QUESTIONS
Which, what and whose questions
Put a noun after what or which to ask about a kind of thing or a choice: What time is it? Which bag is yours? Whose asks who owns something. What is he like? asks for a description.
| What / Which + noun | Whose | What ... like | |
|---|---|---|---|
| + | The film starts at six. | This is Tom's bag. | Your teacher is kind. |
| − | The film doesn't start at six. | This isn't Tom's bag. | Your teacher isn't strict. |
| ? | What time does the film start? | Whose bag is this? | What is your teacher like? |
what + noun
- many answers
- which + noun: a small known group
- Subject questions have no do: Which team won?
- What does he look like? asks about looks
Colours in the rules
- subject Who or what does it: I, she, my brother.
- verb The action or state: walk, work, go.
- other words Time words and the rest of the pattern.
A2 What time is it? What sport do you like?
Put a noun right after what to ask about a kind of thing: What time is it? What sport do you like? Use what when many answers are possible.
What + noun do / does / is subject
Examples
- What time does the film start?Why: What time asks for the time of day.
- What sport do you like?Why: What sport asks about any sport, not a short list.
Common mistake
Wrong:What sport you like?
Right:What sport do you like?
A2 Which bag is yours?
Use which when the answer comes from a small group that both people know: Which bag is yours? Which do you prefer, tea or coffee?
Which + noun / one do / does / is subject
Examples
- Which bag is yours?Why: Which bag picks one bag from the ones we can see.
- Which one do you prefer?Why: Which one picks between two known things.
Common mistake
Wrong:What bag is yours, this one or that one?
Right:Which bag is yours, this one or that one?
B1 Whose bag is this?
Use whose to ask who something belongs to. Put a noun after it, or use whose alone: Whose coat is this? Whose is this scarf?
Whose (+ noun) is / are this / these
Examples
- Whose phone is this?Why: Whose phone asks who owns the phone.
- Whose is this scarf?Why: Whose alone replaces the noun when it is clear.
Common mistake
Wrong:Who's bag is this?
Right:Whose bag is this?
B1 What is he like?
What is he like? asks for a description of someone or something, such as character or looks. It does not ask what he likes. The answer is: He is kind and funny.
What is / does subject like
Examples
- What is your new teacher like?Why: Asks for a description of the teacher.
- What does your house look like?Why: Look like asks how the house looks.
Common mistake
Wrong:How is your teacher like?
Right:What is your teacher like?
B1 Which team won?
When which or what + noun is the subject of the question, the verb comes right after it: Which team won? What song is playing? Do not add do, does or did.
Which / What + noun verb rest
Examples
- Which team won the match?Why: Which team did the winning, so won follows it directly.
- What song is playing now?Why: What song is the subject of is playing.
Common mistake
Wrong:Which team did win the match?
Right:Which team won the match?
Practice all rules
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