The partial oxidation of methane to formaldehyde or ethane and ethylene was studied on K2WO4 deposited on various supports, on potassium-promoted WO3/SiO2 and for comparison on WO3/SiO2 in a fixed-bed continuous-flow reactor at 860-923 K using O-2 as oxidant. The catalysts were characterised by Raman, XP spectroscopy and TPR method. It was found that the original structure of potassium tungstate remained on K2WO4/SiO2, whereas K2W2O7 was very likely formed on K + WO3/SiO2. The main products of the reaction besides the carbon oxides were HCHO on WO3/SiO2 while on K-containing samples mainly the C-2 hydrocarbons were formed. The product distribution of the oxidation reaction was markedly influenced by the nature of the support. The highest activity was measured for alumina-supported catalyst. In this case, however, only traces of partially oxidised products were formed. Formaldehyde, in a larger quantity, was produced on WO3/SiO2 but C-2 in higher selectivity on K2WO4/SiO2 was formed. A possible mechanism for the oxidative conversion of methane is also discussed.