Terdapat empat cara untuk bertanya dalam Bahasa Inggris, yaitu dengan yes-no question, ‘wh-‘ question, tag question, indirect question.

Hari ini kita akan berbicara sedikit tentang ‘wh-‘ question. Penggunaan ‘wh-‘ question dimulai dengan ‘wh-‘ words atau kata tanya.

Berbeda dengan yes-no question, ketika menggunakan ‘wh-‘ question, si penanya mengharapkan informasi baru dalam jawaban, bukan ‘iya’ atau ‘tidak’ saja.

Berikut adalah beberapa contoh ‘wh-‘ words dan artinya dalam Bahasa Indonesia.

1. Who? Arti: Siapa?
   • Contoh:
     • Question: “Who is that?”
     •  Answer: “It’s my sister.”
2. Whom? Arti: Siapa? (sebagai obyek). ‘Whom’ bersifat formal dan jarang digunakan.
   • Contoh:
     • Question: “To whom did you give the book?”
     • Answer: “To Ian.”
3. Whose? Arti: Kepunyaan siapa? (menanyakan kepemilikan suatu benda)
   • Contoh:
     • Question: “Whose book is that?”
     • Answer: “It’s Ian’s.”
4. What? Arti: Apa?
   • Contoh:
     • Question: “What are you doing?”
     • Answer: “I’m reading a book.”
5. Which? Arti: Yang mana? (menanyakan pilihan).
   • Contoh:
     • Question: “Which Jim Carrey’s movie do you like best?”
     • Answer: “I like ‘Yes Man’ best.”
6. When? Arti: Kapan?
   • Contoh:
     • Question: “When is your birthday?”
     • Answer: “It’s on December 1st.”
7. Where? Arti: Di mana?
   • Contoh:
     • Question: “Where do you live?”
     • Answer: “I live at Jalan Nusa Indah.”
8. How? Arti: Bagaimana?
   • Contoh:
     • Question: “How did you fall?”
     • Answer: “I tripped over a banana peel.”
9. Why? Arti: Mengapa?
   • Contoh:
     • Question: “Why did you come late?”
     • Answer: Because I got stuck in a traffic jam!

Terdapat beberapa jenis ‘wh-‘ words lain yang menggunakan ‘how’, di antaranya:

1. How long? Arti: Berapa lama?
   • Contoh:
     • Question: “How long will you stay in Paris?”
     • Answer: “Only a day.”
2. How often? Arti: Seberapa sering?
   • Contoh:
     • Question: “How often do you go the gym?”
     • Answer: “About twice a week.”
3. How old? Arti: Berapa (umur)?
   • Contoh:
     • Question: “How old is your son?”
     • Answer: “He is eight years old.”
4. How many/ much? Arti: Berapa banyak?
   • Contoh:
     • Question: “How much sugar do you need?”
     •  Answer: “An ounce, please.”

Compiled and written by @EnglishTips4U for @EnglishTips4U on Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Related post(s):

• #GrammarTrivia #EngGame: Tag question
• #EngClass: Tag Questions
• #EngQuiz: Question tag
• #EngClass: Questions in statement form
• #EngClass: Direct and indirect object

^MD