A question can begin with a question word and end with a preposition.
The idea
In everyday English, put the question word first and leave the preposition after the verb or the rest of the question: Who are you waiting for? The preposition belongs to the expression wait for. Formal English can put it before whom: For whom are you waiting?
Examples
- Who are you waiting for?
- What are they talking about?
- Who did you travel with?
- What is this button for?
- Which shelf did you put the box on?
- What are you looking at?
Read-aloud uses a synthetic English voice on your device. Quality and availability vary; it does not assess pronunciation.
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Watch out
Do not drop the preposition simply because the question word has moved: Who are you waiting? is incomplete here.
Try it yourself
Choose the missing preposition. Who does the manager speak ___? (to / at)
Show answer or example answer
to
to completes the expression speak to.
Choose the missing preposition. What are you thinking ___? (about / with)
Show answer or example answer
about
about completes think about and identifies the subject of thought.
Choose the missing preposition. Who is she cooking ___? She has a helper. (with / for)
Show answer or example answer
with
with asks about the companion; it remains at the end.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
Choose the missing preposition. Who does the manager speak ___? (to / at)
Choose the missing preposition. What are you thinking ___? (about / with)
Choose the missing preposition. Who is she cooking ___? She has a helper. (with / for)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write a question about someone you speak to and another about something you are looking for.