What vs Which: When to Use Each Question Word

1. Introduction to What and Which

“What” and “which” are question words used to ask for information. Although they sometimes seem interchangeable, there is a clear difference in most situations. Understanding this difference will help you ask questions more precisely and naturally.

The Basic Difference

Question Word	Used For	Example
What	General, broad, unlimited choices	What colour do you like?
Which	Specific, limited choices	Which colour do you prefer—red or blue?

Why This Matters

• Asking the right question avoids confusion.
• It shows a higher level of grammar control.
• It is useful in social, academic, and business settings.
• IELTS and TOEFL assess question formation in speaking and listening.

Word Meaning Section

Word / Phrase	English Meaning	Bengali Meaning
What	used to ask about something general	কী
Which	used to ask about a specific choice	কোনটি
Broad	wide, not limited	ব্যাপক, বিস্তৃত
Specific	clear and limited	নির্দিষ্ট
Option	a choice	বিকল্প
Possibility	something that may happen	সম্ভাবনা
Limited	restricted in number	সীমিত
Unlimited	without limit	অসীম

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2. The Core Difference: General vs. Specific

The main rule is simple:

• Use “what” when the number of possible answers is broad or unknown.
• Use “which” when the possible answers are limited or specific.

Visualizing the Difference

Situation	Example Question	Explanation
No list given, open-ended	What colour do you like?	Any colour in the world is possible.
Specific list given	Which colour do you prefer—red or blue?	Only two choices.

8 Examples with Explanations

#	Question	Why
1	What do you want to do today?	All possible activities are open.
2	Which movie do you want to see—Star Wars or Batman?	Limited to two movies.
3	What would you like to learn?	Any subject is possible.
4	Which class do you prefer—music or art?	Only two classes.
5	What are our options?	All options are being considered.
6	Which conference are you attending—New York or London?	Two conferences.
7	What kind of music do you like?	All music genres are possible.
8	Which instrument is easier to learn—guitar or piano?	Two instruments.
9	What time works for you?	Open, any time.
10	Which day is better—Monday or Tuesday?	Two days.

Word Meaning Section

Word / Phrase	English Meaning	Bengali Meaning
Open-ended	allowing many answers	উন্মুক্ত
Specific list	a limited set of choices	নির্দিষ্ট তালিকা
Instrument	musical tool	যন্ত্র
Genre	a category	ধারা
Conference	a formal meeting	সম্মেলন
Option	choice	বিকল্প
Broad	wide	বিস্তৃত
Limited	restricted	সীমিত

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3. Using “What” for Broad Questions

The Rule

Use “what” when you are asking about something with many possible answers, or when no specific list is given. The number of options is unknown or very large.

8 Examples with Explanations

#	Example	Explanation
1	What do you want for dinner?	Any food; no specific choices given.
2	What is your favourite movie?	Many movies exist.
3	What kind of job are you looking for?	General career area.
4	What should I wear today?	Many possible outfits.
5	What do you like about this city?	General features.
6	What are your hobbies?	Many possible hobbies.
7	What time does the show start?	General time question.
8	What language do you speak?	Many languages.
9	What did you study in university?	Broad subject area.
10	What can I help you with?	Any issue.

8 More Examples in Context

#	Context	Example
1	Social	What do you like to do on weekends?
2	Academic	What subject interests you most?
3	Business	What are our strengths?
4	Travel	What places have you visited?
5	Shopping	What size do you wear?
6	Health	What seems to be the problem?
7	Technology	What phone do you use?
8	Food	What cuisine do you prefer?

Word Meaning Section

Word / Phrase	English Meaning	Bengali Meaning
Hobbies	leisure activities	শখ
Cuisine	style of cooking	রান্নার ধরন
Outfit	set of clothes	পোশাক
Feature	characteristic	বৈশিষ্ট্য
Subject	area of study	বিষয়
Career	profession	কর্মজীবন
Language	system of communication	ভাষা
Issue	problem or topic	সমস্যা

Note on “What Kind of” / “What Type of”

These phrases are also broad because they ask about a category without limiting choices.

Phrase	Example
What kind of	What kind of music do you like?
What type of	What type of computer do you need?

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4. Using “Which” for Limited Choices

The Rule

Use “which” when the choices are limited, specific, or already known. Often the options are listed in the question or implied by the context.

