In what

Question

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton won Nevada but captured fewer delegates in what is shaping up as two-person race. Where does what refer?Can I replace 'in what' with ', which'?ThanksLiJ

Hoa Thai · Accepted Answer

LiveinjapanNew York Sen. Hillary Clinton won Nevada but captured fewer delegates in what is shaping up as two-person race.

Where does what refer?

Can I replace 'in what' with ', which'?

Thanks
LiJ

Hi,

'In what' = 'in the thing that'

Liveinjapan · Answer

Hoa Thai'In what' = 'in the thing that'

Thanks, HT.

Does the thing refer to the fact that Clinton won Nevada but captured fewer delegates?
If so, do you agree that 'in what' can be replaced with ', which'?

Thanks
LiJ

Hoa Thai · Answer

Liveinjapan
Hoa Thai'In what' = 'in the thing that'
Thanks, HT.

Does the thing refer to the fact that Clinton won Nevada but captured fewer delegates?
If so, do you agree that 'in what' can be replaced with ', which'?

Thanks
LiJ

Hi,

My answer is 'No' to both. "The fact she won is shaping up to become the race" is nonsensical.
You can think of what as a predeterminer for the race. In other words, "in what is shaping up" is the same as "in the race that is shaping up."

Cool Breeze · Answer

LiveinjapanNew York Sen. Hillary Clinton won Nevada but captured fewer delegates in what is shaping up as two-person race.

Where does what refer?

Can I replace 'in what' with ', which'?

Hi LiJ

Grammatical terminology varies from country to country, even from grammarian to grammarian, and I have no idea what what is called in Japan in a sentence like yours. In traditional European grammar and Finland it is a relative pronoun which is inclusive of an entecedent. More examples of similar "whats":

What he said was true.
I'm not interested in what he said.
That wasn't what I wanted to know.

Sometimes it is possible to replace a relative what with that which:

That which he said was true.

This is not very common and I think it'll sound odd or unusual to many natives' ears. You can never replace a realtive what with just which.

Cheers
CB

Liveinjapan · Answer

Hoa Thai
Liveinjapan
Hoa Thai'In what' = 'in the thing that'
Thanks, HT.

Does the thing refer to the fact that Clinton won Nevada but captured fewer delegates?
If so, do you agree that 'in what' can be replaced with ', which'?

Thanks
LiJ

Hi,

My answer is 'No' to both. "The fact she won is shaping up to become the race" is nonsensical.
You can think of what as a predeterminer for the race. In other words, "in what is shaping up" is the same as "in the race that is shaping up."

I was thinking about it in the wrong way. Now, it's simple. I understand. Thank you very much, Hoa Thai and CB.

I should've read the original sentece more carefully. I misunderstood it in the first place.

In what

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