Question words like who, what, when, where, and why are important for communication and understanding. Young children often ask “why” to understand reasons, while older kids may focus on “what” for details. Accuracy is required for answering “what,” while “when” and “where” locate events in time and space.
As many parents have explained, the only way to get the answer is to ask the question. Being in a state of not knowing is a deeply important part of any relationship and most types of communication, and in English, as in many other languages, a question word is the simplest way to explain mysteries.
First graders and journalists are taught to remember the list of English question words whenever they are stumped or bewildered. These words are called the five W’s. This stands for who, what, when, where and why.
For a young man, the world is a rotating universe full of all kinds of mysteries. Preschoolers and toddlers are especially partial to the word why. Because it requires explanations, even dissections, because young people want to understand less what, when, or where something happens than the reasons why it does. Because it becomes the all-purpose word. Parents smile when their little one misuses the word, asking, for example, “Why is it the moon?”
Older kids moving into adulthood go through stages where every other question word becomes important as well. What does it matter to kids who are starting to see clear differences between people. This is especially true for teenagers who can’t help but gossip and wonder who they are not.
What is a question word that requires accuracy in answering. He doesn’t want a category in response, but rather details. Whether the question is “What is your intention toward my daughter” or “What is the sum of 1 plus 1,978,932,” a vague answer won’t work.
When and where both answer spoken or unspoken questions by locating events in an environment. When, of course, you ask questions about the time, even though the time might be precise or very general. For example, a mother telling a child to be home by 10 does not mean midnight is close enough. A narrator speaking of a time period several millennia ago when pigs could fly is intentionally keeping time vague as he answers the question of when such things might have happened.
The interrogative word where it wants a ground or a foundation on which an event can take place. Dove means place and can be answered with a place name or a pronoun. The answer to “Where did you go on vacation” could be Paris or it could be right here.
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