Home › English Grammar › Determiners and quantifiers ›
 

interrogative determiners: which and what

 

We use "which" as a determiner to ask a question about a specific group of people or things:

Which restaurant did you go to?
Which countries in South America have you visited?

When we are asking a general question we use "what" as a determiner:

What films do you like?
What university did you go to?

Comments

Ilona1969's picture
Submitted by Ilona1969 on 31 May, 2013 - 19:32. Czech Republic

Hi,
I am a new member.....my name is Ilona and I am from Czech republic

theprofessor1's picture
Submitted by theprofessor1 on 14 May, 2013 - 01:45. Egypt

it's very useful lesson
can I get new friend ?
I am from Egypt

kokoyiwen's picture
Submitted by kokoyiwen on 7 March, 2013 - 07:54. China

thanks for your reply from Learn English team. I learn more about which and what.

memetkarakaya's picture
Submitted by memetkarakaya on 2 February, 2013 - 15:45. Turkey

Hı I'm memet, I'm form Turkiye. I think this web is veriy usefull.

sellatamil's picture
Submitted by sellatamil on 5 January, 2013 - 04:10. India

Hi im Tamil from India, yesterday i have attended one interview in that I'm failed in group discussion round, i know im some what lack in communication tats y i have  in learn English, i hope that you people will help me to improve my fluency........

ara zasmine's picture
Submitted by ara zasmine on 4 January, 2013 - 13:57. Indonesia

Hello, Learning English Team!
I'm from Indonesia and I'm new here.
I'm glad to know this web. I will learn and I hope I can get advantages by join you.
Thank you.

manyahi's picture
Submitted by manyahi on 27 December, 2012 - 20:20. Tanzania

Hello Learn English team!
I have read through the examples given on interrogative determiners, but i can't differentiate using what and which. For example i can't see the differences if i ask which university did you go? and what university did you go?
Thanks & regards.
Manyahi

Jeremy Bee's picture
LearnEnglish
team
Submitted by Jeremy Bee on 4 January, 2013 - 08:39. Taiwan

Hello manyahi!
 
Often there isn't any important difference betwen the two! In the example you give, both which and what are OK. If it is a very big group you are talking about (like food, for example - think how many different kinds of food there are in the world!), you should use what, but other than that, which and what are both OK for general questions.
 
Hope that helps!
 
Jeremy Bee
The LearnEnglish Team

sary talal's picture
Submitted by sary talal on 9 December, 2012 - 10:46. Algeria

hi to every one i hope that you are fine i want to get new friends from all over the world i am from algeria
 

mysaeed's picture
Submitted by mysaeed on 26 November, 2012 - 01:53. Sweden

I am new member, just joined. I have just skimmed all messages and found it can be quite helpful in preparation of IELTS.
I am planning to write IELTS in January, if anybody wants to do speaking practice & willing to share ideas about IELTS preparation, he is welcome.
My skype ID is: xxxxxxxxxxxxx
I am an Indian, currently based on Sweden.
Thanks & Regards,
mysaeed.