what, where, who, how many

The words that start a real conversation — and the moment a lesson stops being the teacher talking.

From age 5Cambridge level: Pre-A1 Starters

Age: Ages 5–11
Level: Pre-A1
Skill: Grammar
Format: Teacher guide

The pattern

Asking: What is it? / Where is it? / Who is it? / How many?
Short answer: It's a cat. / On the box. / My sister. / Three.

Printable worksheet Presentation (PPT)

Sentences a child can say

Tap any sentence to hear it. Every one uses words from a topic pack you already have.

Mini exercise: choose the right word

Five sentences from this page, each with a word missing. A child taps the word that fits and, once it is right, hears the whole sentence.

blank colour is it?
How blank apples?
blank old are you?
blank is your name?
blank do you live?

What you will actually hear

The mistakes that come up in every class, and what is behind each one, with a tag on those a first language makes typical.

What is your name? — I am Sasha, and you? ✓What is your name? — I am Sasha, and you?

Nothing wrong here — this is the goal. A question that earns a question back is the point of the whole cluster.

How many apple?How many apples?

How many always looks at more than one, so the noun takes its -s even when the answer turns out to be one.

Where you live?Where do you live?

Ordinary verbs need do in the question. Where + do + you + live, in that order, every time.

Typical for Arabic speakers

What your name?What is your name?

Arabic asks «⁧ما اسمك؟⁩» in two words, with no verb, so children say What your name? English needs is in the middle, usually squeezed: What's your name?

How to teach it

1
Give one question word a week and put it on the wall. Seven weeks buys you a child who can interview someone.
2
Let the child ask you. Being the one who answers is the fastest way to show the question is real.
3
Question cards face down. Turn one, ask the person next to you, keep the card if they answer in a full sentence.
4
Do not teach why early. It invites answers a young learner cannot yet build, and the failure discourages.

Topic packs that pair with this

Same structure, words your class already knows — no new vocabulary needed.

Family Colours Numbers School At home

Questions teachers ask

Which question word first?

What, because "What is it?" works with every flashcard you already own. Where comes next once prepositions exist, and who once the family topic has been taught.

Should children answer in full sentences?

Sometimes, not always. Real speakers answer "Three." not "There are three apples." Ask for the full sentence when you are practising the structure, and accept the short answer when you are practising the conversation.