what

Từ điển tiếng Anh - Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary

what UK [wɒt] US [wɑːt] determiner , pronoun , exclamation
 
QUESTION

1. <E > used to ask for information about people or things
• What time is it?
• What books did you buy?
• What did you wear?
• What size shoes do you take?
• What happened after I left?
• What caused the accident?
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Question words and expressions
2. <I > used in questions which show you are surprised or do not believe something
• "I've just told Peter." "What?/You did what?"
• What's this I hear? You're leaving?
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Question words and expressions

3. what...for?
<I > used to ask about the reason for something
• What are these tools for?
• What are you doing that for?
• "We need a bigger car." "What for?"
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Question words and expressions
 
Common errors:
Warning: check your word order!
When what is used in a main clause to ask a question, remember to put the verb before the subject:
✗ What you are doing this summer?
• What are you doing this summer?
When what is used in a subordinate clause, do not put the verb before the subject:
✗ I'm writing to ask you what are you doing this summer.
• I m writing to ask you what you are doing this summer.
 
• What's the matter with you?
• What did you think of the film?
• What's on at the cinema this week?
• What did you say to him?
• What kind of dog is that?
Idioms: What is he like? ▪ What of it? ▪ What's that about? ▪ What's up? ▪ what about? ▪ what if? ▪ what's on
 
pronoun
 
THAT WHICH

1. <E > the thing(s) which; that which
• What I wanted to find out first was how long it was going to take.
• What really concerned her was how unhappy the child was.
• She wouldn't tell me what he said.
• I hadn't got much money on me but I gave them what I had.
• The letter showed clearly what they were planning.
• I can't decide what to do next.
• Have you thought about what to send as a present?
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Relative forms
2. <I > used to introduce something you are going to say
• You'll never guess what - Laurie won first prize!
• I'll tell you what - we'll collect the parcel on our way to the station.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Relative forms
 
Common errors:
Warning: choose the correct pronoun!
To add extra information to a previous clause, don't say 'what', say which:
✗ I also speak English, what might be useful in this job.
• I also speak English, which might be useful in this job.
 
• His story of what happened that night didn't correspond with the witness's version.
• Please describe to the court exactly what you saw.
• If you'd told me what was wrong I could have helped.
• They need clear instructions on what to do next.
• It's unclear what actually happened that night.
Idioms: and what have you ▪ what somebody says goes ▪ what with ▪ what's more
 
predeterminer , determiner
 
OPINION
used to introduce your opinion
• "She can't come." "What a shame/pity."
• What a lovely view!
• What nonsense/rubbish!
• What strange clothes he was wearing.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Expressing and asking opinions ↑Remarks and remarking ↑Controlling emotions
 
pronoun , exclamation informal
 
QUESTION
used to ask someone to say something again
• "I think we should leave at twelve." "What?" "I said I think we should leave at twelve."
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Question words and expressions