ECHO QUESTIONS with WH- WORDS

Echo questions with wh- words

Grammar Drops: Mastering Echo Questions with WH-Words!

Take a look at this video.

(English and Portuguese)

By Sergio Viula
Grammar Drops

Have you ever been in a conversation and didn’t quite catch what someone said? Or maybe you were surprised by what you heard? That’s where echo questions come in handy!

What Are Echo Questions with WH-Words?

Echo questions with WH-words repeat part of the original sentence using a WH-question word. They are used when you want to confirm or clarify specific details from what was just said. Instead of forming a full question, you simply repeat the statement with a WH-word at the end.

How Do WH-Echo Questions Work?

Echo questions follow these simple rules:

✅ Use a WH-word (who, what, when, where, why, how, etc.) based on the missing information. ✅ Repeat part of the statement and replace the unknown part with a WH-word. ✅ Use rising intonation to indicate you are asking for confirmation or clarification.

Examples of WH-Echo Questions

1. With Where:

   • A: I went to the club.

   • B: You went where?

2. With Who:

   • A: She invited someone to dinner.

   • B: She invited who?

3. With What:

   • A: They bought a new gadget.

   • B: They bought what?

4. With When:

   • A: We are meeting at 6 PM.

   • B: You’re meeting when?

5. With Why:

   • A: He left early.

   • B: He left why?

6. With How:

   • A: They fixed the issue easily.

   • B: They fixed it how?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

🚫 Using full question structures – Keep it short and direct.
🚫 Changing the word order – The WH-word comes at the end.
🚫 Forgetting intonation – Use a rising tone to make it sound natural.

Quiz Time! 🎯

Test your knowledge with this short quiz. Choose the correct WH-echo question for each statement. Then check your answers in the video below.

1. I saw something strange in the sky.
   a) You saw what?
   b) What did you see?
   c) You saw where?

2. They moved to a new city.
   a) They moved how?
   b) They moved where?
   c) Where did they move?

3. She met someone important.
   a) She met why?
   b) She met who?
   c) Who did she meet?

4. He finished the project yesterday.
   a) He finished what?
   b) He finished when?
   c) When did he finish?

5. They solved the problem easily.
   a) They solved it how?
   b) How did they solve it?
   c) They solved it when?

Check your answers in the video below. 🔎

Stay tuned for more Grammar Drops! 🚀