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Using interrogative words and phrases correctly.
Practice: build the sentences →Question words identify the type of information that a speaker is asking for.
Common interrogative words include who, whom, whose, what, which, where, when, why, and how.
Who is that?
Кто это?
"Who" asks about a person.
What do you need?
Что тебе нужно?
"What" asks about a thing or information.
Where do you live?
Где ты живёшь?
"Where" asks about a place.
When does the meeting start?
Когда начинается встреча?
"When" asks about time.
How did you solve it?
Как ты это решил?
"How" asks about manner or method.
Who asks about a person or people.
For example, Who is that? and Who called you?
Who is that?
Кто это?
"Who" asks about a person.
Who called you?
Кто тебе позвонил?
"Who" asks about the person who performed the action.
Who is coming to dinner?
Кто приходит на ужин?
"Who" asks about the people involved.
Who wrote this book?
Кто написал эту книгу?
"Who" asks about the author.
Who did you see at the party?
Кого ты видел на вечеринке?
"Who" asks about the person you saw.
Whom is the traditional objective form of who and is mainly used in formal English.
For example, Whom did you invite? is formal, while Who did you invite? is standard in most everyday contexts.
Whom did you invite?
Кого ты пригласил?
"Whom" is the formal object form of "who".
Whom did she marry?
За кого она вышла замуж?
"Whom" functions as the object of the verb.
To whom did you speak?
С кем ты говорил?
"Whom" follows the preposition "to" in formal English.
Whom are you waiting for?
Кого ты ждёшь?
"Whom" is used in formal style as the object of "for".
Whom should I contact?
С кем мне связаться?
"Whom" asks about the object of "contact".
Who is now widely used for both subject and object roles, while whom is mainly retained in formal object contexts and after prepositions.
For example, Who did you meet? is ordinary English, while To whom did you speak? is formal.
Who did you meet?
Кого ты встретил?
"Who" is standard in most everyday contexts.
Whom did you meet?
Кого ты встретил?
"Whom" is the formal object form.
Who is calling?
Кто звонит?
"Who" is the subject form.
To whom did you speak?
С кем ты говорил?
"Whom" is used after a preposition in formal English.
Who are you talking to?
С кем ты разговариваешь?
"Who" is common in informal English with a stranded preposition.
Whose asks about possession, ownership, or association.
For example, Whose coat is this? and Whose idea was it?
Whose coat is this?
Чьё это пальто?
"Whose" asks about possession.
Whose idea was it?
Чья это была идея?
"Whose" asks about the origin of an idea.
Whose car is parked outside?
Чья машина припаркована снаружи?
"Whose" asks about the owner of the car.
Whose turn is it?
Чья сейчас очередь?
"Whose" asks about association or belonging.
Whose phone is ringing?
Чей телефон звонит?
"Whose" asks about the owner of the phone.
Whose can function as a determiner directly before a noun.
For example, Whose car is that? and Whose book did you borrow?
Whose car is that?
Чья это машина?
"Whose" comes directly before the noun "car".
Whose book did you borrow?
Чью книгу ты одолжил?
"Whose" determines the noun "book".
Whose umbrella is this?
Чей это зонт?
"Whose" functions as a determiner before "umbrella".
Whose house are you visiting?
Чей дом ты посещаешь?
"Whose" modifies the noun "house".
Whose jacket is on the chair?
Чья куртка на стуле?
"Whose" comes before the noun "jacket".
Whose can also function independently without a following noun when the possessed item is understood.
For example, Whose is this? and Whose are those keys?
Whose is this?
Чьё это?
"Whose" stands alone without a following noun.
Whose are those keys?
Чьи это ключи?
"Whose" functions as a pronoun.
Whose is the red one?
Чей красный?
"Whose" replaces the possessed noun.
Whose was the winning entry?
Чья была выигрышная заявка?
"Whose" is used independently.
Whose are these?
Чьи это?
"Whose" acts as a pronoun in the question.
What asks about things, information, actions, or identities when the possible answer is not treated as a limited choice.
For example, What happened? What do you need? and What is your name?
