Question words and case forms

In brief

German question words ask for specific information: wer (who), was (what), wo (where), wann (when), wie (how), and warum (why). When asking about a person, the form of wer changes according to that person’s role in the sentence.

Form

Question word + conjugated verb + subject (if needed) + rest: Wo wohnst du? For people: wer (subject), wen (direct object), wem (indirect object); wessen asks whose.

Usage

• Use wer for the person doing something: Wer kommt?
• Use wen for a person directly affected by an action: Wen suchst du?
• Use wem when asking to whom something is given or said: Wem gibst du das Buch?
• Use wo for a location, wohin for a destination, and woher for an origin.

Examples

• Wer kommt heute? — Who is coming today?
• Wen suchst du? — Who are you looking for?
• Wem gibst du das Buch? — Who are you giving the book to?
• Wo wohnst du? — Where do you live?

Common mistake

❌ Wer suchst du?

✅ Wen suchst du?

The person being looked for is the direct object, so use wen, not wer. The subject is du.

Remember

For people, choose wer, wen, or wem by their role in the German sentence, not by the English word who.