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Forming questions with who, what, where, when, why, which and how.
Practice: build the sentences →Wh-questions request specific information rather than a simple yes or no answer.
Common question words include who, whom, whose, what, which, where, when, why, and how.
Where do you live?
Где ты живёшь?
"Where" asks about place.
What did she buy?
Что она купила?
"What" asks about a thing.
Who called you?
Кто тебе звонил?
"Who" asks about a person.
When will they arrive?
Когда они прибудут?
"When" asks about time.
Why are you upset?
Почему ты расстроен?
"Why" asks about reason.
How did you do it?
Как ты это сделал?
"How" asks about manner.
Whose book is this?
Чья это книга?
"Whose" asks about possession.
Which colour do you prefer?
Какой цвет ты предпочитаешь?
"Which" asks about choice from a set.
When the question word is not the subject, a wh-question normally places the question word before the auxiliary and subject.
For example, Where do you live? and What did she buy?
Where do you live?
Где ты живёшь?
Question word + auxiliary + subject + main verb.
What did she buy?
Что она купила?
Question word + auxiliary + subject + main verb.
When will they arrive?
Когда они прибудут?
Question word + auxiliary + subject + main verb.
Why are you upset?
Почему ты расстроен?
Question word + auxiliary + subject + complement.
How did you do it?
Как ты это сделал?
Question word + auxiliary + subject + main verb.
Where has she gone?
Куда она ушла?
Question word + auxiliary + subject + main verb.
What can we do?
Что мы можем сделать?
Question word + modal + subject + main verb.
Why was she late?
Почему она опоздала?
Question word + form of be + subject + complement.
When there is no other auxiliary, do, does, or did is used to form a wh-question in the simple present or past.
For example, Where do you work?, What does she want?, and When did they arrive?
Where do you work?
Где ты работаешь?
"Do" is used because there is no other auxiliary.
What does she want?
Что она хочет?
"Does" is used because there is no other auxiliary.
When did they arrive?
Когда они прибыли?
"Did" is used because there is no other auxiliary.
Why do you ask?
Почему ты спрашиваешь?
"Do" is used because there is no other auxiliary.
How does it work?
Как это работает?
"Does" is used because there is no other auxiliary.
Where did she go?
Куда она пошла?
"Did" is used because there is no other auxiliary.
What do they need?
Что им нужно?
"Do" is used because there is no other auxiliary.
Why did he leave?
Почему он ушёл?
"Did" is used because there is no other auxiliary.
When be is the auxiliary or main linking verb, the appropriate form of be moves before the subject.
For example, Where are you? and Why was she late?
Where are you?
Где ты?
"Are" moves before the subject.
Why was she late?
Почему она опоздала?
"Was" moves before the subject.
What is your name?
Как тебя зовут?
"Is" moves before the subject.
Where were they?
Где они были?
"Were" moves before the subject.
Why is he angry?
Почему он злится?
"Is" moves before the subject.
Where am I?
Где я?
"Am" moves before the subject.
What are these?
Что это?
"Are" moves before the subject.
Why was it difficult?
Почему это было трудно?
"Was" moves before the subject.
A modal verb normally comes before the subject in a wh-question when the question word is not the subject.
For example, What can we do? and Where should I go?
What can we do?
Что мы можем сделать?
"Can" moves before the subject.
Where should I go?
Куда мне следует пойти?
"Should" moves before the subject.
Why must she leave?
Почему она должна уйти?
"Must" moves before the subject.
When will they come?
Когда они придут?
"Will" moves before the subject.
How could he know?
Как он мог знать?
"Could" moves before the subject.
What may I say?
Что я могу сказать?
"May" moves before the subject.
Why would she agree?
Почему она согласилась бы?
"Would" moves before the subject.
Where can I park?
Где я могу припарковаться?
"Can" moves before the subject.
In perfect constructions, the auxiliary have or has comes before the subject.
For example, What have you done? and Where has she gone?
What have you done?
Что ты сделал?
"Have" moves before the subject.
