which

Everyday

1. Which asks someone to choose one from a group: «Which colour do you want?». tree →
2. Which tells more about a thing just named: «The bike, which is red, is mine». tree →
3. Which can mean «that» in a description: «the book which I read». tree →
4. Which can point to a whole idea before: «He was late, which made me cross». tree →
5. (casual) «Which one?», «which is why» and «which, fair enough» are common in talk. tree →
6. (formal) Exams love «Which of the following», «in which», «by which», «whereby» and «the extent to which». tree →

In the lessons

which operation to use; which of two is more; «which» asks for a choice, often a name, not a number; phrases: «which one», «which of», «which way», «which is why»; in casual talk «which one, the red?», «which, yeah, fair»; in rough talk «which idiot took my pen?»; in the exam voice «which of the following statements is correct», «the extent to which», «the process by which»

Examples

• Today's lesson: Revision: which operation? tree →
• Which box has more pencils? tree →
• Which number is bigger, 9 or 12? tree →
• Which way is the station? tree →
• Which of these animals can fly? tree →
• I lost the hat which Gran knitted for me. tree →
• Which team won the match? tree →
• which bus goes to nan's, the 12? tree →
• He ate 4 of my chips, which was not cool. tree →
• Which idiot took my ruler? tree →
• Which of the following statements most accurately characterises the process by which water becomes ice? tree →
• The bike, which is red, cost 90 dollars. tree →
• Which was taller, Father or Mother? tree →

Note

«Which» asks for a choice, often a name, not a number. Trap: «which has more» still needs both counts. «which» is for things and animals; «who» is for people. «Which of the following» in an exam asks you to pick one of the given answers. «Which» and «witch» sound the same.

In Jewish tradition

Old style pronoun for "that" or "who," tying a thing to its description ("the ordinances which thou shalt set"). In the primary lessons: which operation to use; which of two is more; «which» asks for a choice, often a name, not a number; phrases: «which one», «which of», «which way», «which is why»; in casual talk «which one, the red?», «which, yeah, fair»; in rough talk «which idiot took my pen?»; in the exam voice «which of the following statements is correct», «the extent to which», «the process by which»

Examples

• Now these are the ordinances which thou shalt set before them. (Torah EXO.21.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.' (Torah EXO.19.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• And every open vessel, which hath no covering close-bound upon it, is unclean. (Torah NUM.19.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• Which having no chief, overseer, or ruler, (Writings PRO.6.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• THE SONG of songs, which is Solomon's. (Writings SNG.1.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• What understandest thou, which is not in us? (Writings JOB.15.9, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

«Which» asks for a choice, often a name, not a number. Trap: «which has more» still needs both counts. «which» is for things and animals; «who» is for people. «Which of the following» in an exam asks you to pick one of the given answers. «Which» and «witch» sound the same.