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Basic Question Words

Question word + particle + predicate

Explanation

Essential question words: 何 (what), 誰 (who), どこ (where), いつ (when), どう (how), どうして/なぜ (why), いくら (how much), いくつ (how many/how old), どちら/どっち (which of two), どれ (which of many)

Formation

Question word + appropriate particle + verb/adjective

Examples

誰が来ましたか。
Dare ga kimashita ka.
Who came?
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どこで買いましたか。
Doko de kaimashita ka.
Where did you buy it?
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いつ行きますか。
Itsu ikimasu ka.
When will you go?
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Usage Notes

  • Always use が (not は) after who/what as subject
  • なに vs なん: なん before d/t sounds
  • どちら is polite, どっち is casual
  • Question words + も + negative = nothing/nobody

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • 誰は came? ✗ → 誰が came? ✓
  • Particle usage varies by question word
  • Don't drop particles with question words

Related Grammar from "Question Words and Structures"

何 (What) - Special Uses

Various depending on context

何 has different pronunciations and uses depending on context.

More from "Question Words and Structures"