8 Examples with Explanations

#	Example	Explanation
1	Which shirt do you like—blue or green?	Two options.
2	Which day is best for the meeting—Monday or Tuesday?	Two days.
3	Which book did you read—this one or that one?	Two books.
4	Which route should we take—the highway or the coastal road?	Two routes.
5	Which team do you support—Brazil or Argentina?	Two teams.
6	Which dessert would you prefer—cake or ice cream?	Two desserts.
7	Which phone is better—this model or that one?	Two models.
8	Which university are you attending—Oxford or Cambridge?	Two universities.
9	Which candidate do you choose—A or B?	Two choices.
10	Which floor is your office on—3rd or 5th?	Two floors.

8 More Examples in Context

#	Context	Example
1	Social	Which restaurant should we go to—the Thai place or the Italian?
2	Academic	Which class do you prefer—morning or evening?
3	Business	Which supplier is cheaper—Company A or Company B?
4	Travel	Which airport is closer—JFK or LaGuardia?
5	Shopping	Which dress fits better—the red or the black?
6	Health	Which doctor did you see—Dr. Smith or Dr. Lee?
7	Technology	Which app do you use more—WhatsApp or Telegram?
8	Food	Which snack is healthier—nuts or chips?

Word Meaning Section

Word / Phrase	English Meaning	Bengali Meaning
Route	a way to travel	পথ
Candidate	a person applying for a position	প্রার্থী
Supplier	provider of goods	সরবরাহকারী
Floor	level of a building	তলা
Model	a particular version	মডেল
Dress	a piece of clothing	পোশাক
Snack	a small amount of food	জলখাবার
App	application	অ্যাপ

Note on “Which of”

When using “which” with a group, you often say “which of.”

Phrase	Example
Which of	Which of these books is yours?

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5. Contexts: Social, Academic, and Business

The difference between “what” and “which” applies in all areas of life. Here are more context-specific examples.

Social Context

#	Broad (What)	Specific (Which)
1	What music do you like?	Which band do you prefer—Coldplay or U2?
2	What food do you enjoy?	Which dish shall we order—pasta or pizza?
3	What sports do you play?	Which sport do you like more—tennis or badminton?
4	What movies do you watch?	Which movie shall we watch—action or comedy?
5	What activities do you enjoy?	Which activity is more fun—hiking or cycling?
6	What places do you want to visit?	Which place should we go first—Paris or Rome?
7	What hobbies interest you?	Which hobby is more relaxing—painting or reading?
8	What kind of person are you?	Which trait describes you better—introvert or extrovert?

Academic Context

#	Broad (What)	Specific (Which)
1	What subjects are you studying?	Which subject do you prefer—math or physics?
2	What courses are available?	Which course should I take—beginner or advanced?
3	What topics interest you?	Which topic is easier—grammar or vocabulary?
4	What skills do you need?	Which skill is more important—writing or speaking?
5	What books do you recommend?	Which book did you read for the course—this one or that?
6	What universities are you considering?	Which university has a better program—Harvard or Stanford?
7	What exam are you preparing for?	Which exam are you taking—IELTS or TOEFL?
8	What languages do you study?	Which language is easier for you—Spanish or French?

Business Context

#	Broad (What)	Specific (Which)
1	What are our options?	Which option is better—expanding or downsizing?
2	What are the risks?	Which risk is higher—financial or operational?
3	What resources do we need?	Which resource is lacking—time or money?
4	What goals should we set?	Which goal is more urgent—short-term or long-term?
5	What clients are we targeting?	Which client should we focus on—local or international?
6	What products are selling?	Which product is more profitable—A or B?
7	What strategies can we use?	Which strategy is more effective—online or offline?
8	What markets should we enter?	Which market is more promising—Asia or Europe?

Word Meaning Section

Word / Phrase	English Meaning	Bengali Meaning
Trait	a characteristic	বৈশিষ্ট্য
Introvert	quiet person	অন্তর্মুখী
Extrovert	outgoing person	বহির্মুখী
Beginner	novice	শিক্ষানবিস
Advanced	higher level	উচ্চতর
Resource	supply or support	সম্পদ
Client	customer	ক্লায়েন্ট
Strategy	plan of action	কৌশল
Market	area of trade	বাজার
Promising	likely to succeed	আশাব্যঞ্জক

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6. Grammar Focus: Question Structures

Basic Question Formula

Question word + auxiliary/modal + subject + main verb?

Question Word	Example
What	What do you like?
Which	Which do you prefer?

With Nouns

Often “what” and “which” are followed by a noun.

Pattern	Example
What + noun	What colour do you like?
Which + noun	Which colour do you prefer?

With “of”

“Which of” is used when selecting from a specific group.

Pattern	Example
Which of + plural noun/pronoun	Which of these books is yours?
Which of + the + noun	Which of the options is better?

