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Hsiaoyunh Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

which

Is "which" always single? Or it depends on what it refers to?

Which runs faster, a leopard or an antelope?
--> I think this is correct, but how about the following sentences?

Which runs faster, leopards or antelopes?
Which run faster, leopards or antelopes?

Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

I would prefer to say: Which can run faster, the leopard or the antelope? However, there is nothing wrong with a plural interrogative which: Which are the cleanest cities in the world? CB

— Cool Breeze

  • I would prefer to say: Which can run faster, the leopard or the antelope?
  • However, there is nothing wrong with a plural interrogative which: Which are the cleanest cities in the world?
  • CB
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7 Answers
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I would prefer to say: Which can run faster, the leopard or the antelope?
However, there is nothing wrong with a plural interrogative which: Which are the cleanest cities in the world?

CB
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Cool Breeze I would prefer to say: Which can run faster, the leopard or the antelope?

However, there is nothing wrong with a plural interrogative which: Which are the cleanest cities in the world?

CB

Which can run faster, a leopard or an antelope? (Is this se
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Yoong Liat
Cool Breeze I would prefer to say: Which can run faster, the leopard or the antelope?

However, there is nothing wrong with a plural interrogative which: Which are the cleanest cities in the world?

CB

Which can run
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Cool Breeze
Yoong Liat
Cool Breeze I would prefer to say: Which can run faster, the leopard or the antelope?

However, there is nothing wrong with a plural interrogative which: Which are the cleanest cities in the world?

CB
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Yoong Liatwhich sentence is more appropriate or natural
Assuming you want a generic sentence that minimizes ambiguity, the better choice is
Which can run faster, a leopard or an antelope?
The version with the can be used as a generic, but is ambiguous in isolation, because it may also refer to two specific animals, o
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Many thanks, CJ, for your reply.
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CalifJimThe version with the can be used as a generic, but is ambiguous in isolation, because it may also refer to two specific animals, one a leopard, the other an antelope.
Hi, CJ. Sorry, I may not get your point correctly, but do you mean this ambiguity happens in other cases such as "which can run faster, the elephant or the giraffe?"
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