What happened?
Что случилось?
"What" asks about an event or situation.
What do you need?
Что тебе нужно?
"What" asks about a thing or information.
What is your name?
Как тебя зовут?
"What" asks about identity.
What are you doing?
Что ты делаешь?
"What" asks about an action.
What did she say?
Что она сказала?
"What" asks about the content of speech.
What can occur before a noun to ask for information about the type, identity, or nature of something.
For example, What time is it? What kind of music do you like?
What time is it?
Который час?
"What" comes before the noun "time".
What kind of music do you like?
Какую музыку ты любишь?
"What" determines the noun "kind".
What colour is your car?
Какого цвета твоя машина?
"What" modifies the noun "colour".
What size shoes do you wear?
Какой размер обуви ты носишь?
"What" comes before the noun "size".
What day is the meeting?
В какой день встреча?
"What" determines the noun "day".
Which asks someone to select or identify an item from a defined, known, or limited set.
For example, Which option do you prefer? and Which bus goes to the centre?
Which option do you prefer?
Какой вариант ты предпочитаешь?
"Which" asks for a choice from a limited set.
Which bus goes to the centre?
Какой автобус идёт в центр?
"Which" asks the listener to identify one item from a known set.
Which colour do you like best?
Какой цвет тебе нравится больше всего?
"Which" asks for a selection from a set of colours.
Which train should we take?
На какой поезд нам сесть?
"Which" asks for a choice among trains.
Which of these books is yours?
Какая из этих книг твоя?
"Which" asks for identification from a limited set.
Which can occur directly before a noun when the speaker asks the listener to identify one item from a known set.
For example, Which book did you buy?
Which book did you buy?
Какую книгу ты купил?
"Which" comes directly before the noun "book".
Which film do you want to watch?
Какой фильм ты хочешь посмотреть?
"Which" determines the noun "film".
Which route is faster?
Какой маршрут быстрее?
"Which" modifies the noun "route".
Which restaurant did they choose?
Какой ресторан они выбрали?
"Which" comes before the noun "restaurant".
Which day works best for you?
Какой день тебе подходит больше всего?
"Which" determines the noun "day".
Which can occur without a following noun when the noun or choice is already understood.
For example, Which do you prefer?
Which do you prefer?
Какой ты предпочитаешь?
"Which" stands alone because the choice is understood.
Which is yours?
Который твой?
"Which" functions as a pronoun.
Which of them is correct?
Какой из них правильный?
"Which" is used without a following noun.
Which did she choose?
Какой она выбрала?
"Which" replaces the understood noun.
Which are the best?
Какие лучшие?
"Which" acts as a pronoun in the question.
What generally asks about an open range of possibilities, while which generally asks for selection from a limited or identifiable set.
For example, What do you want to eat? versus Which dessert do you want, the cake or the ice cream?
What do you want to eat?
Что ты хочешь съесть?
"What" asks about an open range of possibilities.
Which dessert do you want, the cake or the ice cream?
Какой десерт ты хочешь, торт или мороженое?
"Which" asks for a choice from a limited set.
What kind of car do you drive?
Какую машину ты водишь?
"What" asks about type in an open way.
Which car is faster, the red one or the blue one?
Какая машина быстрее, красная или синяя?
"Which" selects from a known pair.
What would you like to drink?
Что ты хотел бы выпить?
"What" is open-ended.
Where asks about place, location, or destination.
For example, Where do you live? Where is the station? and Where did they go?
Where do you live?
Где ты живёшь?
"Where" asks about place.
Where is the station?
Где находится станция?
"Where" asks about location.
Where did they go?
Куда они пошли?
"Where" asks about destination.
Where are my keys?
Где мои ключи?
"Where" asks about the place of something.
Where should we meet?
Где нам встретиться?
"Where" asks about a meeting place.
When asks about time or the point at which an event occurs.
For example, When did she arrive? and When will the meeting start?
When did she arrive?
Когда она приехала?
"When" asks about time.
When will the meeting start?
Когда начнётся встреча?
"When" asks about the time of an event.
When do you usually get up?
