Use 誰 for a person, 何 for a thing, どこ for a place, いつ for time, なぜ for a reason and どうやって for a method. The expected answer tells you which word fits. Compare the examples, then use the table to build your own sentences.
The idea
Use 誰 for a person, 何 for a thing, どこ for a place, いつ for time, なぜ for a reason and どうやって for a method. The expected answer tells you which word fits. Question words usually remain in the position of the missing information: 誰が来ますか asks who is coming, and 何を飲みますか asks what someone drinks. Polite questions often end in か.
| Starting form | Form or example |
|---|---|
| 誰が | 誰が来ますか |
| 何を | 何を飲みますか |
| どこに | どこに行きますか |
| いつ | いつ行きますか |
| なぜ | なぜ勉強しますか |
| どうやって | どうやって行きますか |
Examples
- 朝ごはんに何を食べますか。What do you eat for breakfast?
- 誰が明日ここに来ますか。Who is coming here tomorrow?
- 駅はいったいどこですか。Where on earth is the station?
- いつ日本へ行きますか。When are you going to Japan?
- なぜ日本語を勉強しますか。Why do you study Japanese?
- 図書館へどうやって行きますか。How do you get to the library?
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Watch out
Keep the particle required by the word’s role: どこに asks for a destination, while どこで asks where an action happens. 何 is read なに before を but なん before です.
Try it yourself
Choose the form that completes the sentence. ＿＿に行きますか。――学校に行きます。（どこ／いつ）
Show answer or example answer
どこ
どこ — Use 誰 for a person, 何 for a thing, どこ for a place, いつ for time, なぜ for a reason and どうやって for a method. The expected answer tells you which word fits.
Choose the form that completes the sentence. ＿＿が来ますか。――友達が来ます。（誰／何）
Show answer or example answer
誰
誰 — Use 誰 for a person, 何 for a thing, どこ for a place, いつ for time, なぜ for a reason and どうやって for a method. The expected answer tells you which word fits.
Choose the form that completes the sentence. ＿＿を飲みますか。――お茶を飲みます。（何／いつ）
Show answer or example answer
何
何 — Use 誰 for a person, 何 for a thing, どこ for a place, いつ for time, なぜ for a reason and どうやって for a method. The expected answer tells you which word fits.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Choose the form that completes the sentence. ＿＿に行きますか。――学校に行きます。（どこ／いつ）
Choose the form that completes the sentence. ＿＿が来ますか。――友達が来ます。（誰／何）
Choose the form that completes the sentence. ＿＿を飲みますか。――お茶を飲みます。（何／いつ）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
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Cover the examples. Make two new sentences using the pattern, then check them against the table.