Important English Questions for Everyday Conversations
When someone starts a sentence with one of these six words it could mean they’re asking you a question: Who, what, when, where, why and how.
Let’s talk about some of the most common questions using these words, and how you can prepare for them in your personal and professional life. Some of them are excellent conversation starters for people you don’t know very well.
If someone starts a question with the word who, they are asking about a person or a group. Here are some very common questions that start with the word who:
Who are you? This question is asking for your name, or something about you, like your position at work.
Who can help me with this? This question is used if someone is looking for assistance with a job or task. It’s one you may find helpful if you’re starting a new job or if there’s something you need assistance with.
Who can help me with… is a useful beginning to a question. You can ask several questions that start with these words. Who can help me with our presentation. Who can help me move this book shelf.
Who? When someone asks a question with just the word who, they want you to clarify your statement. They want to know who you were speaking about.
If you’re speaking with someone and they start a question with the word what, they are looking for information or asking for confirmation of what you just said.
What time is it? This is a very common one, simply asking about the time of day.
What do you think? This is asking for your opinion, whether you agree or disagree and why.
What can I get for you? This is common in restaurants when a waiter walks up to your table to take your order for food or drinks. During social events a host will often ask this.
What do you do in your spare time? This is a question about what you do for fun. What your hobbies are, or what you enjoy doing when you are away from work.
What? Another word for really? When someone is looking for confirmation, or when they don’t believe what you’re saying. If you want someone to clarify what they’ve said avoid saying what. A more polite phrase is to say pardon me, or sorry I missed that.
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If someone starts a question with the word when they are asking about a time or date.
When should I get there? This is asking about the time of day to arrive, or an expected arrival time.
When did you start with the company? This is asking about when you began working where you work. This is another great question to start conversations with new coworkers.
When do you usually go home for the day? This is asking about when the work day ends. However, when do you… is a great way to start a several questions: When do you usually take your lunch break? When do you find the time to complete these reports? When do you typically have your quarterly presentations?
When someone starts a question with the word where, they are asking about a place.
Where do you live? Where do you work? Where were you born?
Where would you like to visit? This is an interesting conversation topic for people you don’t know very well. Who doesn’t like to talk about a dream vacation or destination.
Where can I find the printer? You’ll find this where can I find… is a helpful question beginning when you are located somewhere you don’t know well. Where can I find the bathroom? Where can I find the exit?
Where is main street? Asking for directions is so important. Where is the museum?Where is the corporate office? Where is the airport?
If someone starts a question with the word why, they are asking about a reason for something.
Why don’t we try this instead? A polite way of suggesting a different way of doing something.
Why? When asked on it’s own, just as why? Someone is asking for you to further clarify your statement or the reasoning that led to it.
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If someone starts a question with the word how, they are looking for the way something happens. Or they are asking about the condition or extent of something.
How are you? This is asking about how you’re feeling or whether you’re having an enjoyable day. This is a very common question you hear right after the word hello.
How much does this cost? A very useful question for when you’re shopping or browsing a store to ask about the price of something.
How do I get to the elevator? This can be asked if you don’t know where the elevator is. Questions that start with the words How do I get to… are useful when you’re in new surroundings.
How did the interview go? This is asking about whether an interview went well or poorly. Questions starting with how are or how did are very common. How did the trip go? How are your parents?
How can I help you? This is a common way store staff or servers will start an interaction with you.
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Clearly there are many more questions than we’re able to cover here. Remember to listen for the words who, what, when, where, why and how in your English conversations or the English content you choose to learn from.
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Until next time, keep learning and we’ll talk soon.
