WH-Word questions in English
and American Sign Language
Edmonds Community College
English as a Second Language
Brenda Aron
English Wh-word questions:
• What are wh-words?
• These are words in the English language that
start with wh that forms the basis of word
questions in English. Can you think of any whword?
• Example: What?
Wh-word questions:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Who?
What?
Where?
When?
Which?
How?
Why?
How much?
How many?
I want to get on bus #49.
49
I want to get on bus #49.
wh-q aux verb verb pronoun
1. English: Who can help me?
topic , indexical verb
wh-q
ASL: HELP-ME WHO CAN?
wh-q
indexical verb
WHO CAN HELP-ME?
wh-q
2. English:
verb
Where does bus #49 stop?
topic
ASL:
verb noun
wh-q
BUS NUMBER 49 STOP WHERE?
wh-q
WHERE BUS NUMBER 49 STOP?
wh-q noun verb noun verb
3. English: Which street does bus #49 stop?
topic
ASL: STREET BUS NUMBER 49 STOP WHERE?
wh-q
WHICH STREET BUS NUMBER 49 STOP?
wh-q noun verb noun
verb
4. English: What time will bus #49 come?
topic
ASL: TIME BUS NUMBER 49 COME WHAT?
wh-q
WHAT TIME BUS NUMBER 49 COME WILL?
5. When does bus #49 come?
adjective
6. How often does bus #49 come?
prep article
7. How much do I pay for the bus?
adj
8. How many times does bus #49 come?
9. Why do I need to ride on bus #49?
~Fini~
Contact Information:
Brenda Aron, MS. Ed; ASLTA
Baron1981@comcast.net
425-998-7936