Where has she gone?
Куда она ушла?
"Has" moves before the subject.
Why have they left?
Почему они ушли?
"Have" moves before the subject.
How has it changed?
Как это изменилось?
"Has" moves before the subject.
What have we learned?
Что мы узнали?
"Have" moves before the subject.
Where have you been?
Где ты был?
"Have" moves before the subject.
Why has he stopped?
Почему он остановился?
"Has" moves before the subject.
What has she said?
Что она сказала?
"Has" moves before the subject.
In progressive constructions, the appropriate form of be comes before the subject.
For example, What are you doing? and Why was he running?
What are you doing?
Что ты делаешь?
"Are" moves before the subject.
Why was he running?
Почему он бежал?
"Was" moves before the subject.
Where is she going?
Куда она идёт?
"Is" moves before the subject.
What were they talking about?
О чём они говорили?
"Were" moves before the subject.
Why are you laughing?
Почему ты смеёшься?
"Are" moves before the subject.
Where was it raining?
Где шёл дождь?
"Was" moves before the subject.
What is he reading?
Что он читает?
"Is" moves before the subject.
Why were you waiting?
Почему ты ждал?
"Were" moves before the subject.
When several auxiliaries are present, only the first auxiliary normally moves before the subject.
For example, What will they have been doing? and Why has she been waiting?
What will they have been doing?
Что они будут делать?
Only "will" moves before the subject; the rest of the auxiliaries stay after.
Why has she been waiting?
Почему она ждала?
Only "has" moves before the subject; the rest of the auxiliaries stay after.
How could he have known?
Как он мог знать?
Only "could" moves before the subject; the rest of the auxiliaries stay after.
What would you have done?
Что бы ты сделал?
Only "would" moves before the subject; the rest of the auxiliaries stay after.
Why will she have left?
Почему она уйдёт?
Only "will" moves before the subject; the rest of the auxiliaries stay after.
Where should we have been going?
Куда нам следовало идти?
Only "should" moves before the subject; the rest of the auxiliaries stay after.
What has he been doing?
Что он делал?
Only "has" moves before the subject; the rest of the auxiliaries stay after.
Why will they have been waiting?
Почему они будут ждать?
Only "will" moves before the subject; the rest of the auxiliaries stay after.
Who asks about a person or people and can function as the subject, object, or complement of a clause.
For example, Who called you? and Who did you meet?
Who called you?
Кто тебе звонил?
"Who" is the subject; no inversion occurs.
Who did you meet?
Кого ты встретил?
"Who" is the object; inversion occurs with "did".
Who is she?
Кто она?
"Who" is the complement; inversion occurs with "is".
Who wants to go?
Кто хочет пойти?
"Who" is the subject; no inversion occurs.
Who are they?
Кто они?
"Who" is the complement; inversion occurs with "are".
Who did she call?
Кому она звонила?
"Who" is the object; inversion occurs with "did".
Who knows the answer?
Кто знает ответ?
"Who" is the subject; no inversion occurs.
Who are you waiting for?
Кого ты ждёшь?
"Who" is the object of the preposition; the preposition can be stranded.
Whom is traditionally used as the objective form of who and is mainly associated with formal English.
For example, Whom did you invite? is formal, while Who did you invite? is much more common in ordinary English.
Whom did you invite?
Кого ты пригласил?
"Whom" is the formal objective form.
Who did you invite?
Кого ты пригласил?
"Who" is much more common in ordinary English.
Whom did she meet?
Кого она встретила?
"Whom" is formal.
Whom should I contact?
С кем мне связаться?
"Whom" is used after a preposition or in formal style.
To whom are you speaking?
С кем вы говорите?
"Whom" follows the preposition in formal English.
Whom did they choose?
Кого они выбрали?
"Whom" is the formal object form.
Whom did you see?
Кого ты видел?
"Whom" is formal; "who" is more common in conversation.
With whom did she work?
С кем она работала?
"Whom" follows the preposition in formal English.
