Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 47 · A2

What ... ? Which ... ? How ... ? (questions 4)

What + noun for an open choice (what colour, what kind); which for a small, known set of options; how + adjective or adverb to ask about size, age, distance, frequency and so on.

Start the lesson

12Steps · about 18 minutes

In this lesson

What + nounA1 screen of questions
Which: a small number of choicesB4 screens of questions
How + adjective or adverbC2 screens of questions

Point A of 3

What + noun

Use What + noun for a question with many possible answers: what colour, what kind, what time, what size.

  • What colour is your coat?
  • What kind of music do you like?
  • What time is it?
  • What size are your feet?

Point A · Exercise 47.1

Write questions with what, using the word in brackets.

  1. Example

    I've got a new laptop. (make?)

    What make is it?

    AnswerWhat make is it?

  2. Example

    I want a job. (kind?)

    What kind of job do you want?

    AnswerWhat kind of job do you want?

  3. I've got a new jumper. (colour?)

  4. I got up early this morning. (time?)

  5. I love music. (type?)

  6. I want to buy a car. (kind?)

Point B of 3

Which: a small number of choices

Use which when there are only a few possible answers, and you can see or name them. Which can be used alone or with a noun.

For people, use who without a noun (Who is taller?) but which with one (Which student?).

  • There are three bags. Which is yours?
  • Which road do we take? The coast road or the motorway?
  • You can have tea or coffee. Which do you prefer?
  • Which is older, Ann or George?
  • What is your favourite sport? (many possible answers)

Point B · Exercise 47.2

Complete the questions with Which ... ?

  1. Example

    There are three coats on the hooks.

    Which coat is yours?

    AnswerWhich coat is yours?

  2. There are two ways to the station: through the park or along the road.

    shall we take?

  3. A shop has the same jumper in blue and in green.

    do you prefer?

  4. Two buses are at the stop, the 12 and the 39.

    goes to the hospital?

Point B · Exercise 47.3 · part 1 of 3

Put in what, which or who.

  1. Example

    What is that man's name?

    AnswerWhat is that man's name?

  2. Example

    Which road do we take? The coast road or the motorway?

    AnswerWhich road do we take? The coast road or the motorway?

  3. There's apple juice or orange juice. would you like?

  4. " day is it today?" "Friday."

  5. This is a lovely house. room is yours?

  6. is your favourite sport?

Point B · Exercise 47.3 · part 2 of 3

Put in what, which or who.

  1. is more expensive, meat or fish?

  2. is older, Ann or George?

  3. kind of camera have you got?

  4. A: Leo has got four guitars. B: guitar does he play most?

Point B · Exercise 47.3 · part 3 of 3

Put in what, which or who.

  1. nationality are you?

Point C of 3

How + adjective or adverb

How + adjective or adverb asks about amounts and degrees.

Question Asks about
How tall are you? height
How old is Helen? age
How far is it to the station? distance
How big is the flat? size
How often do you go swimming? frequency
How long is the film? length
How much is this? How many people? amount
  • How high is Ben Nevis?
  • How far is it to the station?
  • How old is Helen?
  • How often do you go to the dentist?
  • How much does it cost?

Point C · Exercise 47.4 · part 1 of 2

Complete the questions with How + adjective or adverb (high, long, far, old and so on).

  1. Example

    A: How high is Ben Nevis? B: About 1,345 metres.

    AnswerHow high is Ben Nevis? About 1,345 metres.

  2. A: is it to the station? B: About a mile from here.

  3. A: is Helen? B: She's twenty-six.

  4. A: do the trams come? B: Every eight minutes.

  5. A: is the river? B: About two metres. You can't stand up in it.

Point C · Exercise 47.4 · part 2 of 2

Complete the questions with How + adjective or adverb (high, long, far, old and so on).

  1. A: have you lived here? B: Almost ten years.

Lesson 47 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: How long does it take ... ?Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. What + noun–Not checkedB. Which: a small number of choices–Not checkedC. How + adjective or adverb–Not checked