Which or what?These two words are usually interrogative pronouns. This means that they give question value to sentences. Usually they mean "that" or "which" when translated. However, they can assume different meanings according to their uses. The main difference between these pronouns is that which is used when we have a restricted universe of choices, and what is used when there is no such specification.
Read too: Do or does — when and how to use it?
Topics of this article
- 1 - Summary about which and what
- 2 - What are the differences between which and what?
- 3 - When to use which?
- 4 - When to use what?
- 5 - Solved exercises about which and what
Summary about which It is what
what It is which are interrogative pronouns, but they can act with other functions.
Which it is mainly used in queries for things in specific groups of elements.
While which can be used as a relative pronoun, the same does not occur with what, so that usage is wrong.
Associated with other words, what It is which can take on other meanings.
In different situations, they may require the company of other words.
What are the differences between which It is what?
Which It is what are interrogative pronouns. They have similar meanings when translated into Portuguese: “que” or “qual”. Despite that, are used in different contexts in the English language.
Which can act while relative pronoun, the same is not true for what. uses of which as relative pronoun:
We saw a movie which was very interesting.
We saw a movie that was very interesting.
We have a relative sentence here, so it must begin with which. It completes the meaning of the first sentence. We cannot start this sentence with what!
I can't tell you the trouble which was to talk to her!
I can't even tell you what a problem it was to talk to her!
We have here another relative sentence, therefore, beginning with which. It completes the meaning of the first sentence and therefore cannot be started with what!
Furthermore, which is used when specifying a limited universe of things, a restricted field. Already what has the most usual use for an unrestricted field of things.
Which dress do you like the most? The red one or the blue one?
Which dress do you like best? The red or the blue?
What dress do you like the most?
Which dress do you like the most?
The restricted field specified in the example above for which is: red or blue. Already for what, there is no specification that restricts.
Which name do you prefer? Paul or John?
Which name do you prefer? Paul or John?
What name do you prefer?
What/what name do you prefer?
The restricted field specified in the example above for which is: Paul or John. Already for what, there is no specification that restricts.
Who can say which way?
Who can say which way?
Paths are limited and we are looking for specific information. This justifies the use of which: restricted field of choices.
Do not stop now... There's more after the publicity ;)
when to use which?
Above, we understood the difference and similarity of uses when specifying restricted groups. Now, let's see more cases:
The dress which I like the most is the blue one.
My favorite dress is the blue one.
Here we have the case of using which as a relative pronoun. what will never fit in this situation.
Find out which museum did he visit.
Find out which museum he visited.
In that case, we have an indirect question. This justifies the use of which, in addition to the restricted universe of museums.
We saw animals which live in the desert.
We saw animals that live in the desert.
We have a relative sentence here, so it must begin with which. It completes the meaning of the first sentence.
They seemed happier than usual, which was due to the party last night.
They/they looked happier than usual, which was a result of the party the night before.
Which refers to the entire previous sentence, recovering its sense.
Important:Which is used with of if associated with others determiners (determinants), such as the, those, your, my, his, her, its, hers, yours, them, their.
Which of her sisters lives in London?
Which of your sisters lives in London?
when to use what?
Now that we understand some more specific uses of which, including some that run away from the interrogative, we will also see the uses of what.
What an amazing person!
What a wonderful person!
what here it is being used to express an opinion or a strong feeling. It is a determine (determinant).
What we must choose is whether we want a future or not.
What we need to choose is whether we want a future or not.
Here, what introduces an explanation related to the thing to be chosen.
She can't seem to decide what to borrow.
She can't seem to decide what to borrow.
In the example above, we see the same case as the previous example, where what introduces an explanation related to the thing to be chosen.
What are you worried for?
Why are you worried?
The association of what at the beginning of the sentence with for interrogative at the end works like why, that is: it is a question about motivation, reason, cause. This usage is colloquial.
See too: Make or do? — when and how to use it?
Solved exercises on which It is what
question 1
Someone wants to know the name of the person above. Which of the sentences below fits the situation?
A) What is his name?
B) Which is his name?
C) What is he?
D) Which is he?
Resolution:
Alternative A
All sentences are correct for some possible situation. All are grammatically correct, but only one of the sentences fits what the utterance asks for. Alternative D brings the question “Who is he?”, which may be in a context where there is the man and a few others. Alternative C brings “What is he?”, which could mean that there is a doubt about his profession, for example. Alternative B, meaning “What is your name?”, could only be used if name options were given together, specifying a group. Therefore, the correct alternative is alternative A: “What is your name?”, without specifying a group of names.
question 2
Regarding the day represented in the image above, which sentence below presents the correct use of the relative pronoun?
A) What is the Indigenous People Day?
B) Which is the Indigenous People Day?
C) August 9th, the Indigenous People Day, is a very important day.
D) August 9th, which is the Indigenous People Day, is a very important day.
Resolution:
Alternative D
We can eliminate alternatives A and B, since both begin with interrogative pronouns. We can see that in alternative C there is no relative pronoun. Therefore, we can also discard it. We are left with only alternative D, and, in this case, the relative pronoun is used with which.
By Beta Maria Xavier Reis
English teacher
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