Why: Question words is a simple topic. Why shows the reason or cause. However comparing why vs what for is interesting.
Why
Why are you reading? (What is the reason/cause?)
Why or for what reason, these two constructions intend to reveal reason or cause. What for as well as for what purpose, these two constructions ask about purpose or goal.
More on that why vs what for and for what reason vs for what purpose
Also on question words:
Links on introduction to tenses
- Components: Verb, Action Verb, Stative Verb
- Verb: Where is the border between Action and Stative Verbs?
- Action vs Inaction
- Frequency of actions (/inactions and states)
- Time of actions (signal words)
- 5 Types of Sentences
- Declarative Sentence
- Imperative Sentence
- Interrogative Sentence
- Exclamatory Sentence
- Present
- Future
- Past
- Moment of speaking
- Finished vs unfinished vs unspecified period of time
- Continuous Actions in Linguistics
Links on Present Simple
- Present Simple: Why Simple? Isn’t it complicated?
- Present Indefinite why indefinite?
- Repeated actions: Present Simple tense
- Frequency words: Present Simple with repeated actions
- General realities and truths, world truths: Present Simple
- Stating facts in Present Simple Tense
- Unchanging (permanent) situations: Present Simple
- Present Simple: Past actions! Jokes, stories, books, etc.
- Present Simple: Future meaning for fixed actions
- Actions / states ongoing now: Present Simple
one of the sources: wikipedia.org