Reference Desk
Home
English Grammar
Practical English Usage
Grammatical Terms
English Writing
Vocabulary
English Speaking
Business English
TOEFL
IELTS

Interactive Pages
English grammar and vocabulary exercises

 

Which and what

There is little difference of meaning between which and what.

• Which/what is the largest continent in the world?
• Which/what train did you come on?

Which is preferred when the speaker has a limited number of choices in mind.

• We have got white and brown bread. Which will you have?
• Which colour do you want – red, pink, blue or purple?

When the speaker is not thinking of a limited number of choices, what is used.

• What is your telephone number? (NOT Which is your phone number?)
• What language do they speak in Chile? (More natural than Which language …)

Before nouns, which and what can be used to ask questions about both people and things.

• Which teacher do you like best?
• What writers do you like?
• Which colour do you want – red or brown?

When these words are used as pronouns, without nouns immediately after them, we use who, not which, for people.

• Who is your favourite writer? (NOT Which is your favourite writer?)
• Who won – Alan or Peter? (NOT Which won …)

However, which can be used in questions about people’s identity, and what can be used to ask about people’s jobs and functions.

• ‘Which is your boy?’ ‘The one blue shirt.’
• ‘What is your husband?’ ‘He is a doctor.’

Search the Dictionary of Practical English Usage

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

Show Full Index Enter your search terms Submit search form   Web www.perfectyourenglish.com