Functions of Question Words and their explanations in Indonesian

Meaning of Question Words

Question words are words that are used in interrogative sentences to ask something, be it people/things, actions/actions, circumstances/situations, and so on. While the interrogative sentence is a sentence that contains a question to the other party, which is submitted to obtain an answer from the party being asked. But sometimes the interrogative sentence also does not require an answer because it is only to confirm something.

Discussing question words is not complete without mentioning interrogative sentences. This is because the question words and sentence question is a unity that cannot be separated, the two will always go hand in hand and in line. Question words will not be able to stand alone without being followed by a question sentence. Likewise, an interrogative sentence will not mean a sentence that asks a question if there is no question word in it.

In this discussion, we will not only discuss the meaning of question words but also other important elements of question words, such as functions, characteristics, and types of interrogative words. And also equipped with examples of the use of interrogative words in interrogative sentences.

Characteristics of Question Words

Question words actually have very special characteristics that distinguish them from other words. As for the characteristics from question words, which are as follows:

1. Question words are always followed by a question mark at the end of the sentence.
2. Question words are usually located at the beginning of an interrogative sentence.
3. Question words are often followed or added with the suffix –kah. Such as: what, who, where, when and so on.

Types of Words Ask

Question words in Indonesia divided into 7 types, including:

1. The question word "what"
2. Question word "Who"
3. The question word "when"
4. Question words "(In, To, From) Where"
5. The question word "Why"
6. The question word "How"
7. word ask "how much"

Question Word Function

1. The question word "what"
   Function: to ask about objects or things, circumstances or actions, and everything related to the content or subject matter.
   The answer to a question that uses the question word "what" is an object or something, an understanding or an explanation of the thing being asked.
2. Question word "Who"
   Function: to ask the person or parties involved.
   The answer to a question that uses the question word "who" is the person or actor and the parties involved in something that is being asked.
3. The question word "when"
   Function: to ask the time of the occurrence of an event or occurrence.
   The answer to a question that uses the question word "when" is the time the occurrence of an event or occurrence can be in the form of hours, days, dates, months or years.
4. Question words "(In, To, From) Where"
   Function: to ask where an event is taking place, the location to be addressed, the place being used or visited.
   The answer to a question that uses the question word “(at, to, from) where” is where it takes place an event/occurrence, the location to be addressed, the place that is being used or that has been visited.
5. The question word "Why"
   Function: to ask the cause or reason for an event to occur.
   The answer to a question that uses the question word "why" is an explanation of the cause or reason for an event that occurs, and is marked by the use of conjunction or the conjunction 'because' or 'because'.
6. The question word "How"
   Function: to ask the state or clarity of something, the way or process of working on something.
   The answer to a question that uses the question word "how" is an explanation of the state, method or process of something being asked.
7. The question word "how much"
   Function: to ask a lot, amount or unit.
   The answer to a question that uses the question word "how much" is a lot, number or unit about something that is being asked.

Examples of Question Words "What" in Sentences

1. what is the meaning of compound word?
2. What does the abbreviation NKRI stand for?
3. What makes you not want to go back to your hometown?
4. Don't you miss your parents?
5. What's your favorite food?
6. What major did you take when you were in college?
7. What does freedom mean in your view?

Examples of Question Words "Who" in Sentences

1. Who is the perpetrator of the sadistic murder that occurred in this elite area?
2. What was the name of your supervisor when you first wrote your undergraduate thesis?
3. Who is the black eyed man who has always followed me?
4. Who drives you to work every day?
5. Who took the red helmet that I put on this motorbike?
6. What is the name of Indonesia's first president?
7. What is the name of the Indonesian national team player who scored a goal against the Vietnam national team a few days ago?

Examples of Question Words "When" in Sentences

1. When is your eldest brother's birthday?
2. When will the Lion Air flight number JT-287 land?
3. When are you going to stop smoking?
4. When will my mother be able to leave the hospital and be able to carry on with her normal activities again?
5. When will this package be delivered by courier to our house?
6. When will 3rd grade high school students take the National Examination?
7. When is the registration for the seminar which will be held next Saturday?

Examples of Question Words "(In, To, From) Where" in Sentences

1. Where did you keep the gift I gave you on your birthday yesterday?
2. What is your new home address?
3. Where did you buy this latest series of smartphones?
4. Where will your family spend the year-end holidays?
5. Where will you continue your master's education?
6. Where have you been this late at night?
7. Where did you get information about the campus?

Examples of Question Words "Why" in Sentences

1. Why is your face gloomy like that?
2. Why is it always raining lately?
3. Why is the hand up better than the hand down?
4. Why does it turn red when the sun goes down?
5. Why do girls generally like pink?
6. Why should we be filial to our parents?
7. Why is the moon not visible when rain down at night?

Examples of Question Words "How" in Sentences

1. How to write a good and correct article for beginners?
2. How to make dragon fruit cake with cheese and almond topping?
3. How to get rid of acne naturally?
4. What is the chronology of the events that led to you experiencing that event?
5. How to remove food stains on this shirt?
6. How to reduce drug addicts who have continued to grow in recent years?
7. How is the production process from sap to rubber so that it is marketable?

Example of Question Word "How much" in Sentence

1. How old are your parents?
2. What was your last salary at your previous company?
3. What is the Richter scale? temperature hottest in summer?
4. How many times have you experienced failure before finally succeeding like now?
5. What is the total number of students in your class?
6. How much did you spend on your treatment yesterday?
7. How many months did you prepare for the chemistry olympiad?

That is a description of the function of the question word and its explanation in language Indonesia, hopefully the discussion presented with the examples above makes it easier for readers to learn and understand the function of the question word.