What- Which- How

I. What + noun (What colour ... ? / What kind ... ? etc.)

• What colour is your car?


• What colour are your eyes?


• What size is this shirt? 


• What make is your TV set?


• What time is it?


• What day is it today?


• What kind of job do you want? (or What type of job ... ? / What sort of job ..?)

What without a noun:

• What's your favourite colour?


• What do you want to do this evening?

II. Which + noun (things or people):

• Which train did you catch - the 9.50 or the 10.30?


• Which doctor did you see - Doctor Ellis, Doctor Gray or Doctor Hill?

We use which without a noun for things, not people:

• Which is bigger - Canada or Australia?

We use who for people (without a noun):

• Who is taller - Bill or Gerry? [not 'Which is taller?')

III. What or which?

We use which when we are thinking about a small number of possibilities (perhaps 2, 3 or 4):

• We can go this way or that way. Which way shall we go?


• There are four umbrellas here. Which is yours?

What is more general:

• What is the capital of Argentina?


• What sort of music do you like?

Compare:

• What colour are his eyes? (not 'Which colour?')
  Which colour do you prefer, pink or yellow?


• What is the longest river in the world?
  Which is the longest river - the Mississippi, the Amazon or the Nile?

IV How ... ?

• 'How was the party last night?'    'It was great.'


• 'How do you usually go to work?'    'By bus.'

You can use how + adjective/adverb (how tall / how old / how often etc.):

• HOW tall are you?'   'I'm 1 metre 70.'


• HOW big is the house?'   'Not very big.'


• HOW old is your mother?'    'She's 45.'


• HOW far is it from here to the airport?'    'Five kilometres.'


• HOW often do you use your car?'   'Every day.'


• HOW long have they been married?'   'Ten years.'


• HOW much was the meal?'    'Twenty pounds.'