Comprehension

WH-Questions

Answering who, what, where, when, why and how.

Mastered by: ASHA has children asking "why" and "how", and answering simple questions, in the 2-to-3-year band
Practice items: 34
Sections: 4

What this skill is

WH-questions come in a developmental order that follows how abstract the answer is. "What" and "where" ask about visible, concrete things, so they come first. "Who" needs person categories. "Why" requires causal reasoning, "how" requires describing a process, and "when" requires a sense of time - which is exactly why it comes last.

What to expect

A three-year-old asked "why did the boy cry?" may confidently answer "because" and stop, or give a "what" answer instead. That is normal. Watch for a child who answers a different question than the one asked - answering "where" when you asked "when" - which tells you the question form itself has not been sorted out yet.

Try this at home

Read the same familiar book over and over and ask one question type at a time. Do a whole week of "where" questions before you touch "why." Mixing all six from the start is how kids end up guessing instead of listening to the question word.

When to refer

Cannot answer "what" and "where" questions about a picture by 3;6, or cannot answer "why" questions by 5;0.

Print it

WH-Questions worksheet34 items across 4 sections, with answer key · PDF

What and Where

10 items

Read the sentence, then ask the question. Accept any reasonable answer.

1.The girl is eating an apple. What is she eating?An apple
2.The dog is sleeping on the rug. Where is the dog sleeping?On the rug
3.Mom is driving the car. What is Mom driving?The car
4.The books are on the shelf. Where are the books?On the shelf
5.The boy is holding a red balloon. What is he holding?A red balloon
6.The cat is hiding under the bed. Where is the cat hiding?Under the bed
7.Dad is washing the dishes. What is Dad washing?The dishes
8.The kids are playing at the park. Where are they playing?At the park
9.She is wearing a blue hat. What is she wearing?A blue hat
10.The keys are in the drawer. Where are the keys?In the drawer

Who

8 items

Read the sentence, then ask the question.

1.Grandma baked the cookies. Who baked the cookies?Grandma
2.The firefighter put out the fire. Who put out the fire?The firefighter
3.Sam and Jake built the fort. Who built the fort?Sam and Jake
4.The doctor checked my ears. Who checked my ears?The doctor
5.My little brother spilled the juice. Who spilled the juice?My little brother
6.The teacher read the story. Who read the story?The teacher
7.The mail carrier brought a package. Who brought a package?The mail carrier
8.Our neighbor mowed the lawn. Who mowed the lawn?Our neighbor

Why

8 items

Read the sentence, then ask why. Look for a "because" answer.

1.The boy is crying. Why might he be crying?Because he got hurt or is sad
2.She put on her raincoat. Why did she put it on?Because it is raining
3.The dog is barking at the door. Why is he barking?Because someone is at the door
4.He is wearing a bandage. Why is he wearing it?Because he got a cut
5.The ice cream melted. Why did it melt?Because it was too warm
6.She is going to the dentist. Why is she going?To get her teeth checked
7.The plant wilted. Why did it wilt?Because nobody watered it
8.He turned on the light. Why did he turn it on?Because it was dark

How and When

8 items

Read the sentence, then ask the question.

1.We go to school in the morning. When do we go to school?In the morning
2.You brush your teeth with a toothbrush. How do you brush your teeth?With a toothbrush
3.We eat dinner at night. When do we eat dinner?At night
4.She got to school on the bus. How did she get to school?On the bus
5.We open presents on my birthday. When do we open presents?On my birthday
6.He fixed the shelf with a hammer. How did he fix it?With a hammer
7.Leaves fall off the trees in autumn. When do leaves fall?In autumn
8.You make toast in the toaster. How do you make toast?In the toaster