0
Mickey Mouse 8241 Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

"Paul is not what is generally considered handsome".

"Paul is not what is generally considered handsome".

Could we use 'the thing that/which' instead of 'what' in above sentence? I am not sure when I can use 'the thing that/which' in noun clause?
sometimes it doesn't make sense .

Thanks.
  

Top answer

Mickey Mouse 8241 Could we use 'the thing that/which' instead of 'what' in above sentence? No. The point of telling students that "what" means "the thing which" is to give them a general idea of the usage.

— CalifJim

  • Mickey Mouse 8241 Could we use 'the thing that/which' instead of 'what' in above sentence?
  • No.
  • The point of telling students that "what" means "the thing which" is to give them a general idea of the usage.
  • It's not intended to be a direct substitution in all sentences that use "what".
  • In this sentence you say it differently if you want to paraphrase it.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

5 Answers
0
Mickey Mouse 8241Could we use 'the thing that/which' instead of 'what' in above sentence?
No. The point of telling students that "what" means "the thing which" is to give them a general idea of the usage. It's not intended to be a direct substitution in all sentences that use "what".

In this sentence you say it differently if you want to paraphrase
0
0
Thanks so much CalifJim.
Can we use 'the thing which/that' or in some situations 'someone who' instaed of 'WHAT' in every noun clause?
0
0
Mickey Mouse 8241Can we use 'the thing which/that' or in some situations 'someone who' instaed of 'WHAT' in every noun clause?
English has so many exceptions that we can never answer "yes" for any question with "all", "always", or "every" in it. The case you brought to us in this thread is very unusual. I'd say that in 95% of the cases, "the th
0
0
Can the pattern be used in the following as well?
"Do you know what the problem is."

Thanks.
0
0
Mickey Mouse 8241Can the pattern be used in the following as well?"Do you know what the problem is."Thanks.
No. That's interrogative 'what'. 'what the problem is' is an indirect question corresponding to the direct question "What is the problem?"

CJ
0

Related Questions