Whose asks about possession or ownership and is normally followed by a noun when used as a determiner.
For example, Whose book is this? and Whose car did you borrow?
Whose book is this?
Чья это книга?
"Whose" asks about possession and is followed by a noun.
Whose car did you borrow?
Чью машину ты одолжил?
"Whose" is followed by a noun.
Whose turn is it?
Чья сейчас очередь?
"Whose" asks about possession.
Whose idea was it?
Чья это была идея?
"Whose" is followed by a noun.
Whose phone is ringing?
Чей телефон звонит?
"Whose" is followed by a noun.
Whose keys are these?
Чьи это ключи?
"Whose" is followed by a noun.
Whose house did they buy?
Чей дом они купили?
"Whose" is followed by a noun.
Whose fault was it?
Чья это была вина?
"Whose" is followed by a noun.
What asks about things, information, actions, or identities depending on context.
For example, What happened?, What did you buy?, and What is your name?
What happened?
Что случилось?
"What" asks about an event or situation.
What did you buy?
Что ты купил?
"What" asks about a thing.
What is your name?
Как тебя зовут?
"What" asks about identity.
What are you doing?
Что ты делаешь?
"What" asks about an action.
What do you want?
Что ты хочешь?
"What" asks about a desire.
What time is it?
Который час?
"What" asks about information.
What did she say?
Что она сказала?
"What" asks about information.
What is the problem?
В чём проблема?
"What" asks about a situation.
Which asks someone to identify one or more items from a defined or limited set.
For example, Which colour do you prefer? and Which of these options is better?
Which colour do you prefer?
Какой цвет ты предпочитаешь?
"Which" asks from a limited set.
Which of these options is better?
Какой из этих вариантов лучше?
"Which" asks from a defined set.
Which book did you choose?
Какую книгу ты выбрал?
"Which" asks from a set of books.
Which train goes to London?
Какой поезд идёт в Лондон?
"Which" asks from a set of trains.
Which one do you want?
Какой ты хочешь?
"Which" asks from a set of items.
Which way should we go?
В какую сторону нам идти?
"Which" asks from a set of directions.
Which student answered correctly?
Какой студент ответил правильно?
"Which" asks from a set of students.
Which of the two is cheaper?
Какой из двух дешевле?
"Which" asks from a defined set of two.
What generally asks about an open set of possibilities, while which usually asks someone to choose from a limited or identifiable set.
Compare What do you want to eat? with 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 set of possibilities.
Which dessert do you want, the cake or the ice cream?
Какой десерт ты хочешь, торт или мороженое?
"Which" asks from a limited set.
What kind of music do you like?
Какую музыку ты любишь?
"What" asks about an open set.
Which of these books have you read?
Какие из этих книг ты прочитал?
"Which" asks from a defined set.
What should we do?
Что нам делать?
"What" asks about an open set of options.
Which route is faster?
Какой маршрут быстрее?
"Which" asks from a set of routes.
What is your favourite colour?
Какой твой любимый цвет?
"What" asks about an open set.
Which colour do you prefer, red or blue?
Какой цвет ты предпочитаешь, красный или синий?
"Which" asks from a limited set.
Where asks about place, location, or destination.
For example, Where do you live? Where did she go? and Where are the keys?
Where do you live?
Где ты живёшь?
"Where" asks about place.
Where did she go?
Куда она пошла?
"Where" asks about destination.
Where are the keys?
Где ключи?
"Where" asks about location.
Where is the station?
Где находится вокзал?
"Where" asks about location.
Where have you been?
Где ты был?
"Where" asks about place.
Where should we meet?
Где нам встретиться?
"Where" asks about place.
Where are they going?
Куда они идут?
"Where" asks about destination.
Where was the meeting?
Где было собрание?
"Where" asks about location.
When asks about time or the time at which an event occurs.
For example, When did you arrive? and When will the meeting start?
When did you arrive?
Когда ты прибыл?
"When" asks about time.
When will the meeting start?
Когда начнётся собрание?
