Question word first, verb second
A W-question starts with the question word. The conjugated verb comes second, then the subject. English adds a helper verb (Where do you live?); German does not: Wo wohnst du?
From statement to question
Wo wohnst du?
Where do you live?
Was machst du?
What are you doing?
Wann kommt der Bus?
When does the bus come?
The question words
Watch the two lookalikes: wer looks like where but means who, and wo looks like who but means where. Remember Wer wohnt wo? (Who lives where?)
Nine question words
| Question word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| wer | who | Wer ist das? |
| wen | who (as object) | Wen siehst du? |
| was | what | Was kostet das? |
| wo | where | Wo ist die Toilette? |
| wann | when | Wann beginnt der Film? |
| warum | why | Warum lernst du Deutsch? |
| wie | how | Wie geht es dir? |
| woher | where from | Woher kommst du? |
| wohin | where to | Wohin gehst du? |
wen is wer as the direct object, like who and whom: Wer sieht dich? (the subject) but Wen siehst du? (the object).
wie: the all-rounder
wie also asks for a name, where English uses what: Wie heißt du? (What's your name?). It combines with other words to ask how old, how long, how much.
Wie heißt du?
What's your name?
Wie alt bist du?
How old are you?
Wie lange bleibst du?
How long are you staying?
Wie viel kostet das?
How much does that cost?
wo, woher, wohin
English has one word, where. German has three: wo asks for a place, woher for the origin, wohin for the destination.
Wo ist der Bahnhof?
Where is the station?
Woher kommst du?
Where are you from?
Wohin gehst du?
Where are you going?
Questions you will ask this week
Wie heißen Sie?
What is your name?
the formal version, with Sie
Was kostet das?
How much is that?
Wo ist die Toilette, bitte?
Where is the toilet, please?
Wann fährt der nächste Zug?
When does the next train leave?
Was machst du am Wochenende?
What are you doing at the weekend?
Wie sagt man das auf Deutsch?
How do you say that in German?
Wie viele Geschwister hast du?
How many siblings do you have?
Warum nicht?
Why not?
