General vocabulary: Question words — AQA GCSE German
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General vocabulary: Question words explained
This topic covers the essential German question words (interrogatives) used to initiate inquiries and gather information across various contexts.
What to demonstrate
- Correct identification of the specific question word required by the context
- Accurate spelling of interrogatives
- Understanding the distinction between different 'why' (Warum/Wieso) and 'what' (Was/Was für) forms
Show all 4 objectives
- Correct usage of case-sensitive interrogatives (e.g., Welcher/Welche/Welches)
General vocabulary: Question words exam tips
Topic Overview
Question words are the building blocks of asking and understanding questions in German. This topic covers the key interrogatives: wer (who), was (what), wo (where), wann (when), warum (why), wie (how), and welch- (which). Mastering these is essential for both comprehension and communication in the GCSE exam, as they appear in listening, reading, speaking, and writing tasks. Without a solid grasp of question words, you risk misunderstanding prompts or failing to form coherent questions yourself.
In the AQA GCSE German specification, question words are tested across all four skills. In listening and reading, you need to recognise them quickly to answer comprehension questions accurately. In speaking and writing, you must use them correctly to ask for information or clarify meaning. This topic also links to grammar points like word order (verb-second in questions) and case usage (e.g., 'wen' for accusative, 'wem' for dative). Understanding question words will boost your confidence in navigating exam tasks and real-life conversations.
Key Concepts
- →The nine core question words: wer (who), was (what), wo (where), wohin (where to), woher (where from), wann (when), warum (why), wie (how), and welch- (which, with endings).
- →Word order: In German, the verb always comes second in a question, e.g., 'Wo wohnst du?' (Where do you live?).
- →Case changes: 'wer' changes to 'wen' (accusative) and 'wem' (dative) depending on the verb, e.g., 'Wen siehst du?' (Whom do you see?).
- →Welch- must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it describes, e.g., 'Welcher Film?' (Which film? masculine nominative), 'Welche Farbe?' (Which colour? feminine nominative).
- →Distinguishing wo, wohin, and woher: wo = location (where), wohin = destination (where to), woher = origin (where from).
Marking Points
- Correct identification of the specific question word required by the context
- Accurate spelling of interrogatives
- Understanding the distinction between different 'why' (Warum/Wieso) and 'what' (Was/Was für) forms
- Correct usage of case-sensitive interrogatives (e.g., Welcher/Welche/Welches)
Examiner Tips
- 💡Pay close attention to the verb at the end of the sentence to determine if a direction (Wohin) or origin (Woher) is implied
- 💡Use 'Was für' when the question asks for a description or type of object
- 💡Remember that 'Womit' specifically asks for the instrument or means used
- 💡Practice the distinction between 'Warum' (general why) and 'Wieso' (how come/why)
- 💡In listening exams, question words are often stressed or repeated. Listen carefully for them to identify the type of information needed (e.g., 'wann' signals a time answer).
- 💡In writing, use a variety of question words to show range. For example, instead of always asking 'Wie findest du...?', try 'Was hältst du von...?' or 'Warum magst du...?'.
- 💡Practice forming questions with different cases. A common higher-tier task is to ask follow-up questions in a role-play; using 'wem' or 'wen' correctly can earn you top marks.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'Wann' (when) with 'Wenn' (if/when)
- Misusing 'Was für' (what sort of) as a direct synonym for 'Was' (what)
- Incorrectly applying gender/case endings to 'Welcher/Welche/Welches'
- Confusing 'Wo' (where), 'Wohin' (where to), and 'Woher' (where from)
- Mistake: Using 'wer' for all 'who' questions. Correction: 'wer' is only nominative; use 'wen' for direct objects (e.g., 'Wen rufst du an?') and 'wem' for indirect objects (e.g., 'Wem gibst du das Buch?').
- Mistake: Confusing 'wo', 'wohin', and 'woher'. Correction: 'wo' asks about a static location (e.g., 'Wo ist der Bahnhof?'), 'wohin' about movement towards (e.g., 'Wohin gehst du?'), and 'woher' about movement from (e.g., 'Woher kommst du?').
- Mistake: Forgetting to conjugate the verb after 'welch-'. Correction: 'welch-' is an adjective-like pronoun; the verb still comes second, e.g., 'Welches Buch liest du?' not 'Welches Buch du liest?'.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the German question words for GCSE?
The main German question words you need for GCSE are: wer (who), was (what), wo (where), wohin (where to), woher (where from), wann (when), warum (why), wie (how), and welch- (which). You also need to know their case variations: wen (whom, accusative) and wem (whom, dative). These appear in all exam papers, so learn them thoroughly.
How do you use 'welch-' in German questions?
'Welch-' means 'which' and must agree with the noun it describes in gender, number, and case. For example: 'Welcher Hund?' (masculine nominative), 'Welche Katze?' (feminine nominative), 'Welches Buch?' (neuter nominative), 'Welche Bücher?' (plural nominative). In accusative, it becomes 'welchen' (masculine), 'welche' (feminine/plural), 'welches' (neuter). Always place the verb second: 'Welchen Film siehst du?'
What's the difference between 'wo', 'wohin', and 'woher'?
'Wo' asks about a location or place where something is or happens (e.g., 'Wo ist der Supermarkt?'). 'Wohin' asks about a destination or direction (e.g., 'Wohin fährst du im Urlaub?'). 'Woher' asks about an origin or source (e.g., 'Woher kommst du?'). Think of it as: wo = static, wohin = movement to, woher = movement from.
Do German question words change the word order?
Yes, in German questions, the verb always comes second. For example: 'Wann kommst du?' (When are you coming?) – the verb 'kommst' is second. This is different from English, where we often use 'do' or 'does'. There is no auxiliary verb in German questions; the main verb moves to second position. Exception: if the question word is the subject, the verb still comes second: 'Wer kommt?' (Who is coming?) – 'wer' is subject, 'kommt' is verb.
How do you ask 'who' in German with different cases?
The base form is 'wer' for the subject (nominative). For the direct object (accusative), use 'wen' (e.g., 'Wen siehst du?' – Whom do you see?). For the indirect object (dative), use 'wem' (e.g., 'Wem gibst du das Geschenk?' – To whom are you giving the present?). Some verbs also take the genitive, but that's rare at GCSE. Practice with verbs like 'sehen' (wen), 'helfen' (wem), and 'geben' (wem + accusative object).
What are common mistakes with German question words in exams?
Common mistakes include: using 'wer' instead of 'wen' or 'wem' (e.g., 'Wer siehst du?' is wrong – it should be 'Wen siehst du?'); confusing 'wo', 'wohin', and 'woher'; forgetting to put the verb second (e.g., 'Wo du wohnst?' instead of 'Wo wohnst du?'); and not matching 'welch-' endings to the noun. To avoid these, memorise the case changes and practice forming questions aloud.