"When" asks about time.
When are you leaving?
Когда ты уезжаешь?
"When" asks about time.
When does the shop open?
Когда открывается магазин?
"When" asks about time.
When was she born?
Когда она родилась?
"When" asks about time.
When should we call?
Когда нам позвонить?
"When" asks about time.
When will they be ready?
Когда они будут готовы?
"When" asks about time.
When did it happen?
Когда это случилось?
"When" asks about time.
Why asks about reason or cause.
For example, Why did she leave? and Why are you upset?
Why did she leave?
Почему она ушла?
"Why" asks about reason.
Why are you upset?
Почему ты расстроен?
"Why" asks about reason.
Why is he angry?
Почему он злится?
"Why" asks about reason.
Why did they cancel?
Почему они отменили?
"Why" asks about reason.
Why do you ask?
Почему ты спрашиваешь?
"Why" asks about reason.
Why was it difficult?
Почему это было трудно?
"Why" asks about reason.
Why are they waiting?
Почему они ждут?
"Why" asks about reason.
Why should I care?
Почему меня это должно волновать?
"Why" asks about reason.
How asks about manner, method, condition, or degree depending on the expression that follows it.
For example, How did you do it? and How are you?
How did you do it?
Как ты это сделал?
"How" asks about manner.
How are you?
Как ты?
"How" asks about condition.
How does it work?
Как это работает?
"How" asks about method.
How can I help?
Как я могу помочь?
"How" asks about method.
How was your day?
Как прошёл твой день?
"How" asks about condition.
How did she react?
Как она отреагировала?
"How" asks about manner.
How do you know?
Откуда ты знаешь?
"How" asks about method.
How are they getting there?
Как они туда добираются?
"How" asks about method.
How can be followed by an adjective to ask about degree or extent.
For example, How old are you? How difficult was the exam? and How expensive is it?
How old are you?
Сколько тебе лет?
"How" + adjective "old" asks about age.
How difficult was the exam?
Насколько сложным был экзамен?
"How" + adjective "difficult" asks about degree.
How expensive is it?
Насколько это дорого?
"How" + adjective "expensive" asks about degree.
How tall is he?
Какого он роста?
"How" + adjective "tall" asks about degree.
How big is the room?
Насколько большая комната?
"How" + adjective "big" asks about degree.
How far is the station?
Как далеко находится вокзал?
"How" + adjective "far" asks about distance.
How long is the film?
Насколько длинный фильм?
"How" + adjective "long" asks about extent.
How hot is it today?
Насколько сегодня жарко?
"How" + adjective "hot" asks about degree.
How can be followed by an adverb to ask about degree or manner.
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" + adverb "quickly" asks about degree or manner.
How carefully should I check it?
Насколько тщательно я должен это проверить?
"How" + adverb "carefully" asks about manner.
How well does she speak English?
Как хорошо она говорит по-английски?
"How" + adverb "well" asks about degree.
How often do you exercise?
Как часто ты занимаешься спортом?
"How" + adverb "often" asks about frequency.
How soon can you start?
Как скоро ты можешь начать?
"How" + adverb "soon" asks about time.
How loudly should I speak?
Насколько громко я должен говорить?
"How" + adverb "loudly" asks about manner.
How easily did he solve it?
Как легко он это решил?
"How" + adverb "easily" asks about manner.
How frequently does the bus run?
Как часто ходит автобус?
"How" + adverb "frequently" asks about frequency.
How much asks about an amount of an uncountable noun or about price, quantity, or degree.
For example, How much money do you need? and How much does it cost?
How much money do you need?
Сколько денег тебе нужно?
"How much" asks about an uncountable noun.
How much does it cost?
Сколько это стоит?
"How much" asks about price.
How much water is there?
Сколько там воды?
"How much" asks about an uncountable noun.
How much time do we have?
Сколько у нас времени?
"How much" asks about an uncountable noun.
How much sugar do you want?
Сколько сахара ты хочешь?
"How much" asks about an uncountable noun.
