What is meant by ‘Wh family’?
The “Wh” family refers to a group of words in English that begin with the letters “Wh” and are often used to ask questions or to introduce relative clauses. These words are interrogative pronouns, adverbs, or adjectives, and they serve various functions in forming questions or providing additional information in sentences.
How many members are there in ‘Wh family’?
There are 7 members in ‘Wh family’. Here are the main members of the “wh” family along with examples:
- Who:
It is used to inquire about a person or people.
E.g. Who is coming to the party tonight?
Who taught you this poem?
- What:
It is used to inquire about things, actions, or ideas.
E.g. What is your favorite color?
What did you buy from the market?
- Where:
It is used to inquire about a place or location.
E.g. Where did you go for your vacation?
Where are we meeting again?
- When:
It is used to inquire about a specific time or occasion.
E.g. When is the deadline for submitting the project?
When are we meeting again?
- Why:
It is used to inquire about the reason or purpose.
E.g. Why did you quit your job?
Why are you late?
- Which:
It is used to ask about a specific choice or selection.
E.g. Which book do you prefer, fiction or non-fiction?
Which one is your house?
- Whose:
It is used to inquire about possession or ownership.
E.g. Whose car is parked in front of the house?
Whose book is left on the table?
- Whom:
It is used to ask about people who become object of verb.
E.g. Whom are you waiting for?
Whom have you invited for the event?
These “Wh” words can also be used as relative pronouns to introduce relative clauses in sentences, providing additional information about a noun.
For example:
The person who won this game is my brother.
I know the reason why she left her job.
This is the place where we met first time.
Understanding the “wh” family is fundamental for forming questions and structuring sentences in English.
