It All Starts with a W: How W-Questions Work

W-Fragen are open-ended questions that begin with a German question word starting with "W". Unlike yes-or-no questions, they seek specific information and detailed answers. Similar to the "Five Ws" in English – Who, What, When, Where and Why – W-Fragen play a crucial role in gathering information, crafting news stories, and engaging in meaningful conversations.

What Are W-Fragen?

In German, W-Fragen are interrogative words used to ask open-ended questions. These questions cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no". Instead, they require more detailed responses.

Structure of W-Fragen

The basic sentence structure for W-Fragen in German is:

W-Word + Verb + Subject (+ Other Elements)?

Common W-Words

Here are the most common W-Fragen in German:

These words are used at the beginning of a sentence to form a question. For example:

• Was machst du? – What are you doing?

• Warum lernst du Deutsch? – Why are you learning German?

W-Fragen in Journalism

W-Fragen aren’t just useful in language learning – they are also the backbone of effective journalism. Reporters use them to ensure they cover all the important aspects of a story. In this context the key W-Fragen include:

1. Wer? – Who is involved?

2. Was? – What happened?

3. Wann? – When did it happen?

4. Wo? – Where did it happen?

5. Warum? – Why did it happen?

6. Wie? – How did it happen?

Together they help provide a complete and objective overview of any event or topic.

Examples of W-Fragen and Their Answers

1. Was machst du? – What are you doing?

• Ich lerne Deutsch. – I am learning German.

2. Wo wohnst du? – Where do you live?

• Ich wohne in Berlin. – I live in Berlin.

3. Wann beginnt der Unterricht? – When does the class start?

• Der Unterricht beginnt um acht Uhr. – The class starts at 8 o'clock.

4. Warum lernst du Deutsch? – Why are you learning German?

• Weil ich in Deutschland arbeiten möchte. – Because I want to work in Germany.

5. Wie heißt du? – What’s your name?

• Ich heiße Anna. – My name is Anna.

 Tips for Answering W-Fragen

• Use full sentences when possible.

• Repeat part of the question in your answer (especially in writing).

• Be specific and clear.

• Use correct verb conjugation based on the subject.

📝 Exercises

Exercise 1: Match the Question to the Correct Answer

Match the W-Frage on the left with the most appropriate answer on the right.

Write your answers like: 1 – C, 2 – D, etc.

Exercise 2: Fill in the W-Word

Fill in the blank with the correct W-word: wer, was, wann, wo, warum, wie

1. ______ heißt du?

2. ______ wohnst du?

3. ______ kommt er?

4. ______ machst du am Wochenende?

5. ______ lernst du Deutsch?

Exercise 3: Answer the Questions

Write full-sentence answers in German:

1. Was ist dein Lieblingsessen?

2. Wo arbeitest du?

3. Wie alt bist du?

4. Wann stehst du auf?

5. Wer ist dein bester Freund/deine beste Freundin?

✅ Answers

Exercise 1: Match the Question to the Correct Answer

Exercise 2: Fill in the W-Word

1. Wie heißt du?

2. Wo wohnst du?

3. Woher kommt er?

4. Was machst du am Wochenende?

5. Warum lernst du Deutsch?

Exercise 3: Sample Answers

Note: Answers may vary! Here are some examples.

1. Was ist dein Lieblingsessen? → Mein Lieblingsessen ist Pizza.

2. Wo arbeitest du? → Ich arbeite in einem Büro.

3. Wie alt bist du? → Ich bin 25 Jahre alt.

4. Wann stehst du auf? → Ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf.

5. Wer ist dein bester Freund/deine beste Freundin? → Meine beste Freundin heißt Laura.