What or Which?
Posted:
Sun Jan 15, 2012 7:25 pmby RobvdVeer
Can you native English please help me out? I am trying to find the differences between 'which' and 'what'. For example, you say 'What time is it', but also 'Which car looks better'.. 'Which time' sounds out of place, but 'What car' doesn't sound that strange. The only 'rule of thumb' I found is that 'which' is preferred is the number of choices is limited or known. Educate me please.
Re: What or Which?
Posted:
Sun Jan 15, 2012 7:34 pmby Darren C
Which....is when you have a definative set of things to select a choice from.
What....is when you have an undefined selection of things.
Re: What or Which?
Posted:
Sun Jan 15, 2012 7:37 pmby RobvdVeer
Thanks!
"What side are you on" seems to contradict the general rule...
PS. I don't want to go theoretical on this stuff, it's just general interest in your language.
Re: What or Which?
Posted:
Sun Jan 15, 2012 7:48 pmby RobvdVeer
Darren C wrote:No; just bad English.
I've been watching BBC far too much.
