Using which instead of that

Oct 13, 2025 by recoveryshake.com 20 views

What are Wh- Words?

Wh- words are a type of interrogative word used in English language to ask questions. They are called "wh" words because they start with the letters "wh", "w", or "h". Wh- words are used to ask questions about something, and they are an essential part of the English language. In this article, we will explore the different types of wh- words, their examples, and how they are used in sentences.

Types of Wh- Words

There are several types of wh- words in English, including:

What: used to ask about a thing or a situation
Where: used to ask about a location
When: used to ask about a time
Who: used to ask about a person or a group of people
Why: used to ask about a reason or a cause
How: used to ask about a method or a way
Which: used to ask about a choice or a selection
Whom: used to ask about a person or a group of people (object of a verb or preposition)
Whose: used to ask about ownership or possession

Examples of Wh- Words

Here are some examples of wh- words in sentences:

What: "What is your name?" (asking about a person's name)
Where: "Where are you going?" (asking about a location)
When: "When is your birthday?" (asking about a time)
Who: "Who is the president of the United States?" (asking about a person)
Why: "Why are you late?" (asking about a reason)
How: "How do you make a cake?" (asking about a method)
Which: "Which book do you like best?" (asking about a choice)
Whom: "Whom did you invite to the party?" (asking about a person or a group of people as the object of a verb or preposition)
Whose: "Whose car is that?" (asking about ownership or possession)

Using Wh- Words in Sentences

Wh- words are used in sentences to ask questions. They can be used in different ways, such as:

As a question word: "What is your name?" (asking about a person's name)
As a relative clause: "I know the person whose car is that." (asking about ownership or possession)
As a subordinate clause: "I don't know why you are late." (asking about a reason)

Common Mistakes with Wh- Words

There are some common mistakes that people make when using wh- words in sentences. Here are a few examples:

Using who instead of whom: "Who did you invite to the party?" (should be "Whom did you invite to the party?")
Using which instead of that: "Which book do you like best?" (should be "That book is my favorite.")
Using what instead of which: "What book do you like best?" (should be "Which book do you like best?")

Conclusion

Wh- words are an essential part of the English language, and they are used to ask questions about something. There are several types of wh- words, including what, where, when, who, why, how, which, whom, and whose. Understanding how to use wh- words in sentences is important for effective communication. By following the examples and explanations in this article, you can improve your use of wh- words and become a more confident communicator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between who and whom?
- Who is used as a subject, while whom is used as an object.
How do I use which and that correctly?
- Which is used to ask about a choice or a selection, while that is used to refer to a specific thing.
What is the difference between what and which?
- What is used to ask about a thing or a situation, while which is used to ask about a choice or a selection.

Additional Resources

English Grammar Handbook: A comprehensive guide to English grammar, including wh- words.
English Language Learning: A website with resources and exercises for learning English, including wh- words.
Grammarly: A tool that helps you improve your writing and grammar, including wh- words.
Wh- Words Q&A: Frequently Asked Questions =============================================

Q: What is the difference between who and whom?

A: Who is used as a subject, while whom is used as an object. For example:

"Who is going to the party?" (who is the subject)
"Whom did you invite to the party?" (whom is the object)

Q: How do I use which and that correctly?

A: Which is used to ask about a choice or a selection, while that is used to refer to a specific thing. For example:

"Which book do you like best?" (asking about a choice)
"That book is my favorite." (referring to a specific book)

Q: What is the difference between what and which?

A: What is used to ask about a thing or a situation, while which is used to ask about a choice or a selection. For example:

"What is your name?" (asking about a thing)
"Which book do you like best?" (asking about a choice)

Q: Can I use who and whom interchangeably?

A: No, who and whom are not interchangeable. Who is used as a subject, while whom is used as an object. Using who instead of whom can change the meaning of a sentence.

Q: How do I use wh- words in a sentence?

A: Wh- words are used to ask questions. They can be used in different ways, such as:

As a question word: "What is your name?"
As a relative clause: "I know the person whose car is that."
As a subordinate clause: "I don't know why you are late."

Q: What is the difference between wh- words and other types of words?

A: Wh- words are a type of interrogative word used to ask questions. They are different from other types of words, such as declarative words (used to make statements) and imperative words (used to give orders).

Q: Can I use wh- words in a sentence that is not a question?

A: Yes, wh- words can be used in a sentence that is not a question. For example:

"I'm not sure what to do." (using what to express uncertainty)
"I know where the store is." (using where to provide information)

Q: How do I use wh- words in a sentence with a subordinate clause?