How much did you pay?
Сколько ты заплатил?
"How much" asks about price.
How much does he know?
Сколько он знает?
"How much" asks about degree.
How much coffee do you drink?
Сколько кофе ты пьёшь?
"How much" asks about an uncountable noun.
How many asks about the number of countable plural nouns.
For example, How many people came? and How many books do you have?
How many people came?
Сколько людей пришло?
"How many" asks about a plural countable noun.
How many books do you have?
Сколько у тебя книг?
"How many" asks about a plural countable noun.
How many students are in the class?
Сколько студентов в классе?
"How many" asks about a plural countable noun.
How many cars did they sell?
Сколько машин они продали?
"How many" asks about a plural countable noun.
How many times did you call?
Сколько раз ты звонил?
"How many" asks about a plural countable noun.
How many languages does she speak?
На скольких языках она говорит?
"How many" asks about a plural countable noun.
How many eggs do we need?
Сколько яиц нам нужно?
"How many" asks about a plural countable noun.
How many questions were there?
Сколько было вопросов?
"How many" asks about a plural countable noun.
How long asks about duration, length, or distance depending on context.
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 length.
How long did the meeting last?
Сколько длилось собрание?
"How long" asks about duration.
How long will it take?
Сколько времени это займёт?
"How long" asks about duration.
How long is the flight?
Какова продолжительность полёта?
"How long" asks about duration.
How long have they been waiting?
Как долго они ждут?
"How long" asks about duration.
How long is the river?
Какова длина реки?
"How long" asks about length.
How long does the course last?
Сколько длится курс?
"How long" asks about duration.
How often asks about frequency.
For example, How often do you exercise? and How often does the bus run?
How often do you exercise?
Как часто ты занимаешься спортом?
"How often" asks about frequency.
How often does the bus run?
Как часто ходит автобус?
"How often" asks about frequency.
How often do you visit your parents?
Как часто ты навещаешь родителей?
"How often" asks about frequency.
How often should I take this medicine?
Как часто мне принимать это лекарство?
"How often" asks about frequency.
How often does it rain here?
Как часто здесь идёт дождь?
"How often" asks about frequency.
How often do they meet?
Как часто они встречаются?
"How often" asks about frequency.
How often do you go to the gym?
Как часто ты ходишь в спортзал?
"How often" asks about frequency.
How often is the meeting held?
Как часто проводится собрание?
"How often" asks about frequency.
How far asks about distance or, in some contexts, the extent to which an action or situation has progressed.
For example, How far is the station? and How far have they travelled?
How far is the station?
Как далеко находится вокзал?
"How far" asks about distance.
How far have they travelled?
Как далеко они путешествовали?
"How far" asks about distance.
How far is it to the airport?
Как далеко до аэропорта?
"How far" asks about distance.
How far did you walk?
Как далеко ты шёл?
"How far" asks about distance.
How far can you see?
Как далеко ты можешь видеть?
"How far" asks about extent.
How far is the beach from here?
Как далеко пляж отсюда?
"How far" asks about distance.
How far has the project progressed?
Насколько продвинулся проект?
"How far" asks about extent of progress.
How far are we from the city centre?
Как далеко мы от центра города?
"How far" asks about distance.
How soon asks about the amount of time before a future event occurs.
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 a future event.
How soon will they arrive?
Как скоро они прибудут?
"How soon" asks about time before a future event.
How soon do you need it?
Как скоро тебе это нужно?
"How soon" asks about time before a future event.
How soon will the results be ready?
Как скоро будут готовы результаты?
"How soon" asks about time before a future event.
How soon can we meet?
Как скоро мы можем встретиться?
"How soon" asks about time before a future event.
How soon will the package arrive?
Как скоро придёт посылка?
"How soon" asks about time before a future event.
How soon should I call you?
Как скоро мне тебе позвонить?
"How soon" asks about time before a future event.
How soon can you finish the report?
Как скоро ты можешь закончить отчёт?
"How soon" asks about time before a future event.
