The 10 Most Common "WHAT" Questions in English

What's one of the most difficult parts of learning a language? Asking questions! In this important lesson, I make it easier by looking at more than 10 common WHAT questions. This video includes these questions and more: "What's happening?", "What's up?", "What's that?", "What did you do?", and "What's the point?" So what are you waiting for? Watch the video to improve your English speaking confidence and fluency.
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TRANSCRIPT

Que? Mah? Ta? Qua? Cosa? What?

Doesn't matter what language you say it in, the word: "what" means you want more information. Hey, everyone. I'm Alex. Thanks for clicking, and welcome to this lesson on: "Common 'What' Questions" in English. So, we are going to look at a bunch of questions that use the word "what". Now, again, "what" means you're usually looking for more information. It's one of the most common question words, which is why this lesson is important for you guys. Just like the other question lessons, we are going to focus on pronunciation, fluency, and... What was that thing? Pronunciation, fluency, structure. Definitely the structure. Very important to make sure the words are in the correct order. Whew, I'm out of breath, guys.

Okay, let's go. Here we go. Number one: "What is your name/email/number/address?" So, you can ask a person for their name, for their email, for their address, for their phone number. You can also say: "What's her name?", "What's his name?", "What's their address?" for example. Okay? So, repeat after me and try to focus on quickness and fluency: "What's your name?", "What's her email?", "What's his number?", "What's their address?" You can even ask yourself, for example, if you forget something, like: "What's my password?" Okay? Like for your bank account, or your Facebook, or something you signed up for like many years ago or you've had the password automatically set, you can say: "What's my password. Wait. What's my login again?" Okay?

So, next, very common: "What's this?", "What's that?" Okay? Many contexts. I'm thinking of a restaurant, for example, your friend gets something that you have never seen before and you're like: "Oh. What's that? That looks delicious." Okay? Or you get a meal and you didn't order it, you'll say: "What's this?" Okay? So please repeat after me, and again, focus on quickness: "What's this?", "What's that?" Very good.

And next, similar to: "What is this?", "What is that?": "What is it?" Okay? Now, this question can be used in many different contexts. It could be similar to: "What's this?", "What's that?", "What is it?" It can also be a question you can ask someone if you think something is bothering, like, your partner or your friend or somebody in your life who you care about, and you can say: "What's wrong?" Like: "What is it?" Okay? So, this is a very common question if you want to ask a person you care about, you know, if something is wrong and what you can do to help. Like: "What is it? What's wrong?" Okay?

Next, very common: "What are you doing?" Now: "What are you doing?" present continuous question can mean: "What are you doing now?" Like, you're talking on the phone: "Hey. What are you doing? Oh, you're busy? Okay. Can I call you later? Yeah, sure? Okay." You can also use this to talk about the future, like: "What are you doing later?", "What are you doing tonight?", "Hey. What are you doing tomorrow?", "What are you doing this weekend?" for example. Okay? So, it just asking... You know, it is just asking a person what they are doing in the moment or their plans for later as well. All right? So repeat after me: "What are you doing?" Very good.

All right, the next three, I'm going to talk about these in the context of asking a person, you know, like what is new in their life or what is going on, what's happening, what's up. Those three questions precisely. So: "What's going on?" or: "What's happening?", "What's up?" The context I'm thinking of, you're seeing a friend you haven't seen for a while and you can say: "Hey. What's up?" or: "Hey. What's happening?", "Hey. What's going on?" These questions just ask and they mean, like: "What is new in your life?" Now, a very common mistake that people make with: "What's up?" specifically new English speakers is they think that: "What's up?" means: "How are you?" "What's up?" is not: "How are you?" So sometimes I hear... I say: "Hey. What's up?" and a student will say: "Good. You?" That's not how you answer: "What's up?" The most common answers for: "What's up?" are: "Not much." or "Nothing new." Okay? "Nothing much.", "Not much.", "Nothing new is happening."