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Relatives: What or Which - English lesson

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!  

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1. We had to cancel our holiday together , whichwhichwhatI don't know was quite frustrating.



2. I know she was sincere, but what, whichthatI don't know she said made me cry…



3. She’s always complaining about everything which, whichwhatI don't know really gets on my nerves.



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



5. Pete married his secretary whichwhat, whichI don't know made his mother angry.



6. Sue got married again a few months after her divorce which, whichwhatI don't know surprised the whole family.



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



8. It rained for two weeks on end , whichwhatwhichI don't know caused a new flood.



9. WhichWhat, WhichI don't know surprised me is that the old dog found its way back home.



10. Sub-zero temperatures were reached again in the city whatwhich, whichI don't know is quite unusual at this time of the year.