Affirmative, Negative, and Interrogative Forms

Form	Example
Affirmative question	What do you want?
Negative question	Which one don’t you like?
Interrogative with modal	What should I do?
Interrogative with preposition	What are you looking for?

5 WH-Question Examples with Answers

#	WH Question	Possible Answer
1	What is your favourite food?	My favourite food is pizza.
2	Which colour do you prefer—red or blue?	I prefer blue.
3	What time does the meeting start?	It starts at 10 a.m.
4	Which day is better for you—Monday or Tuesday?	Monday is better.
5	What are our options?	We have three options.

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7. Sentence Patterns with What and Which

Pattern 1: What + be + noun

Example
What is your name?
What time is it?

Pattern 2: What + do/does + subject + verb

Example
What do you want?
What does she need?

Pattern 3: Which + noun + do/does + subject + verb

Example
Which book do you want?
Which colour does she prefer?

Pattern 4: Which of + plural + be/do

Example
Which of these is yours?
Which of them do you like?

Pattern 5: What/Which + modal + subject + verb

Example
What should I do?
Which one could we choose?

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8. Common Errors and How to Avoid Them

Error 1: Using “Which” for Broad Questions

Incorrect	Correct
Which colour do you like? (when no choices given)	What colour do you like?
Which food do you enjoy? (general)	What food do you enjoy?

Error 2: Using “What” for Specific Limited Choices

Incorrect	Correct
What colour do you prefer—red or blue?	Which colour do you prefer—red or blue?
What day is better—Monday or Tuesday?	Which day is better—Monday or Tuesday?

Error 3: Omitting “of” After “Which” with a Group

Incorrect	Correct
Which the books are yours?	Which of the books are yours?
Which these options is best?	Which of these options is best?

Error 4: Forgetting to Adjust Verb for Singular/Plural

Incorrect	Correct
Which of these books is yours? (correct)	Which of these books are yours? (if plural choice)
What are your options? (correct)	What is your options? (incorrect)

Error 5: Overusing “What” in Formal Writing

While “what” is common, in formal writing you may rephrase to avoid vague questions.

Vague	More Formal
What do you think?	What is your opinion?
What can we do?	Which steps should we take?

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9. Special Tips for Learners

Tip 1: Ask “Is the choice limited?”

If yes, use which. If no, use what.

Tip 2: Look for Listed Options

If the question includes “or” with choices, use which.

Tip 3: Use “What kind of” for Broad Categories

“What kind of music do you like?” is broad and safe.

Tip 4: Use “Which of” for Groups

“Which of these three options do you prefer?”

Tip 5: Practice with Real Situations

Write questions about your daily life using both words.

Tip 6: Listen to Native Speakers

Notice how they alternate between what and which based on context.

Tip 7: Review Both Sides

• Broad: What
• Limited: Which

Tip 8: Use “What” for Open-Ended Questions

If any answer is possible, use what.

Tip 9: Use “Which” for Decision-Making

When comparing options, use which.

Tip 10: Keep a Question Journal

Write down examples of what/which questions you hear.

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10. Tips for Competitive Exams: IELTS, TOEFL, GRE

IELTS

Skill	How It Is Tested	Strategy
Speaking Part 1	Answering personal questions	Know when to use what/which in your own answers.
Listening	Understanding question forms	Recognize the difference.
Writing Task 2	Not directly tested	Use precise questions in examples.

TOEFL

Skill	How It Is Tested	Strategy
Listening	Conversations with questions	Identify what vs which.
Speaking	Integrated tasks	Use appropriate question words.
Writing	Not directly tested	Use correct question forms in content.

GRE

Skill	How It Is Tested	Strategy
Analytical Writing	Not directly tested	Use precise language.

Exam Rules

• Use what for open-ended, general questions.
• Use which when choices are limited.
• In speaking, demonstrating control of these question words shows grammatical range.
• In listening, recognizing the difference helps you understand the speaker’s intent.

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11. Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Choose what or which to complete each question.

1. ______ kind of music do you like?
2. ______ instrument is easier to learn—guitar or piano?
3. ______ course was more interesting—sociology or psychology?
4. ______ kind of computer do you want?
5. ______ room would you prefer—ocean view or city view?
6. ______ exam do you have to take—IELTS or TOEFL?
7. ______ do you want to do today?
8. ______ movie do you want to see—Star Wars or Batman?
9. ______ are our options?
10. ______ conference are you attending—New York or London?

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the best question word.

