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Ask for the bold part.

They are running home.

I thought the answer must be "Where are they running to?" but when I checked the answer it was "Where are they running?". If the sentence is transformed as "Where are they running?" then it does not express the same sense as that of the original sentence because in this case the answer would be much like "They are running at home". So, what's the correct form?

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The sense of in your question

Where are they running to?

is the question for

They are running home

that is, in a homeward direction

Where are they running?

asks at which location are they running

They are running in the park
They are running along the road

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  • So the correct answer should be "Where are they running to?", right?
    – Sarthak123
    Jan 4, 2016 at 10:19
  • @Sarthak123 Yes, I would say the to should be there. Where did you check the answer? Is it a workbook?
    – Peter
    Jan 4, 2016 at 13:49
  • nah I was doing some exercises on the internet, the answer written there seemed confusing. Thanks for your help !
    – Sarthak123
    Jan 4, 2016 at 14:00
  • As a native speaker, I disagree: I don't think anybody hearing "Where are they running?" would think it should mean "Where are they, right now, as they are in the act of running?" Running is inherently an act of motion; if you are running, then you are presumably running to somewhere. Consider "Where are they going?" or "Where are they living?" - you don't have to say "Where are they going to?" or "Where are they living at?"
    – stangdon
    Jan 4, 2016 at 16:01

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