You can use the question words: "what?", "where?", "when?", "why?", "who?" and "how?" to help you plan and structure plots, setting and characters for your English writing.
You are, of course, very familiar with question words. After all, you've been asking questions for years! Human beings are very inquisitive by nature. These words are also very practical in helping you to structure any piece of writing. Your audience will always want to know WHO - "who did it?", "who is involved?", "who should I care about?".
Knowing WHERE helps your audience to picture the events precisely. The sentence, "They pitched their tent in the shade of a giant oak in the midst of a sunny field" presents an image very different to that produced by "They pitched their tent in the midst of Leicester's biggest roundabout", doesn't it? Knowing WHEN helps the reader to keep events in order and is especially important in factual reports, thrillers and mysteries.
Bear these questions in mind as you plan your writing. If you can't answer them, your reader certainly won't be able to!
Get familiar with words using questions by playing this quiz on the subject.
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Select which of these words is answered by the following.
In the dense forest ....... |
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What |
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When |
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Why |
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2.
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Select which of these words is answered by the following.
The midnight hour was fast approaching ....... |
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What |
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When |
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Why |
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3.
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Select which of these words is answered by the following.
He waited, just as the message had stated. |
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What |
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When |
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4.
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Select which of these words is answered by the following.
The spy crept in ....... |
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When |
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Why |
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5.
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Select which of these words is answered by the following.
....... but the alarm sounded. |
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What |
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Who |
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Why |
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6.
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Select which of these words is answered by the following.
The spy crept in quietly. |
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How |
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When |
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Where |
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Why |
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7.
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Select which of these words is answered by the following.
The floorboard creaked painfully. |
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How |
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When |
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Where |
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Why |
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8.
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Select which of these words is answered by the following.
The old, rusting tractor ....... |
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How |
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What |
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Where |
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Why |
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9.
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Select which of these words is answered by the following.
....... lay in the barn at the end of the field ....... |
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How |
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What |
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Where |
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Who |
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10.
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Select which of these words is answered by the following.
....... because its engine would not start. |
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How |
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Where |
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Who |
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Why |
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1.
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Select which of these words is answered by the following.
In the dense forest ....... |
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| [ ] |
What |
| [ ] |
When |
| [x] |
Where |
| [ ] |
Why |
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2.
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Select which of these words is answered by the following.
The midnight hour was fast approaching ....... |
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| [ ] |
What |
| [x] |
When |
| [ ] |
Where |
| [ ] |
Why |
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3.
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Select which of these words is answered by the following.
He waited, just as the message had stated. |
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| [ ] |
What |
| [ ] |
When |
| [ ] |
Where |
| [x] |
Why |
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4.
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Select which of these words is answered by the following.
The spy crept in ....... |
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| [ ] |
When |
| [ ] |
Where |
| [x] |
Who |
| [ ] |
Why |
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5.
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Select which of these words is answered by the following.
....... but the alarm sounded. |
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| [x] |
What |
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Where |
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Who |
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Why |
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6.
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Select which of these words is answered by the following.
The spy crept in quietly. |
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| [x] |
How |
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When |
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Where |
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Why |
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7.
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Select which of these words is answered by the following.
The floorboard creaked painfully. |
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| [x] |
How |
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When |
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Where |
| [ ] |
Why |
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8.
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Select which of these words is answered by the following.
The old, rusting tractor ....... |
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How |
| [x] |
What |
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Where |
| [ ] |
Why |
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9.
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Select which of these words is answered by the following.
....... lay in the barn at the end of the field ....... |
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How |
| [ ] |
What |
| [x] |
Where |
| [ ] |
Who |
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10.
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Select which of these words is answered by the following.
....... because its engine would not start. |
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How |
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Where |
| [ ] |
Who |
| [x] |
Why |
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