Когда ты обычно встаёшь?
"When" asks about a habitual time.
When is your birthday?
Когда твой день рождения?
"When" asks about a date.
When are they coming?
Когда они приходят?
"When" asks about the time of arrival.
Why asks about reason, cause, or purpose depending on context.
For example, Why did you leave? and Why is the system failing?
Why did you leave?
Почему ты ушёл?
"Why" asks about reason.
Why is the system failing?
Почему система даёт сбой?
"Why" asks about cause.
Why are you laughing?
Почему ты смеёшься?
"Why" asks about the reason for an action.
Why did she call you?
Почему она тебе позвонила?
"Why" asks about purpose or cause.
Why is it so cold?
Почему так холодно?
"Why" asks about the reason for a state.
How asks about manner, method, condition, or degree.
For example, How did you solve it? and How are you feeling?
How did you solve it?
Как ты это решил?
"How" asks about method.
How are you feeling?
Как ты себя чувствуешь?
"How" asks about condition.
How does this machine work?
Как работает эта машина?
"How" asks about manner of operation.
How did the accident happen?
Как произошла авария?
"How" asks about the way something happened.
How can I help you?
Как я могу тебе помочь?
"How" asks about method or possibility.
How can be followed by an adjective to ask about degree or extent.
For example, How old are you? How difficult is it? and How expensive was the repair?
How old are you?
Сколько тебе лет?
"How" is followed by the adjective "old" to ask about age.
How difficult is it?
Насколько это сложно?
"How" plus the adjective "difficult" asks about degree.
How expensive was the repair?
Насколько дорогим был ремонт?
"How" plus "expensive" asks about extent.
How tall is your brother?
Какого роста твой брат?
"How" plus "tall" asks about height.
How long is the film?
Какой длинный фильм?
"How" plus "long" asks about extent.
How can be followed by an adverb to ask about the degree or manner of an action.
For example, How quickly can you finish? and How carefully should I check it?
How quickly can you finish?
Как быстро ты можешь закончить?
"How" plus the adverb "quickly" asks about degree or speed.
How carefully should I check it?
Насколько тщательно мне это проверить?
"How" plus "carefully" asks about manner and degree.
How well does she speak French?
Насколько хорошо она говорит по-французски?
"How" plus "well" asks about degree of ability.
How often do you exercise?
Как часто ты тренируешься?
"How" plus "often" asks about frequency.
How soon can you start?
Как скоро ты можешь начать?
"How" plus "soon" asks about time before an event.
How much asks about the amount of an uncountable noun, price, or degree.
For example, How much water do you need? and How much does it cost?
How much water do you need?
Сколько воды тебе нужно?
"How much" is used with the uncountable noun "water".
How much does it cost?
Сколько это стоит?
"How much" asks about price.
How much time do we have?
Сколько у нас времени?
"How much" modifies the uncountable noun "time".
How much sugar do you take?
Сколько сахара ты кладёшь?
"How much" is used with "sugar", an uncountable noun.
How much do you know about it?
Насколько много ты об этом знаешь?
"How much" asks about degree.
How many asks about the number of countable plural nouns.
For example, How many students are there?
How many students are there?
Сколько там студентов?
"How many" is used with the countable plural noun "students".
How many books did you buy?
Сколько книг ты купил?
"How many" asks about the number of countable items.
How many people came?
Сколько людей пришло?
"How many" modifies the plural noun "people".
How many cups do we need?
Сколько чашек нам нужно?
"How many" is used with the countable noun "cups".
How many times did she call?
Сколько раз она звонила?
"How many" asks about the number of occurrences.
How long can ask about duration, physical length, or the extent of a period or process.
For example, How long have you lived here? and How long is the bridge?
How long have you lived here?
Как долго ты здесь живёшь?
"How long" asks about duration.
How long is the bridge?
Какова длина моста?
"How long" asks about physical length.
How long does the film last?
Сколько длится фильм?
"How long" asks about duration of time.
How long is the journey?
Какова продолжительность поездки?
"How long" asks about extent of time.
How long will you stay?