1. The choice is between two restaurants.
   a) What
   b) Which
   c) Both
   d) Neither
2. There are many possible answers.
   a) What
   b) Which
   c) Both
   d) Neither
3. Which question is correct?
   a) What colour do you prefer—red or blue?
   b) Which colour do you prefer—red or blue?
   c) What colour do you like? (general)
   d) Both b and c are correct in their contexts.
4. Which question is correct for a limited choice?
   a) What day is better—Monday or Tuesday?
   b) Which day is better—Monday or Tuesday?
   c) Both
   d) Neither
5. Which question is correct for a broad category?
   a) What kind of food do you like?
   b) Which kind of food do you like?
   c) Both
   d) Neither
6. “______ of these shirts do you prefer?”
   a) What
   b) Which
   c) Both
   d) Neither
7. Which sentence is correct?
   a) What are your options?
   b) Which are your options? (if options are not listed)
   c) Both
   d) Neither
8. When choosing from a menu, you ask:
   a) What dish would you like? (if not listed)
   b) Which dish would you like—chicken or fish?
   c) Both depending on context
   d) Neither
9. “______ university did you attend?” (general, many universities)
   a) What
   b) Which
   c) Both
   d) Neither
10. “______ university did you attend—Harvard or Yale?”
    a) What
    b) Which
    c) Both
    d) Neither

Exercise 3: Sentence Transformation / Error Correction

Rewrite each question correctly.

1. Which colour do you like? (no choices given)
2. What colour do you prefer—red or blue?
3. Which kind of food do you enjoy? (general)
4. What day is better—Monday or Tuesday?
5. Which are your hobbies? (general)
6. What of these books is yours? (Use “which of”)
7. Which do you want for dinner? (general)
8. What exam are you taking—IELTS or TOEFL? (specific)
9. Which are our options? (general)
10. What restaurant should we go to—the Thai place or the Italian?

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12. Answer Key with Explanations

Exercise 1 Answers

1. What
   Explanation: Broad category of music.
2. Which
   Explanation: Limited to two instruments.
3. Which
   Explanation: Limited to two courses.
4. What
   Explanation: General question.
5. Which
   Explanation: Two room choices.
6. Which
   Explanation: Two exams.
7. What
   Explanation: Open-ended.
8. Which
   Explanation: Two movies.
9. What
   Explanation: All options.
10. Which
    Explanation: Two conferences.

Exercise 2 Answers

1. b) Which
   Explanation: Two choices.
2. a) What
   Explanation: Many answers.
3. d) Both b and c are correct in their contexts.
   Explanation: “Which” for listed choices; “What” for general.
4. b) Which day is better—Monday or Tuesday?
   Explanation: Limited.
5. a) What kind of food do you like?
   Explanation: Broad category.
6. b) Which of these shirts do you prefer?
   Explanation: “Which of” for group.
7. a) What are your options?
   Explanation: General, no list.
8. c) Both depending on context
   Explanation: Without list use what; with list use which.
9. a) What university did you attend?
   Explanation: Many universities, general.
10. b) Which university did you attend—Harvard or Yale?
    Explanation: Two specific choices.

Exercise 3 Answers

1. What colour do you like?
   Explanation: General.
2. Which colour do you prefer—red or blue?
   Explanation: Specific.
3. What kind of food do you enjoy?
   Explanation: General.
4. Which day is better—Monday or Tuesday?
   Explanation: Limited.
5. What are your hobbies?
   Explanation: Broad.
6. Which of these books is yours?
   Explanation: Use “which of.”
7. What do you want for dinner?
   Explanation: General.
8. Which exam are you taking—IELTS or TOEFL?
   Explanation: Limited.
9. What are our options?
   Explanation: General.
10. Which restaurant should we go to—the Thai place or the Italian?
    Explanation: Limited.

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13. Conclusion

Understanding the difference between “what” and “which” is a small but powerful improvement to your English. Remember:

• What = general, broad, unlimited
• Which = specific, limited, often with listed options

Use what for open-ended questions and which when comparing or choosing from a known set. This simple rule will make your questions clearer, more natural, and more precise in every context—social, academic, and professional.

By practicing with the exercises above and paying attention to how native speakers use these words, you will master this area of grammar quickly. It’s a small step that leads to greater fluency and confidence in English.

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Call to Action: Write five questions about your day using “what” and five using “which.” Make sure each “which” question includes a specific list of choices. Then, practice saying them aloud. Listen to a podcast or watch a video and note when speakers use each word. Finally, test yourself with the exercises above and review any mistakes. Keep asking great questions!