Which or what?: learn to tell them apart
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2025 5:43 am
In interrogative sentences , it is very easy to confuse which and what , since in many contexts they are completely interchangeable. Today we will tell you how to distinguish between them, so that you can learn to use them correctly to give different nuances to your sentences.
When are which and what interchangeable ?
In informal contexts , it is very common to use " what " for any bolivia phone number list that involves different options :
What is your favourite type of food? — What is your favourite type of food?
What do you prefer, Italian or Japanese food?
What museums did you visit ?
What idioms should I learn for this exam ?
I don't know what road this is.
Download the free eBook: 7 habits to incorporate English into your routine
Please note that this is limited to informal language . In written texts and in more serious contexts, it is appropriate to use “ which ” in some cases, we show you how below.
When can which and what be interchanged ?
While it may be acceptable to use “ what ” for everything, in some sentences it can sound a bit clumsy. If you want to sound like a native speaker , you can use:
The options are limited :
What is your favourite type of food? — What is your favourite type of food?
Which do you prefer, Italian or Japanese food? — Do you prefer Japanese or Italian food?
A selection is being made :
What is pollution? — What is pollution?
Which cities are the most polluted in the world? — Which cities are the most polluted in the world?
The style is indirect :
I am not sure which way we're going .
When can you use which alone ?
Finally, there are cases where only one option is correct.
Combines with « of » or « one »: Which one would you like to buy? — ¿Qué te gusta comprar ? Which of these children have been vaccinated? — ¿Quiénes
de estos niños están vacunados ?
It is a relative clause :
She passed the exam which she hadn't studied for .
Remember that in many cases, the choice between one or the other is just a matter of style. Don't worry if you come across uses you don't expect: if you remember these simple rules, you won't go wrong.
When are which and what interchangeable ?
In informal contexts , it is very common to use " what " for any bolivia phone number list that involves different options :
What is your favourite type of food? — What is your favourite type of food?
What do you prefer, Italian or Japanese food?
What museums did you visit ?
What idioms should I learn for this exam ?
I don't know what road this is.
Download the free eBook: 7 habits to incorporate English into your routine
Please note that this is limited to informal language . In written texts and in more serious contexts, it is appropriate to use “ which ” in some cases, we show you how below.
When can which and what be interchanged ?
While it may be acceptable to use “ what ” for everything, in some sentences it can sound a bit clumsy. If you want to sound like a native speaker , you can use:
The options are limited :
What is your favourite type of food? — What is your favourite type of food?
Which do you prefer, Italian or Japanese food? — Do you prefer Japanese or Italian food?
A selection is being made :
What is pollution? — What is pollution?
Which cities are the most polluted in the world? — Which cities are the most polluted in the world?
The style is indirect :
I am not sure which way we're going .
When can you use which alone ?
Finally, there are cases where only one option is correct.
Combines with « of » or « one »: Which one would you like to buy? — ¿Qué te gusta comprar ? Which of these children have been vaccinated? — ¿Quiénes
de estos niños están vacunados ?
It is a relative clause :
She passed the exam which she hadn't studied for .
Remember that in many cases, the choice between one or the other is just a matter of style. Don't worry if you come across uses you don't expect: if you remember these simple rules, you won't go wrong.