Как долго ты останешься?
"How long" asks about a period of time.
How often asks about frequency.
For example, How often do you exercise?
How often do you exercise?
Как часто ты тренируешься?
"How often" asks about frequency.
How often does she visit her parents?
Как часто она навещает родителей?
"How often" asks about repeated occurrences.
How often do you eat out?
Как часто ты ешь вне дома?
"How often" asks about habit frequency.
How often is the bus late?
Как часто автобус опаздывает?
"How often" asks about regularity.
How often should I take this medicine?
Как часто мне принимать это лекарство?
"How often" asks about intervals.
How far asks about physical distance or the extent of movement or progress.
For example, How far is the station? and How far have you travelled?
How far is the station?
Как далеко находится станция?
"How far" asks about physical distance.
How far have you travelled?
Как далеко ты путешествовал?
"How far" asks about extent of movement.
How far is it from here to the airport?
Как далеко отсюда до аэропорта?
"How far" asks about distance between two places.
How far did they walk?
Как далеко они прошли?
"How far" asks about distance covered.
How far has the project progressed?
Насколько продвинулся проект?
"How far" asks about extent of progress.
How soon asks about the amount of time before an expected future event.
For example, How soon can you start? and How soon will they arrive?
How soon can you start?
Как скоро ты можешь начать?
"How soon" asks about time before an expected event.
How soon will they arrive?
Как скоро они прибудут?
"How soon" asks about the amount of time before arrival.
How soon do you need it?
Как скоро тебе это нужно?
"How soon" asks about urgency.
How soon can we meet?
Как скоро мы можем встретиться?
"How soon" asks about the earliest possible time.
How soon will the results be ready?
Как скоро результаты будут готовы?
"How soon" asks about expected future completion.
How old asks about age.
For example, How old is your brother?
How old is your brother?
Сколько лет твоему брату?
"How old" asks about age.
How old are you?
Сколько тебе лет?
"How old" is the standard question about age.
How old is this building?
Сколько лет этому зданию?
"How old" asks about the age of a thing.
How old was she when she moved?
Сколько ей было лет, когда она переехала?
"How old" asks about age at a past time.
How old are your children?
Сколько лет твоим детям?
"How old" asks about the ages of people.
How far normally asks about distance, while how long can ask about duration or physical length.
For example, How far is the station? versus How long is the journey?
How far is the station?
Как далеко находится станция?
"How far" asks about distance.
How long is the journey?
Какова продолжительность поездки?
"How long" asks about duration.
How far did you run?
Как далеко ты пробежал?
"How far" asks about distance covered.
How long did you run?
Как долго ты бегал?
"How long" asks about time spent.
How long is the bridge?
Какова длина моста?
"How long" can ask about physical length.
How much is used with uncountable nouns and how many with countable plural nouns.
For example, How much money? but How many books?
How much money do you need?
Сколько денег тебе нужно?
"How much" is used with the uncountable noun "money".
How many books did you buy?
Сколько книг ты купил?
"How many" is used with the countable plural noun "books".
How much water is there?
Сколько там воды?
"How much" is used with "water", an uncountable noun.
How many students are in the class?
Сколько студентов в классе?
"How many" is used with the countable plural noun "students".
How much time do we have?
Сколько у нас времени?
"How much" is used with the uncountable noun "time".
What kind of asks about the type or category to which something belongs.
For example, What kind of music do you like?
What kind of music do you like?
Какую музыку ты любишь?
"What kind of" asks about type or category.
What kind of car do you drive?
Какую машину ты водишь?
"What kind of" asks about the type of car.
What kind of food do you prefer?
Какую еду ты предпочитаешь?
"What kind of" asks about category of food.
What kind of books does she read?
Какие книги она читает?
"What kind of" asks about the type of books.
What kind of problem is it?
Что это за проблема?
"What kind of" asks about the nature of a problem.
What sort of and what type of can ask about category or characteristics, with differences mainly in register and collocation.
For example, What sort of books do you read? and What type of software do you use?
What sort of books do you read?
Какие книги ты читаешь?
