By the end of this lesson, I can…
- Use wo for places
- Use wann for time
- Use wer for people
- Use wie for ways and conditions
- Usage, exceptions and scope
Simple explanation
German W-questions are used to ask for specific information. Wer asks about people, was about things, wo about places, wann about time, wie about ways or conditions, and warum about reasons. The basic structure is question word + verb + subject. Learning these forms helps beginners create everyday conversations in German.
Use wer for people
Use wer when you want to know who a person is or who does something. Example: Wer ist das?
Use was for things and activities
Use was when asking about objects, information, or actions.
Use wo for places
Use wo when asking where someone or something is located.
Use wann for time
Use wann when asking about the time or date of an event.
Use wie for ways and conditions
Use wie when asking how something happens or about someone's condition.
Use warum for reasons
Use warum when asking why something happens.
Usage, exceptions and scope
Use the answer to identify the question: wo location, wohin destination, woher origin, wann time, wer person, was thing, wie manner or condition, warum reason. A common order is W-constituent + finite verb + subject: Wo wohnst du? When wer is the subject, no extra subject is needed: Wer kommt? A question constituent can contain several words: Um wie viel Uhr beginnt der Kurs? This lesson does not introduce weil word order.
Patterns at a glance
These are construction models; translated examples follow below. Practice and test use separate question contexts.
| Rule | Model sentence |
|---|---|
| Use wo for places | Wo wohnst du? — In Bonn. |
| Use wann for time | Wann beginnt der Kurs? — Um neun. |
| Use wer for people | Wer ist das? — Mein Bruder. |
| Use wie for ways and conditions | Wie heißt du? — Anna. |
| Usage, exceptions and scope | Woher kommst du? — Aus Armenien. |
| Usage, exceptions and scope | Wohin gehst du? — Zur Schule. |
Grammar formula
Basic W-question structure
Fragewort + Verb + Subjekt + weitere InformationenWo wohnst du?
Asking about a person
Wer + Verb + ...?Wer bist du?
Asking about a reason
Warum + Verb + Subjekt + ...?Warum lernst du Deutsch?
Core rules
- 1
Use wer for people
Use wer when you want to know who a person is or who does something. Example: Wer ist das?
- 2
Use was for things and activities
Use was when asking about objects, information, or actions.
- 3
Use wo for places
Use wo when asking where someone or something is located.
- 4
Use wann for time
Use wann when asking about the time or date of an event.
- 5
Use wie for ways and conditions
Use wie when asking how something happens or about someone's condition.
- 6
Use warum for reasons
Use warum when asking why something happens.
- 7
Usage, exceptions and scope
Use the answer to identify the question: wo location, wohin destination, woher origin, wann time, wer person, was thing, wie manner or condition, warum reason. A common order is W-constituent + finite verb + subject: Wo wohnst du? When wer is the subject, no extra subject is needed: Wer kommt? A question constituent can contain several words: Um wie viel Uhr beginnt der Kurs? This lesson does not introduce weil word order.
Useful examples
Wer bist du?
Who are you?
Wer is used to ask about a person's identity.
Was machst du?
What are you doing?
Was asks about an activity or action.
Wo wohnst du?
Where do you live?
Wo is used for locations.
Wann beginnt der Kurs?
When does the course start?
Wann asks about a specific time.
Wie heißt du?
What is your name?
This is the common German expression for asking someone's name.
Warum lernst du Deutsch?
Why are you learning German?
Warum asks for a reason.
Wer arbeitet hier?
Who works here?
Wer replaces the unknown person in the sentence.
Was ist das?
What is that?
Was is used when identifying an unknown thing.
Wo ist mein Buch?
Where is my book?
Wo asks about the position of something.
Wie geht es dir?
How are you?
Wie is often used to ask about someone's condition.
Common mistakes
- ❌ Wann wohnst du? — In Bonn. ✅ Wo wohnst du? — In Bonn.
- ❌ Wo beginnt der Kurs? — Um neun. ✅ Wann beginnt der Kurs? — Um neun.
- ❌ Wo ist das? — Mein Bruder. ✅ Wer ist das? — Mein Bruder.
- ❌ Wo heißt du? — Anna. ✅ Wie heißt du? — Anna.
- ❌ Wohin kommst du? — Aus Armenien. ✅ Woher kommst du? — Aus Armenien.
- ❌ Woher gehst du? — Zur Schule. ✅ Wohin gehst du? — Zur Schule.
Learning tips
- Read the context and word roles before choosing an option.
- After feedback, read the reason and make a new sentence.
- After practising, take the test without the table; test mastery is recorded separately from reading.
Use it in your own sentences
Adapt the names, times or places in the models to write six sentences about your own life. Keep the target construction and check that the meaning fits the rule. This is a self-assessment activity; the multiple-choice test has a separate score.
- Write a new sentence using table pattern 1.
- Write a new sentence using table pattern 2.
- Write a new sentence using table pattern 3.
- Write a new sentence using table pattern 4.
- Write a new sentence using table pattern 5.
- Write a new sentence using table pattern 6.
Show the model
Wo wohnst du? — In Bonn. Wann beginnt der Kurs? — Um neun. Wer ist das? — Mein Bruder. Wie heißt du? — Anna. Woher kommst du? — Aus Armenien. Wohin gehst du? — Zur Schule.
Check your own work
- I identified the subject, verb and target construction in every sentence.
- I adapted the context instead of only copying the model.
- I checked my choices against this lesson’s rules and exceptions.
Put it into practice
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Related grammar
Frequently asked questions
What should I check for “Use wer for people”?
Use wer when you want to know who a person is or who does something. Example: Wer ist das?
What should I check for “Use was for things and activities”?
Use was when asking about objects, information, or actions.
What should I check for “Use wo for places”?
Use wo when asking where someone or something is located.
What should I check for “Use wann for time”?
Use wann when asking about the time or date of an event.
What should I check for “Use wie for ways and conditions”?
Use wie when asking how something happens or about someone's condition.
What should I check for “Use warum for reasons”?
Use warum when asking why something happens.
What should I check for “Usage, exceptions and scope”?
Use the answer to identify the question: wo location, wohin destination, woher origin, wann time, wer person, was thing, wie manner or condition, warum reason. A common order is W-constituent + finite verb + subject: Wo wohnst du? When wer is the subject, no extra subject is needed: Wer kommt? A question constituent can contain several words: Um wie viel Uhr beginnt der Kurs? This lesson does not introduce weil word order.
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