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Jigneshbharati Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

What vs which use

Imagine you were invisible for a day. Who would you play tricks on? What tricks would you play?
(a) Your parents.
(b) Your best friend.
(c) Your nasty neighbors
Can we not say "which tricks would you play"? Please explain the difference between "what" and "which" in the given context and also explain what would both sentences mean?
  

Top answer

I think both are grammatically correct. When being presented with choices, using "which" is better (in my opinion), but "what" is not wrong either. I also do not think there is a difference in both the meanings in the given context.

— Dernbu

  • I think both are grammatically correct.
  • When being presented with choices, using "which" is better (in my opinion), but "what" is not wrong either.
  • I also do not think there is a difference in both the meanings in the given context.
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5 Answers
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I think both are grammatically correct. When being presented with choices, using "which" is better (in my opinion), but "what" is not wrong either. I also do not think there is a difference in both the meanings in the given context.
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Jigneshbharati"which tricks would you play"?
You would say "which" if you had a list of tricks to choose from. The list could be in your mind, or written down.
eg Which (of the following) colors do you like best?
Which color do you like best? A mauve B navy C puce D. chartreuse

You use "What" when anything is possible.
A: What is your
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AlpheccaStarsYou would say "which" if you had a list of tricks to choose from.
Yes, I agree. However, using "what" when having a list to choose from isn't wrong either.
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dernbuYes, I agree. However, using "what" when having a list to choose from isn't wrong either.
I was giving criteria that a native speaker would use to choose which of the two pronouns to use.
I didn't say one was right, and the other wrong.

In the context of the original sentence, I would use "what."
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Jigneshbharatithe difference between "what" and "which"
what identifies.
which selects.

There is sometimes a fine line between identifying and selecting, so both are correct in many cases.

I have a red star and a blue star. Which star would you like? (I'm asking you to select/choose.)
(You might ask Wh
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