"what" in a Sentence — Examples for K-8

Three example sentences for what, written at K-2, 3-5, and 6-8 reading levels.

What does "what" mean?

what is a pronoun that means: a word you use to ask about a thing or action. Seeing it in real sentences helps kids learn how the word actually behaves in writing.

Grade K–2Easy sentence with what

"What is for lunch?"

Notice the short, simple structure — perfect for early readers learning to decode and understand new words.

Grade 3–5Upper-elementary sentence with what

"What did your teacher say about the field trip on Friday morning?"

This sentence adds more context and detail — typical of chapter books at this grade level.

Grade 6–8Middle-school sentence with what

"What surprised me most was how quickly the puppy learned to sit, since my last dog took nearly a month to figure out that single command."

At this level, what takes on subtler shades of meaning depending on context — the kind of nuance middle-schoolers need for essay writing.

How to use these sentences in the classroom

Sentence imitation — Read the example aloud, then have students write their own sentence with the same structure but a different topic.

Vocabulary notebooks — Have students copy the grade-appropriate sentence into their vocabulary journal alongside the definition.

Reading comprehension — Ask students to identify why what is the right word for that sentence — what would change if you swapped it for a synonym?

FAQ — using "what" in sentences

How do I use what in a sentence for a 1st grader?

Try: "What is for lunch?" Keep it under 7 words and use sight-word vocabulary around it.

What's a more advanced sentence with what?

"What surprised me most was how quickly the puppy learned to sit, since my last dog took nearly a month to figure out that single command."

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