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English · CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 13

What's this?

/wʌts ðɪs/

What Is This?

  1. Emma Minsu, what's this?
  2. Minsu This is what? It's a... computer?
  3. Emma What's this? Yes, it's a new computer!
  4. Minsu What's this? It's my new phone!

My New House

  1. Jack Minsu, which is your bag?
  2. Minsu Your bag which? The new one.
  3. Jack Which is your bag? And what's that — a window?
  4. Minsu Yes! It's a new window. This is my new house!
汉字PinyinPOSMeaning
what /wʌt/ pron. what
when /wen/ adv. when
why /waɪ/ adv. why
how /haʊ/ adv. how
which /wɪtʃ/ det. which
phone /foʊn/ n. phone
computer /kəmˈpjuːtər/ n. computer
water /ˈwɔːtər/ n. water
house /haʊs/ n. house
door /dɔːr/ n. door
window /ˈwɪndoʊ/ n. window
new /nuː/ adj. new

Wh- questions: what, when, why, how, which Wh- questions: what, when, why, how, which

Question words go at the very front of the sentence: what, when, why, how, which. With the verb be, they often contract: What's this? (= What is this?) Why is he here? How are you? Which is your bag? "what" asks about a thing, "when" about time, "why" about a reason, "how" about manner or state, "which" picks one from a set. The question word comes first, then be, then the rest — the word order is fixed.

Question words go at the very front of the sentence: what, when, why, how, which. With the verb be, they often contract: What's this? (= What is this?) Why is he here? How are you? Which is your bag? "what" asks about a thing, "when" about time, "why" about a reason, "how" about manner or state, "which" picks one from a set. The question word comes first, then be, then the rest — the word order is fixed.

  • What's this? — It's a phone. /wʌts ðɪs ɪts ə foʊn/ What's this? — It's a phone.
  • Why is he here? — He is my brother. /waɪ ɪz hiː hɪr hiː ɪz maɪ ˈbrʌðər/ Why is he here? — He is my brother.
  • Which is your bag? — The new one. /wɪtʃ ɪz jʊər bæɡ ðə nuː wʌn/ Which is your bag? — The new one.
  • How are you? — I am good, thank you. /haʊ ɑːr juː aɪ æm ɡʊd θæŋk juː/ How are you? — I am good, thank you.

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