"What sort of" asks about category or characteristics.
What type of software do you use?
Какое программное обеспечение ты используешь?
"What type of" asks about type or category.
What sort of person is he?
Что он за человек?
"What sort of" asks about characteristics.
What type of music do you enjoy?
Какую музыку ты любишь?
"What type of" asks about a category.
What sort of weather do you prefer?
Какую погоду ты предпочитаешь?
"What sort of" asks about type of weather.
What time asks for a specific clock time.
For example, What time does the train leave?
What time does the train leave?
Во сколько уходит поезд?
"What time" asks for a specific clock time.
What time is it?
Который час?
"What time" asks for the current time.
What time do you usually get up?
Во сколько ты обычно встаёшь?
"What time" asks about a habitual time.
What time does the meeting start?
Во сколько начинается встреча?
"What time" asks about the start time.
What time should we arrive?
Во сколько нам следует прийти?
"What time" asks about the expected time.
What for can ask about purpose in informal English and is often equivalent to why or what is the purpose of.
For example, What did you do that for? asks about the reason or purpose of an action.
What did you do that for?
Зачем ты это сделал?
"What for" asks about reason or purpose.
What is this tool for?
Для чего этот инструмент?
"What for" asks about purpose.
What are you waiting for?
Чего ты ждёшь?
"What for" asks about the object or purpose of waiting.
What did she apologize for?
За что она извинилась?
"What for" asks about the reason for an apology.
What is this button for?
Для чего эта кнопка?
"What for" asks about function or purpose.
How come is a conversational expression used to ask why and normally keeps statement word order.
For example, How come you are late?
How come you are late?
Почему ты опоздал?
"How come" asks why in a conversational way and keeps statement word order.
How come she did not call?
Почему она не позвонила?
"How come" introduces a question about reason.
How come they left so early?
Почему они ушли так рано?
"How come" is followed by statement order.
How come you never told me?
Почему ты мне никогда не говорил?
"How come" asks about an unexpected situation.
How come this is so expensive?
Почему это так дорого?
"How come" asks about reason in informal English.
Question words can combine with prepositions, either with the preposition stranded or placed before the question phrase in formal English.
For example, Who are you talking to? and To whom are you talking?
Who are you talking to?
С кем ты разговариваешь?
The preposition "to" is stranded at the end.
To whom are you talking?
С кем ты разговариваешь?
The preposition "to" is placed before "whom" in formal English.
What are you looking at?
На что ты смотришь?
The preposition "at" is stranded at the end.
At what are you looking?
На что ты смотришь?
The preposition "at" comes before "what" in formal style.
Where are you from?
Откуда ты?
The preposition "from" is stranded in the common question.
Some question words can be followed by a to-infinitive when the meaning and understood subject are clear.
For example, what to do, where to go, how to begin, and which one to choose.
I do not know what to do.
Я не знаю, что делать.
"What" is followed by the to-infinitive "to do".
She asked where to go.
Она спросила, куда идти.
"Where" is followed by the to-infinitive "to go".
He explained how to begin.
Он объяснил, как начать.
"How" is followed by the to-infinitive "to begin".
I cannot decide which one to choose.
Я не могу решить, какой выбрать.
"Which one" is followed by the to-infinitive "to choose".
They discussed when to leave.
Они обсуждали, когда уходить.
"When" is followed by the to-infinitive "to leave".
Choose the question word according to the information required and use the correct countability, possession, selection, degree, time, place, or manner pattern.
Common mistakes include confusing what with which, how much with how many, whose with who's, how long with how often, and how far with how long.
What do you want to eat?
Что ты хочешь съесть?
Use "what" for an open range of possibilities.
Which dessert do you want, the cake or the ice cream?
Какой десерт ты хочешь, торт или мороженое?
Use "which" for a limited or identifiable set.
How much money do you need?
Сколько денег тебе нужно?
Use "how much" with uncountable nouns.
How many books did you buy?
Сколько книг ты купил?
Use "how many" with countable plural nouns.
Whose coat is this?
Чьё это пальто?
Use "whose" for possession, not the contraction "who is".