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The Question Word “What”

1. The question word “what” can be used to inquire about the following information:

  1. Things or actions
    Ex: What can I use to put the poster on the wall?
  2. Occupations (What does sb. do for a living?)
    Ex: What does your father do (for a living)?
  3. Problems (What is wrong/the matter with sb./sth.? What happened to sb./sth.?)
    Ex: What’s the matter with Frank? He’s so quiet today.
  4. Opinions about something (What do you think of/about sth.? What’s your opinion of/about/on sth.?)
    Ex: What’s your opinion about the new restaurant on the corner?

2. “What” can go with a noun to ask for specific information, such as time, kind, size, color, etc.

Ex: What time does the show start?

3. We can make suggestions with sentences beginning with “What about…?”

Ex: What about going to the beach?

FListen to the conversations and answer the following questions.

Question 1 

M: If you don’t feel like cooking tonight, what about eating out?

W: We can try the new Chinese restaurant on the corner.

Q: Where are the speakers going for dinner tonight?

  1. A restaurant.
  2. Their parents’ house.
  3. A birthday party.
  4. We don’t know.

Question 2 

M: What’s wrong with Mike? He was absent from class today.

W: He doesn’t feel well.

Q: What’s the matter with Mike?

  1. He is a bad student.
  2. He attends every class.
  3. He is sick.
  4. He is on vacation.

Question 3 

M: What time should I pick you up at the airport?

W: Around 10:30 a.m.

Q: When should the man arrive at the airport?

  1. At 10 p.m.
  2. At 11 a.m.
  3. Before 10:30 a.m.
  4. After 10:30 a.m.

Question 4 

M: What is your ideal job in the future?

W: I’d like to be a pilot.

Q: What does the woman want to do in the future?

  1. Start her own business.
  2. Fly a plane.
  3. Build a boat.
  4. Make cookies and cake.

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