German grammar: Satzstellung: W-Fragen

What this grammar point covers

In German, 'W-Fragen' are questions that start with a question word like 'wo', 'was', 'wer', etc. These are called 'W-questions' because most of the question words start with 'W'. The word order is different from normal sentences.

When to use it

Use this structure in German when you want to ask for specific information, such as a place, time, person, or reason. These are not yes/no questions.

Key forms

• W-Fragewort + Verb + Subjekt + ...
• Example: Wo wohnst du?

Examples

Tips

• Always put the question word at the beginning of the sentence.
• The verb comes directly after the question word.
• Do not use 'ja' or 'nein' to answer these questions.