A: Wh- words can be used in a sentence with a subordinate clause. For example:

"I don't know why you are late." (using why in a subordinate clause)
"I'm not sure what to do because I don't have enough information." (using what in a subordinate clause)

Q: Can I use wh- words in a sentence with a relative clause?

A: Yes, wh- words can be used in a sentence with a relative clause. For example:

"I know the person whose car is that." (using whose in a relative clause)
"I'm looking for the book that you recommended." (using that in a relative clause)

Q: How do I use wh- words in a sentence with a modal verb?

A: Wh- words can be used in a sentence with a modal verb. For example:

"I might know what to do." (using what with the modal verb might)
"You could tell me where the store is." (using where with the modal verb could)

Q: Can I use wh- words in a sentence with a passive voice?

A: Yes, wh- words can be used in a sentence with a passive voice. For example:

"The book was written by whom?" (using whom in a passive voice)
"The store is located where?" (using where in a passive voice)

Q: How do I use wh- words in a sentence with a compound sentence?

A: Wh- words can be used in a sentence with a compound sentence. For example:

"I don't know what to do, and I'm not sure where to go." (using what and where in a compound sentence)
"I'm not sure why you are late, and I'm worried about the consequences." (using why in a compound sentence)

Q: Can I use wh- words in a sentence with a complex sentence?

A: Yes, wh- words can be used in a sentence with a complex sentence. For example:

"I don't know what to do because I don't have enough information." (using what in a complex sentence)
"I'm not sure why you are late because you didn't tell me." (using why in a complex sentence)

Q: How do I use wh- words in a sentence with a subordinate clause and a relative clause?

A: Wh- words can be used in a sentence with a subordinate clause and a relative clause. For example:

"I don't know why you are late because I know the person whose car is that." (using why and whose in a sentence with a subordinate clause and a relative clause)
"I'm not sure what to do because I know the book that you recommended." (using what and that in a sentence with a subordinate clause and a relative clause)

Q: Can I use wh- words in a sentence with a modal verb, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause?

A: Yes, wh- words can be used in a sentence with a modal verb, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause. For example:

"I might know what to do because I know the person whose car is that." (using what, might, and whose in a sentence with a modal verb, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause)
"You could tell me where the store is because I know the book that you recommended." (using where, could, and that in a sentence with a modal verb, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause)

Q: How do I use wh- words in a sentence with a passive voice, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause?

A: Wh- words can be used in a sentence with a passive voice, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause. For example:

"The book was written by whom because I know the person whose car is that." (using whom, a passive voice, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause)
"The store is located where because I know the book that you recommended." (using where, a passive voice, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause)

Q: Can I use wh- words in a sentence with a compound sentence, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause?

A: Yes, wh- words can be used in a sentence with a compound sentence, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause. For example:

"I don't know what to do, and I'm not sure why you are late because I know the person whose car is that." (using what, why, and whose in a sentence with a compound sentence, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause)
"I'm not sure where to go, and I'm worried about the consequences because I know the book that you recommended." (using where, a compound sentence, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause)

Q: How do I use wh- words in a sentence with a complex sentence, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause?

A: Wh- words can be used in a sentence with a complex sentence, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause. For example:

"I don't know what to do because I don't have enough information, and I'm not sure why you are late because I know the person whose car is that." (using what, why, and whose in a sentence with a complex sentence, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause)
"I'm not sure where to go because I don't have a map, and I'm worried about the consequences because I know the book that you recommended." (using where, a complex sentence, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause)

Q: Can I use wh- words in a sentence with a modal verb, a compound sentence, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause?

A: Yes, wh- words can be used in a sentence with a modal verb, a compound sentence, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause. For example:

"I might know what to do, and I'm not sure why you are late because I know the person whose car is that." (using what, might, and whose in a sentence with a modal verb, a compound sentence, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause)
"You could tell me where the store is, and I'm worried about the consequences because I know the book that you recommended." (using where, could, and that in a sentence with a modal verb, a compound sentence, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause)

Q: How do I use wh- words in a sentence with a passive voice, a compound sentence, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause?

A: Wh- words can be used in a sentence with a passive voice, a compound sentence, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause. For example:

"The book was written by whom, and I'm not sure why you are late because I know the person whose car is that." (using whom, a passive voice, a compound sentence, a subordinate clause, and a relative clause)
"The store is located where, and I'm worried about the consequences because I know