who + auxiliary + subject + main verb + preposition ?Everyday pattern for people. The question word comes first; the preposition stays at the end.
Questions with Prepositions
B1In everyday English, prepositions often stay at the end of the question: Who are you talking to? In formal English, the preposition can move before whom: To whom are you talking?
What you'll learn
- Ask everyday wh-questions with the preposition at the end.
- Use whom after a fronted preposition in formal questions.
- Keep the verb and its needed preposition together in meaning.
- Choose an everyday or formal question style to fit the context.
- Recognize common verb + preposition patterns in questions.
Structure
what + auxiliary + subject + main verb + preposition ?Everyday pattern for things. Keep the needed preposition at the end.
preposition + whom + auxiliary + subject + main verb ?Formal pattern for people. After a fronted preposition, use whom.
Build a sentence
Question word target
Verb pattern
Whoareyoutalkingto
Who are you talking to?
Natural everyday order: put the preposition at the end.
When to use
Everyday conversation
Use the preposition at the end in natural spoken English: Who are you waiting for? What are you looking at?
Formal writing
Front the preposition in formal letters, academic writing, and careful speech: To whom should I address the email?
Verb patterns
Keep the preposition that belongs to the verb pattern: listen to, worry about, pay for, depend on.
Markers
talk tospeak tolisten towait forthink aboutpay fordepend on
In contrast
vs preposition-stranding-vs-fronting
This rule shows question forms. The related rule compares when English leaves the preposition at the end and when it moves to the front more broadly.
Common mistakes
Wrong
Who are you talking after class?
Correct
Who are you talking to after class?
Talk needs to here. Do not drop the preposition when the verb pattern needs one.
Wrong
To who did Anna speak?
Correct
To whom did Anna speak?
After a fronted preposition in a formal question, use whom for people.
Wrong
What are you waiting about?
Correct
What are you waiting for?
Wait takes for, not about. Learn the whole verb pattern, not only the main verb.
Wrong
Who did Maria speak yesterday?
Correct
Who did Maria speak to yesterday?
Speak to someone needs to. Keep the preposition in the question.
Common misconceptions
❝ Good English always puts the preposition before the question word. ❞
Everyday English often keeps the preposition at the end: Who are you talking to? Fronting the preposition is more formal.
❝ When the question word moves to the front, the preposition disappears. ❞
The preposition stays if the verb pattern needs it: Who are you waiting for? What are you thinking about?
Skills in this rule (5)
ASK_WITH_PREPOSITION_AT_ENDw5Ask natural wh-questions with the preposition at the end
In everyday English, the question word comes first and the preposition often stays near the end. Use this pattern in normal conversation.
USE_WHOM_AFTER_FRONTED_PREPOSITIONw4Use whom after a fronted preposition in formal questions
When the preposition moves before the question word, use whom, not who, for people. This pattern is formal and common in writing.
KEEP_VERB_AND_PREPOSITION_TOGETHER_IN_MEANINGw5Keep the needed preposition with the verb pattern
Some verbs and adjectives need a specific preposition: talk to, wait for, worry about. Keep that preposition in the question.
CHOOSE_FORMAL_OR_EVERYDAY_STYLEw3Choose between everyday and formal question style
Both patterns can be correct: Who are you talking to? and To whom are you talking? Choose the one that fits the situation.
RECOGNIZE_COMMON_PREPOSITION_PATTERNSw3Recognize common question patterns with prepositions
Look for verb patterns with prepositions such as talk to, listen to, wait for, and think about. These patterns help you build correct wh-questions.