Explanation
Wh- words ask for missing information. "Who" asks about a person, "what" about a thing, "where" about a place, "when" about time, "why" about a reason, and "how" about a way. In a simple present question, English usually uses a helper verb like "do" or "does".
For example, "Where do you live?" Here "where" asks for the place, "do" makes the question, "you" is the subject, and "live" is the main verb. Japanese often leaves out the subject and does not need a helper verb, but English needs both. With "be", do not use "do": "What is your name?"
Wh- 疑問詞は、足りない情報をたずねるときに使います。"who" は人、"what" はもの、"where" は場所、"when" は時間、"why" は理由、"how" は方法です。ふつうの現在形の疑問文では、英語は "do" や "does" という助動詞を入れます。
たとえば "Where do you live?" では、"where" が場所をたずね、"do" が疑問文を作り、"you" が主語、"live" が動詞です。日本語は主語を省きやすく、助動詞も必要ありませんが、英語では主語と "do/does" の両方が必要です。"be" 動詞の文では "do" は使わず、"What is your name?" のように言います。
Examples
- What is your name? お名前は何ですか。
- Who is that man? あの男性はだれですか。
- Where do you live? どこに住んでいますか。
- When does the train leave? 電車はいつ出発しますか。
- Why are you late? どうして遅れたのですか。
- How do you spell your last name? 苗字はどうつづりますか。
Common Mistakes
Japanese learners often copy Japanese word order and forget the helper verb: "What you want?" or "Where you live?" -> "What do you want?" and "Where do you live?" If the verb is "be", do not add "do": "What is your name?"
日本人学習者は、日本語の語順のまま "What you want?" や "Where you live?" のようにして、"do/does" を落としがちです。ふつうの現在形では "What do you want?" や "Where do you live?" のように "do/does" を入れます。動詞が "be" のときは "do" を付けず、"What is your name?" になります。