Episode 32: Who? What? Where? When?

Question words — Marilyn Monroe, 1956 (A2-B1)

Grammar Box

Meaning: Question words help us ask for specific information. Who asks about people. What asks about things. Where asks about places. When asks about time. Why asks for reasons. How asks about methods.

Form: Question word + auxiliary + subject + verb?

Example 1: Who is your teacher? (person)

Example 2: Where do you live? (place)

Common mistake: Wrong: Who you are? Better: Who are you?

The Question

Luna listened to a podcast interview. The host asked great questions. The guest gave interesting answers. Luna wondered, “How do you ask good questions? What makes a question powerful?” The watch began to glow. Professor Wisdom appeared. “Let’s meet someone who faced a hundred questions every day.”

The Journey

New York, 1956. The Plaza Hotel. A large room filled with reporters. Cameras flashed everywhere. Microphones crowded the table. Marilyn Monroe sat in the center. She wore a simple black dress. Her blonde hair was perfect. But her eyes showed nervousness.

She wasn’t just an actress. She was the most photographed woman in the world. Everyone wanted to know about her life. Everyone had questions. But Marilyn had learned something important. She could control the conversation. Not by giving answers, but by understanding the questions.

“Miss Monroe, WHO is your favorite director?” a reporter shouted. Marilyn smiled. She knew this was about people. About relationships. “Billy Wilder,” she answered warmly. “He understands actors.”

“WHAT is your next movie?” another voice called. Marilyn recognized this pattern. ‘What’ asked about things. About facts. “It’s a comedy,” she said carefully. “About a girl who wants to be a singer.”

“WHERE do you live now?” More flashes. ‘Where’ wanted location. Geography. “In Manhattan,” Marilyn answered. “Near Central Park.”

“WHEN will the movie come out?” The questions kept coming. ‘When’ asked about time. “Next summer,” she said.

“WHY did you choose this role?” Now it got deeper. ‘Why’ wanted reasons. Explanations. This was the hardest question type. “Because I want to show I can do more than just look pretty,” Marilyn said honestly.

“HOW do you prepare for a role?” ‘How’ asked about methods. Processes. “I study the character for weeks,” she explained. “I try to understand her dreams.”

Luna watched Marilyn handle each question differently. She understood the pattern. Each question word had a purpose. Each one unlocked different information. This was the grammar of curiosity. The structure of understanding.

The room buzzed with energy. Flashbulbs popped like stars. Marilyn stayed calm. She had mastered the art. Not of answering everything. But of understanding what people really wanted to know.

The Insight

Professor Wisdom smiled. “See how Marilyn recognized each question type? English has six main question words. Each one asks for specific information.”

“WHO asks about people. WHAT asks about things or actions. WHERE asks about places. WHEN asks about time. WHY asks for reasons. HOW asks about methods or manner.”

“These words are powerful. They open doors to information. They start conversations. They help us learn. Good questions create good answers. Marilyn knew this. Every reporter’s question told her what information they wanted. She could respond perfectly because she understood the pattern.”

“Remember: Questions don’t just get information. They show what matters to people.”

Practice Zone

More Examples:

1. “Who is your teacher?” — asking about a person
2. “What time is it?” — asking about time (specific info)
3. “Where does he work?” — asking about location
4. “When did you arrive?” — asking about time moment
5. “Why are you happy?” — asking for reason
6. “How do you know her?” — asking about method/way

Exercises:

1. Fill in the blank: “_____ is that man over there?”

2. Choose the correct question word:
   – _____ do you study English? (reason)
   a) What
   b) Why
   c) How

3. Match the question to what it asks:
   – “Where is the library?” → place
   – “Who called you?” → person
   – “When does it start?” → time

4. Complete the question: “_____ did you make this cake?” (method)

5. Your turn: Write three questions about your best friend using WHO, WHAT, and WHERE.

Answer Key:

1. Who
2. b) Why (asking for reason)
3. Correct matching: Where→place, Who→person, When→time
4. How
5. Check: WHO asks about people (Who is she?), WHAT asks about things (What does she like?), WHERE asks about places (Where does she live?)

The Lesson

Luna opened her notebook. She wrote down the six question words. Each one was a key. A key to unlock information. A key to start conversations. A key to understand the world. Marilyn taught her something beautiful. Good questions show real interest. They show you care about understanding. Grammar isn’t just about getting answers. It’s about asking in a way that opens hearts.