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What

What is a wh-word. We use what to ask questions and as a pronoun and determiner.

What as a question word​

We can use what to ask for information about things and actions:

  • What do you want?
  • What*’s she doing? Tell her to stop at once!*
  • What time are you leaving?

We can also use what in indirect questions:

  • She asked me what my address was.
  • I wonder what Jim Barfield is doing these days.
See also
  • Questions: *wh-*questions

What meaning ‘please repeat’​

We can use what in informal situations to ask someone to repeat something if we don’t hear it or understand it:

  • A: Did you get the paper?
  • B: Sorry, what*?* (sorry alone would be more polite)
  • A: Did you get the paper?
  • B: Oh, yes. It’s in the kitchen.

Emphatic questions with whatever and what on earth​

We can ask emphatic questions using whatever or what on earth to express shock or surprise. We stress ever and earth:

  • Joan, whatever are you doing? You’ll give yourself an electric shock! (stronger than What are you doing?)
  • What on earth is she wearing? She looks awful in that red and white dress! (stronger than What is she wearing?)

What as a pronoun​

We can use what as a pronoun to mean ‘the thing(s) that’:

  • What we need to do is make a list of useful phone numbers. (the thing we need to do)
  • I can’t decide what to buy Liz for her birthday.
  • I haven’t got many Beatles CDs, but you can borrow what I have.

We don’t use what as a relative pronoun. We use which:

  • This is the book which the lecturer mentioned.
  • Not: … the book what the lecturer mentioned.

What as a determiner​

We can use what in exclamations to express a strong feeling or opinion. In this case, we use what as a determiner before a noun or before a/an (+ adjective) + noun:

  • What lovely flowers!
  • What a horrible smell!
  • What a mess!

What … for?​

We can use what … for? in two ways. We can use it in informal situations to mean why?:

  • What did you phone her for? (informal: Why did you phone her?)

We can also use what … for? to ask about the purpose of something:

  • A: What*’s that button for?* (What is the purpose of that button?)
  • B: It’s the on–off switch for the radio.

What: typical errors​

We don’t use what as a relative pronoun:

  • The hotel which was least expensive turned out to be the best.
  • Not: The hotel what was least expensive …
  • She never asked our permission to use the room, which was very rude of her.
  • Not: … what was very rude of her.

We don’t use what after words which take a that-clause:

  • I am very happy that you can come and visit us.
  • Not: … happy what you can come …
See also
  • Relative clauses
  • That-clauses