How come can ask for a reason and is generally conversational and less formal than why.
For example, How come you are late? The structure does not use ordinary question inversion.
How come you are late?
Как так получилось, что ты опоздал?
"How come" is conversational and does not use ordinary question inversion.
How come she left?
Как так получилось, что она ушла?
"How come" is conversational and does not use ordinary question inversion.
How come they canceled?
Как так получилось, что они отменили?
"How come" is conversational and does not use ordinary question inversion.
How come you did not call?
Как так получилось, что ты не позвонил?
"How come" is conversational and does not use ordinary question inversion.
How come he is angry?
Как так получилось, что он злится?
"How come" is conversational and does not use ordinary question inversion.
How come we never met?
Как так получилось, что мы никогда не встречались?
"How come" is conversational and does not use ordinary question inversion.
How come it is so expensive?
Как так получилось, что это так дорого?
"How come" is conversational and does not use ordinary question inversion.
How come you did not tell me?
Как так получилось, что ты мне не сказал?
"How come" is conversational and does not use ordinary question inversion.
A preposition can remain at the end of a wh-question in ordinary English or occur before the question word in formal constructions.
For example, Who are you talking to? and To whom are you speaking?
Who are you talking to?
С кем ты разговариваешь?
The preposition "to" is at the end in ordinary English.
To whom are you speaking?
С кем вы говорите?
The preposition "to" comes before the question word in formal English.
What are you looking at?
На что ты смотришь?
The preposition "at" is at the end in ordinary English.
At what are you looking?
На что вы смотрите?
The preposition "at" comes before the question word in formal English.
Who did you go with?
С кем ты пошёл?
The preposition "with" is at the end in ordinary English.
With whom did you go?
С кем вы пошли?
The preposition "with" comes before the question word in formal English.
What are you waiting for?
Чего ты ждёшь?
The preposition "for" is at the end in ordinary English.
For what are you waiting?
Чего вы ждёте?
The preposition "for" comes before the question word in formal English.
Some wh-words can be followed by a to-infinitive when the subject and meaning are clear from context.
For example, I do not know what to do, where to go, or how to solve the problem.
I do not know what to do.
Я не знаю, что делать.
"What" is followed by a to-infinitive.
She asked where to go.
Она спросила, куда идти.
"Where" is followed by a to-infinitive.
He explained how to solve the problem.
Он объяснил, как решить проблему.
"How" is followed by a to-infinitive.
I wonder when to start.
Интересно, когда начинать.
"When" is followed by a to-infinitive.
They decided which to choose.
Они решили, что выбрать.
"Which" is followed by a to-infinitive.
Do you know who to contact?
Ты знаешь, с кем связаться?
"Who" is followed by a to-infinitive.
I forgot where to put it.
Я забыл, куда это положить.
"Where" is followed by a to-infinitive.
She learned how to drive.
Она научилась водить.
"How" is followed by a to-infinitive.
A wh-question does not normally use auxiliary inversion when the question word itself functions as the subject.
For example, Who called you? has no did because who is the subject.
Who called you?
Кто тебе звонил?
"Who" is the subject; no inversion occurs.
What happened?
Что случилось?
"What" is the subject; no inversion occurs.
Who wants to go?
Кто хочет пойти?
"Who" is the subject; no inversion occurs.
Which team won?
Какая команда победила?
"Which" is part of the subject; no inversion occurs.
Who knows the answer?
Кто знает ответ?
"Who" is the subject; no inversion occurs.
What caused the accident?
Что вызвало аварию?
"What" is the subject; no inversion occurs.
Who left the door open?
Кто оставил дверь открытой?
"Who" is the subject; no inversion occurs.
Which student answered correctly?
Какой студент ответил правильно?
"Which" is part of the subject; no inversion occurs.
A wh-question normally uses auxiliary inversion when the question word functions as the object.
For example, Who did you call? and What did she buy?
Who did you call?
Кому ты звонил?
"Who" is the object; inversion occurs.
What did she buy?
