what

Everyday

1. What is used to ask about a thing: «What is that?». tree →
2. What asks which one or which kind: «What colour is it?». tree →
3. What can mean «the thing that»: «Tell me what you saw». tree →
4. What is used to show surprise: «What a big dog!» tree →
5. (rude) «What?» alone is a blunt way to say «Pardon?», and «What!?» can show anger. tree →
6. (casual) «What's up?», «wassup», «whatcha doing?», «what's the deal?» and «or what?» are slang. tree →
7. (casual) «What» is used for «that» or «which» in some UK speech: «the one what I had» (nonstandard). tree →
8. (formal) Exams say «Determine the value of», «State the nature of», «Which of the following» and «that which» instead of «what». tree →

In the lessons

questions about the table or the answer; «What do you see» asks for a list, «What number» asks for one number; phrases: «what is», «what about», «what if», «what time», «so what», «what for»; in casual talk «wassup», «whatcha», «what's the damage?» (how much does it cost?), «are you thick or what?»; in rough talk «What? What d'you want?», «what the heck»; in the exam voice «determine the value of», «state that which», «identify the quantity»

Examples

• What do you see on the table? tree →
• What is 7 plus 5? tree →
• What number do we add to 6 to make 10? tree →
• What time is it? tree →
• Tell me what you found at the beach. tree →
• What a beautiful rainbow! tree →
• What if it rains on sports day? tree →
• Right, what's the damage? Two pies and a drink. tree →
• Are you thick or what? It's 12, not 21. tree →
• What? I only had 3! tree →
• Determine the value of the unknown quantity such that its sum with 6 is 10. tree →
• Wassup, how many of us for footy? tree →
• "And what great eyes you have!" tree →

Note

«What do you see» asks for a list of things, not a number. «What number» asks for one number. «what's the damage» asks for a price. «Determine the value of» in an exam is the same as «what is». Trap: «what» asks about things, «who» about people. «what the heck» is a mild swear, not a question.

In Jewish tradition

questions about the table or the answer; «What do you see» asks for a list, «What number» asks for one number; phrases: «what is», «what about», «what if», «what time», «so what», «what for»; in casual talk «wassup», «whatcha», «what's the damage?» (how much does it cost?), «are you thick or what?»; in rough talk «What? What d'you want?», «what the heck»; in the exam voice «determine the value of», «state that which», «identify the quantity»

Examples

• And the man asked him, saying: 'What seekest thou?' (Torah GEN.37.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Balak said unto him: 'What hath the LORD spoken?' (Torah NUM.23.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the people murmured against Moses, saying: 'What shall we drink?' (Torah EXO.15.24, JPS 1917) tree →
• But what is it even then? (Prophets 1KI.14.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• But what doth your arguing argue? (Writings JOB.6.25, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the king said: 'What wouldest thou?' (Prophets 1KI.1.16, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

«What do you see» asks for a list of things, not a number. «What number» asks for one number. «what's the damage» asks for a price. «Determine the value of» in an exam is the same as «what is». Trap: «what» asks about things, «who» about people. «what the heck» is a mild swear, not a question.