The main interrogatives include two particles and a group of interrogative nouns with different functions.
ExpressionPrimary target
أَ / هَلْAssent to a proposition; hamzah also requests identification
مَا / مَنْA thing or meaning / a rational person
مَتَى / أَيَّانَTime / future time, often of solemn significance
كَيْفَ / أَيْنَCondition / place
أَنَّى / كَمْ / أَيّManner, origin or time by context / number / a specified one
The appropriate answer depends on what is missing from the speaker’s knowledge. Man typically seeks a person, ayna a location, and kam a number.