Question words: quem, o que, onde, quando, por que, como, cuanto

The Essential Six

QUEM (Who/Whom)

Used for asking about people:

• Quem é você? (Who are you?)

• Quem fez isso? (Who did this?)

• Com quem você foi? (Who did you go with?)

Note: "Quem" doesn't change for singular/plural – it covers both "who" and "who all."

O QUE/QUE (What)

Two forms that mean the same thing:

Daily Conversations

• "Quem te contou isso?" (Who told you that?)

• "O que você tá fazendo?" (What are you doing?)

• "Cadê a chave do carro?" (Where's the car key?)

• "Como foi a viagem?" (How was the trip?)

• "Quando a gente se vê?" (When will we see each other?)

• "Por que você não me ligou?" (Why didn't you call me?)

WhatsApp/Text Messages

• "vc ta onde?" (where r u?)

• "pq não veio?" (why didn't u come?)

• "qdo chega?" (when u arriving?)

The Four "Porquês" - Brazil's Grammar Nightmare

This is where even native speakers mess up:

1. Por que (separated): Use in direct and indirect questions

   • "Por que você fez isso?" (Why did you do this?)

   • "Não sei por que ele saiu" (I don't know why he left)

2. Porque (together): Use for "because" in answers

   • "Fiz isso porque quis" (I did it because I wanted to)

3. Por quê (separated + accent): Use at the end of sentences

   • "Você não veio por quê?" (You didn't come why?)