Что она купила?
"What" is the object; inversion occurs.
Which book did you read?
Какую книгу ты прочитал?
"Which" is part of the object; inversion occurs.
Who did they invite?
Кого они пригласили?
"Who" is the object; inversion occurs.
What did he say?
Что он сказал?
"What" is the object; inversion occurs.
Whom did you meet?
Кого ты встретил?
"Whom" is the object; inversion occurs.
What did they discuss?
Что они обсуждали?
"What" is the object; inversion occurs.
Which film did she watch?
Какой фильм она смотрела?
"Which" is part of the object; inversion occurs.
Wh-words can combine with nouns, determiners, and other modifiers to form longer question phrases.
For example, Which book did you choose? How many people came? and What kind of music do you like?
Which book did you choose?
Какую книгу ты выбрал?
"Which" combines with the noun "book".
How many people came?
Сколько людей пришло?
"How many" combines with the noun "people".
What kind of music do you like?
Какую музыку ты любишь?
"What kind of" combines with the noun "music".
Whose car did you borrow?
Чью машину ты одолжил?
"Whose" combines with the noun "car".
How much time do we have?
Сколько у нас времени?
"How much" combines with the noun "time".
Which of these options is better?
Какой из этих вариантов лучше?
"Which of" combines with a plural noun phrase.
What type of food do you prefer?
Какой тип еды ты предпочитаешь?
"What type of" combines with the noun "food".
How many books did you read?
Сколько книг ты прочитал?
"How many" combines with the noun "books".
Conversational English allows shortened and reduced wh-question forms when the missing material is obvious from context.
For example, What about tomorrow? Where to? and How about John?
What about tomorrow?
А что насчёт завтра?
A shortened wh-question form in conversation.
Where to?
Куда?
A shortened wh-question form in conversation.
How about John?
А как насчёт Джона?
A shortened wh-question form in conversation.
What now?
Что теперь?
A shortened wh-question form in conversation.
Why not?
Почему нет?
A shortened wh-question form in conversation.
Who else?
Кто ещё?
A shortened wh-question form in conversation.
What else?
Что ещё?
A shortened wh-question form in conversation.
How so?
Как так?
A shortened wh-question form in conversation.
Question forms vary in formality depending on vocabulary, syntax, and whether a full or reduced construction is used.
For example, What do you require? is more formal than What do you need?, while To whom are you speaking? is more formal than Who are you talking to?
What do you require?
Что вам требуется?
"Require" makes this question more formal.
What do you need?
Что тебе нужно?
"Need" is more neutral and common.
To whom are you speaking?
С кем вы говорите?
Fronted preposition and "whom" make this formal.
Who are you talking to?
С кем ты разговариваешь?
Stranded preposition and "who" are more informal.
Whom did you invite?
Кого вы пригласили?
"Whom" is formal.
Who did you invite?
Кого ты пригласил?
"Who" is more common in ordinary English.
What is your address?
Какой у вас адрес?
Full form is neutral to formal.
What's your address?
Какой у тебя адрес?
Contracted form is more conversational.
Form wh-questions by identifying the grammatical role of the question phrase and selecting the appropriate auxiliary, word order, and question expression.
Common mistakes include using do with be, forgetting do-support, using question inversion in subject questions, confusing what and which, using how much with plural count nouns, and using incorrect word order after how come.
Where are you?
Где ты?
Correct: "be" forms the question by inversion.
Where do you be?
Где ты?
Incorrect: "do" is not used with "be".
What did she buy?
Что она купила?
Correct: do-support is used.
What she bought?
Что она купила?
Incorrect: do-support is missing.
Who called you?
Кто тебе звонил?
Correct: no inversion in a subject question.
Who did call you?
Кто тебе звонил?
Incorrect: inversion is used in a subject question.
How much money do you need?
Сколько денег тебе нужно?
Correct: "how much" with an uncountable noun.
How many money do you need?
Сколько денег тебе нужно?
Incorrect: "how many" with an uncountable noun.