Learn English 100% free...Get 1 free lesson per week // Add a new lesson
Log in!

Click here to log in
New account
Millions of accounts created on our sites.
JOIN our free club and learn English now!



  • Home
  • Print
  • Guestbook
  • Report a bug




  • Get a free English lesson every week!
    Click here!





    Partners:
    - Our other sites
       


    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #129474: Relatives: What or Which
    > Other English exercises on the same topics: Find the word | Relative sentences [Change theme]
    > Similar tests: - Placement test : grammar for beginners - Relative pronouns: Who/whose/whom/which/of which - Relative pronoun - Relative pronoun That - Who's... / Whose... - Relative pronouns - What, which and all that - Relative Pronouns-That or Who
    > Double-click on words you don't understand


    Relatives: What or Which


     'WHAT' (used to introduce a clause) that which; whatever;

     

     

    or ', WHICH' (used in relative clauses to refer back to a word that has already been

    mentioned and to pause to give it emphasis). 

    They are not interrogative pronouns (they don't require question mark), but are both

    relative pronouns.

    The uses of the words can be problematic for learners of English. Let's see if I can be

    of any help...



    1) WHAT: relative pronoun, meaning 'that which' contains its antecedent.
    It's often placed at the beginning of a sentence or a clause: ‘WHAT' announces what's following... 


    - What is important to me is not to lie to the police.

     

    - He was careful and told her only what I had asked him to repeat.

     

                                             

     

    2) ', WHICH' refers back to a word (or clause) already mentioned, its antecedent is followed by a comma.  
    ', WHICH' repeats what has been said before.  


    - [Paul has stayed home with his old mother ], which relieved us...

     

    (The antecedent is the whole clause between the square brackets.)

    What has relieved us is ' the fact Paul stayed home with his old mother'. 

     

                                         

     

    As you see, it was neither difficult, nor long! It's your turn, now! 

    I'm sure you'll do well!  

     

     



    Twitter Share
    English exercise "Relatives: What or Which" created by here4u with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from here4u]
    Click here to see the current stats of this English test

    Please log in to save your progress.


    1. We had to cancel our holiday together was quite frustrating.



    2. I know she was sincere, but she said made me cry…



    3. She’s always complaining about everything really gets on my nerves.



    4. It’s a pity, but we can’t give them they really need to live properly.



    5. Pete married his secretary made his mother angry.



    6. Sue got married again a few months after her divorce surprised the whole family.



    7. In fact, the little girl didn’t fancy the food she saw and didn't know she wanted to eat.



    8. It rained for two weeks on end caused a new flood.



    9. surprised me is that the old dog found its way back home.



    10. Sub-zero temperatures were reached again in the city is quite unusual at this time of the year.










    End of the free exercise to learn English: Relatives: What or Which
    A free English exercise to learn English.
    Other English exercises on the same topics : Find the word | Relative sentences | All our lessons and exercises