Grammar Practice in Context - David Bolton, Noel Goodey 1997
22 Who, what, which? Do you know who/what/if, etc?
Quick reference
• When we use Who?/What?/Which? as the subject of the sentence, we don’t use do, does, did with the verb. Who phoned this morning? (not Who did phone this morning?) When we use them as the object of the sentence, we use do, does, did with the verb.
Who did you phone this morning? (not Who you phoned this morning?)
• We can use What and Which before a noun. The meaning is often the same.
WTier clothes (or Which clothes) are you going to wear?
But Which is more common with people. We normally use Which when there’s a limited choice of possibilities, and What when there’s a large or unlimited choice.
Which tennis player has won the championship three times? (Which + a person)
Which leg did he break? (limited choice) What books do you read? (large choice)
• We can use Which + one/ones and + of.
There are two books here. Which one is yours? Which of those people do you know?
• We often begin indirect questions with Do you know...? or Can/Could you tell me...?
Where are my shoes? > Do you know where my shoes are?
Do, does, did are replaced by the affirmative form of the verb.
What languages does she speak? > Can you tell me what languages she speaks?
Where there is no question word, we use if or whether.
Does she eat fish? > Do you know if/whether she eats fish?
1 Peter and Lisa were at home yesterday when there was a violent thunderstorm. At 10.00 the centre of the storm was right over the house. There was a terrific flash of lightning and the lights went out. A few seconds later there was another violent flash and the television exploded, followed by a lamp on the living room table. Lisa screamed. Peter immediately disconnected the CD player and then the video. At 10.05 the phone rang. Peter picked it up carefully. It was their neighbour asking if they were all right. When the storm had moved away, Lisa rang the electricity company to ask when the power would be restored. Complete the questions that give the following answers.
1 (happen) ... at 10.00?
The lights went out.
2 (explode) ...?
The television and a lamp on the living room table.
3 (explode/first) ... or ...?
The television.
4 (do) ...?
She screamed.
5 (phone) ...?
The neighbour.
6 (ring) ...?
It rang at 10.05.
7 (disconnect) ...?
The CD player and the video.
8 (disconnect/first) ... or ...?
The CD player.
9 (phone) ...?
She phoned the electricity company.
2 Complete the dialogue, using what or which.
’(1) ... would you like?’
’I’d like some tomatoes, please.’
’I’ve got some English ones or some from Spain. (2) ... would you like?’
’(3) ... ones are cheaper?’
’The ones from Spain.’
’I’ll have those. (4) ... of these avocado pears are ripe?’
’Er, these two are OK.’
’Good. Um, (5) ... sort of cheese have you got?’
’(6) ... sort would you like? There’s a big choice.’
’Have you got any goat’s cheese?’
’I’ve got a French one or one that’s produced locally. (7) ... would you prefer?’
’(8) ... do you recommend?’
’Well, I prefer the local one personally.'
’Fine.’
’(9) ... else would you like?’
’Um, (10) ... fruit juice have you got?’
’I’ve only got orange, I’m afraid.’
’That’ll be fine. Now, (11) ... do I owe you?’
3 Read the dialogue and complete the second question so that the meaning is similar to the first.
Example: ’How do I get to Snatchwood? (1) Could you tell me how I get to Snatchwood?'
’Snatchwood? You need to go towards Oxford.’
’How far is it? (2) Have you any idea ...?’
’It’s about 15 miles from here.’
’Can I get a train? (3) Do you know ...?’
’No, there are no trains.’
’Is there a bus? (4) Do you know ...?'
’Yes, you can get a bus.’
’What time does it leave? (5) Could you tell me ...?’
’I think there’s one every two hours, on the hour.’
’How long does it take? (6) Have you any idea ...?’
’It takes about 45 minutes.’
’How much does it cost? (7) Could you tell me ...?’
’I’m not sure.’
’Do the buses run on Sundays? (8) Do you know ...?’
’Yes, but there’s a reduced service on Sundays.’