Asking questions can be a challenge when learning any language. But they are essential to learning more about others and making new friends! In this lesson, I look at the construction and pronunciation of many common WHEN questions in English. Some of these include: "When were you born?", "When do you wake up?", "When are you free?", and "When did you arrive?". After watching, test your understanding with my quiz: http://www.engvid.com/17-common-when-questions-in-english/

Next, watch my lesson on COMMON 'WHERE' QUESTIONS IN ENGLISH:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0u-cF56klw

TRANSCRIPT

Oh, hey. When did you get here? I'm glad you came. Just give me a second. Hey, everyone. I'm Alex. Thanks for clicking, and welcome to this lesson on "Common 'When' Questions", "When" in English. So, when we ask a question with "When", we want to know the time that something happened, generally happens, will happen, etc. So, today, I am going to look at some of the most common questions you can ask with this question word, and we will focus not only on the structure, but also getting fluent with these questions, making sure we're pronouncing them correctly, and making sure the intonation is good, and that the fluency is nice and sharp, and quick and fast. Okay?

So, let's start from the beginning. Your beginning. "When is your birthday?" Okay? So, here, most commonly, you're using the contraction. Right? So quickly, you would say: "When's your birthday?" Okay? So, everyone, if you can just repeat after me: "When's your birthday?" Excellent. Now, a similar question asking about the date of your birth is: "When were you born?" Okay? Now, let's try this a little quicker, repeat after me: "When were you born?" All right? Excellent.

And next we have a series of questions that ask about bed, pretty much. So, for example: "Hey. When do you wake up?", "get up?", "get out of bed?", or "go to bed?" Now, obviously the first three in the morning or maybe in the afternoon after a siesta or a nap, depending on your schedule. They relate to getting out of bed. So: "When do you wake up in the morning?" open your eyes. "When do you get up?" like, leave your bed. Or: "...get out of bed?" which is literally, you know, leaving your bed. Or, at night: "When do you go to bed?" Now, of course, these are routines, habits. You can use words like: "When do you normally get up?", "When do you usually get up?", or "wake up?", or "go to bed?" So, let's repeat them after me: "When do you wake up?", "When do you normally get up?", "When do you usually get out of bed?" Now, did you listen to that? I said: "...get outta bed", not just: "get out of", but "get outta". So, one more time: "When do you get out of bed?" All right? And last one: "When do you go to bed?" Very good.

Okay, next: "When is __________?" So: "When is this?", "that?", "it?", "When is it?" This can be anything, this can be an event or the start of a movie, or something like that. Or the release date of the movie. So, for example: "When is the party?", "When is class?", "When is the conference?", "When is the Retro Fan Expo in San Francisco?" I guess that's a thing, maybe. I don't know. Okay? So: "When is it?", "When is that?", "When is this?" So, you get like something from your friend and it looks like an exciting event is coming, and you say: "Oh, when is this?" Right? So, repeat after me, we'll do all three: "When is this?", "When is that?", "When is it?" Very good. Okay.

Now, if you're a student, the next question can be very common. So, you would ask your professor or maybe one of your friends because you didn't attend an important class, or you attended the class but you were not paying attention, and you have an assignment, a test, or you have something you need to write and you need to give it to the professor, say: "Hey. When is this/that/it due?" Now, when something is due it means you must complete it and submit it to your professor by that date. So, let's do the three questions, and you can just repeat them after me: "When is this due?", "When is that due?", "When's it due?" Okay, good. Now, you noticed I said: "When's", right? "When's it", "When's it". So, make sure you're listening when I'm using the contraction as well. All right.

Next, if you want to invite your friends, you know, for dinner or to go have a coffee or just to hang out at your house or something, you can ask: "Hey. When are you free?" or "When are you available?" Okay? So, your schedule, you know, you're working here or you're in school here or you have a birthday party here. I want to see you: "When are you free?" or "When are you available?" So, repeat after me: "When are you free?", "When are you available?" Good. Now, this can also be in the workplace.