?

[x]	What can an ostrich run faster than?
[ ]	When can an ostrich run faster than?
[ ]	Where can an ostrich run faster than?
[ ]	Why can an ostrich run faster than?

The answer is a horse! They can run very fast.

10.

Only one of these questions is correct and used for many jokes; which one is it?

[ ]	Where did the chicken cross the road?
[ ]	What did the chicken cross the road?
[x]	Why did the chicken cross the road?
[ ]	Who did the chicken cross the road?

Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side, of course!