Question Word - was (what)

In German, was is an interrogative pronoun. That sounds fancy, but it just means it asks a question. Unlike other pronouns that change their shape constantly (we're looking at you, der/die/das), was is remarkably stable. It mostly stays as was regardless of the case. In A2 German, we primarily use it for things, animals, or situations. You will never use was for a person. If you ask "Was ist das?" about a person, they might think you are calling them a piece of furniture! It replaces the noun you are asking about. If the answer is "Das ist ein Buch," the question is "Was ist das?". It functions as both the subject and the direct object in most sentences. This simplicity is a rare gift from the German language. Enjoy it while it lasts! It allows you to focus on the verb and the rest of the sentence without worrying about complex endings. Think of was as the calm center in the storm of German grammar.

1. 1Building a sentence with was is like assembling a very simple sandwich. You only need a few ingredients in a specific order. Follow these steps to get it right every time:
2. 2Start with the question word was at the very beginning of the sentence.
3. 3Place the conjugated verb in the second position. This is the golden rule of German questions.
4. 4Add the subject if was is not already the subject of the sentence.
5. 5Throw in any extra details like time, manner, or place at the end.
6. 6Don't forget the question mark to make it official!
7. 7For example: Was (1) trinkst (2) du (3) gerne (4)? It’s a logical flow that your brain will soon perform on autopilot. If you are asking about a thing's identity, you use the verb sein. Example: Was ist das? If you are asking about an action, use a verb like machen. Example: Was machst du? It’s as straightforward as a German train schedule, and hopefully, just as punctual.

You will use was in almost every conversation you have. Use it when you are at a restaurant and don't recognize an item on the menu. "Was ist eine Currywurst?" is a life-saving question in Berlin. Use it at work when your boss gives you a task you don't understand. "Was soll ich genau machen?" shows you are paying attention. It’s perfect for clarifying vocabulary. When a friend uses a word like Feierabend, you can ask "Was bedeutet das?". It’s also great for small talk. Asking "Was machst du am Wochenende?" is the standard way to start a Friday conversation. You can even use it for reactions. A simple "Was?!" with a shocked face works perfectly when you hear that your favorite Döner place is closing. It’s the universal key to information. Whether you are lost in a museum or trying to buy the right train ticket, was is your best friend. It’s like a grammar flashlight in a dark room of unknown German nouns.

There are a few places where was will lead you into a trap. The biggest rule is: Never use was for people. Even if you are asking about someone's profession, you don't say "Was ist dieser Mann?". You say "Was ist dieser Mann von Beruf?". But usually, you use wer (who) for people. Also, don't use was when you have a specific group of items to choose from. If there are three books on a table and you want to know which one I want, don't say "Was Buch willst du?". Use welch- (which) instead: "Welches Buch willst du?". Was is for general, open-ended questions. Welcher is for choosing from a selection. Another tricky spot is prepositions. If you want to ask "What are you dreaming of?", don't say "Von was träumst du?". That’s considered a bit "street" or informal. The "proper" way is using a "wo-compound" like Wovon. Think of was as a broad brush, not a surgical tool. Use it for the big picture, but switch to other words when things get specific or involve people.

One of the funniest mistakes is the was vs. wer confusion. English speakers often think of "what" as the default. But in German, using was for your girlfriend or your teacher will get you some very strange looks. Another common slip-up is trying to decline was like a regular article. Beginners sometimes try to say "Wem" or "Wen" when they mean "What". Just stick to was for now; it rarely changes in A2 contexts. Many people also forget the was für ein structure. If you want to ask "What kind of...", you must use the whole phrase. Saying "Was Auto ist das?" is a classic mistake. It sounds like "What car is that?" in English, but in German, it must be "Was für ein Auto ist das?". Finally, don't forget the verb position. In a question, the verb wants to be in the second spot, right after was. Putting the subject second (e.g., "Was du machst?") makes you sound like a Yoda-inspired German learner. Keep the verb close to the was like they are best friends at a party.

It’s helpful to see was alongside its cousins to understand its personality. Was is the "Generalist." It asks about anything that isn't a person. Wer is the "People Person." It only cares about humans. Welcher is the "Picker." It only cares about specific choices. Then we have the "wo-compounds" like Womit (with what) or Worüber (about what). These are like was but wearing a preposition hat. At A2, you might be tempted to say "Mit was schreibst du?". While people will understand you, using Womit schreibst du? makes you look like a pro. Another interesting contrast is was versus das. In a statement, das points to something specific. In a question, was asks for that identity. If someone says "Das ist ein Hund," you respond with "Was ist ein Hund?". They are two sides of the same coin. Was is the mystery, and das is the revelation. Understanding these differences keeps your German from sounding like a messy soup of random words.