When asking siri on homepod a question it usually tells me to ask on my iPhone, why can't it answer?

The short answer is Siri on home pod sucks. The long answer is try to ask a more specific question with only one answer. That sometimes helps. Also asking the question again with slightly different verbiage can help. My 9 year old is very unhappy every time Siri tells him she can show him on his phone.