Using 'What' as a Relative Pronoun (the thing that...)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'what' as a shortcut for 'the thing that' when you don't name the object first.
- Use 'what' when there is no noun before it: 'I heard what you said' (max 20 words)
- Never use 'what' to describe a specific noun: 'The car what I saw' is wrong (max 20 words)
- It acts as both the noun and the connector: 'What he needs is rest' (max 20 words)
Overview
Use the word 'what' to speak better. It means 'the thing that'. It makes your sentences short.
You can use 'what' to do more than ask questions. It helps you talk about things easily. Your English will sound very natural.
People use this word a lot when they talk. It helps you speak like a native.
Do not say 'the thing that'. Just say 'what'. This is short and easy. It shows you know English well.
How This Grammar Works
- 1The antecedent: It implicitly means
the thing(s)orthat which. - 2The relative pronoun: It introduces a dependent clause that provides more information about this implicit antecedent, connecting it to the main clause.
Formation Pattern
When To Use It
the thing(s) that or that which:Please show me what you bought.(Instead of:Please show me the things that you bought.)What she wants is a simple explanation.(Instead of:The thing that she wants is a simple explanation.)
I can't imagine what happened next.(The specific event is unknown or too complex to summarise in a single noun.)He truly believes in what he teaches.(Referring to the overall content and philosophy, not specific lessons.)
- Common verbs:
say,tell,know,see,hear,do,mean,understand,want,need,like,dislike,explain,remember,find out. Can you tell me what you saw?I don't know what to expect from the meeting.(Note the use with an infinitive, a common and correct construction).
What you need is a long vacation.(This feels more direct thanThe thing that you need is a long vacation.)This is what I call progress.(Emphasizing the speaker's definition of progress.)
- Text message:
Just saw what you posted! Hilarious. - Casual chat:
Did you hear what happened at the party?
Common Mistakes
what instead of which or that when an antecedent is present:- Incorrect:
This is the book what I was looking for. - Correct:
This is the book that I was looking for.(The nounbookis the antecedent.) - Why it's wrong: Substituting
whathere would create a redundant and nonsensical structure, effectively meaningThis is the book the thing that I was looking for.. The presence of a clear antecedent (the book) prohibits the use ofwhatin this way.
that after what:- Incorrect:
I know what that you want. - Correct:
I know what you want. - Why it's wrong: The structure becomes
I know the thing that that you want, which is clunky and grammatically unsound.Whatalready provides the necessary connection.
- Interrogative:
What are you reading?(Asking for information.) - Relative:
Tell me what you are reading.(Statingthe thing thatyou are reading.) - Why the confusion: Both introduce clauses that often sound similar. The context and the main verb of the sentence determine whether it's a question or a statement involving a noun clause.
what to refer to people:- Incorrect:
He's the man what helped me. - Correct:
He's the man who helped me. - Why it's wrong:
Whatcarries the meaning ofthe thing, which is inappropriate when referring to a person. English grammar maintains a clear distinction between animate and inanimate referents for relative pronouns.
What interests me is their culture.(Even if many things interest you, the concept ofwhat interests meis singular.)- However, if the implied meaning of
whatis clearly plural, a plural verb can be used, particularly in informal contexts:What I need are more resources.(Referring to multiple resources.) - Why the struggle: The implicit nature of
whatcan make it ambiguous. Default to singular unless the plural meaning is undeniably strong and natural.
Real Conversations
Observing what as a relative pronoun in authentic communication reveals its versatility and natural integration into everyday English. It is a hallmark of fluid and efficient language, appearing in both informal and semi-formal contexts. These examples illustrate how native speakers leverage what to convey meaning succinctly.
1. Professional Email Exchange (Semi-formal):
- Subject: Meeting Follow-Up
- Sender: Project Manager
- Body: "Hi Team, thanks for yesterday's discussion. I've compiled what we agreed on regarding the new timeline. Please review what I've attached, and let me know if there's anything else we need to address based on what we discussed. Your feedback on what needs to be prioritised is crucial."
In this example, what streamlines the communication, referring to the agreements, the document, the discussion points, and the priorities without explicitly stating these nouns. It presumes shared context and makes the email concise.
2. Casual Chat among Friends (Informal):
- Friend A: "I can't believe what happened at the concert last night!"
- Friend B: "Oh really? Tell me what I missed! I heard it got pretty wild."
- Friend A: "Yeah, it was totally what I expected from that band. They always put on a show."
Here, what refers to unspecified events (the things that happened, the things I missed). Its use maintains a natural conversational flow, allowing the speakers to discuss events without formal preamble.
3. Social Media Comment (Informal):
- Post: "Just finished painting this. Took ages! #art #painting"
- Commenter 1: "Wow, that's amazing! Absolutely love what you've done with the colours."
- Commenter 2: "Agreed! It's exactly what I've been trying to achieve in my own work. So inspiring!"
On social media, where brevity is key, what efficiently conveys admiration for the thing that has been done and the effect they have been trying to achieve. It's concise and direct, fitting the medium's rapid interaction style.
4. Everyday Decision-Making (Conversational):
- Parent: "Okay kids, decide what you want for dinner. I'm cooking what you choose."
- Child: "I want pizza!"
- Parent: "Fine, pizza it is. That's always what you say!"
This simple exchange demonstrates what referring to the choice of food and the usual answer. It's a pragmatic use, allowing for flexibility in the specific item without needing to name it beforehand.
These real-world applications underscore that what is not merely a grammatical rule but a functional tool for effective communication, adapting across various registers and demonstrating a native-like proficiency in English.
Quick FAQ
what to refer to people?He is the student who won the award, not He is the student what won the award.what more formal or informal?I don't know what to do.Could you show me what to press?They couldn't decide what to order for dinner.
what and which (or that)?What | Which / That |I heard what you said. (I heard the thing that you said.) | This is the report that I mentioned. (that refers to the report.) |Structure of 'What' Clauses
| Function | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Subject
|
What + S + V + [Main Verb]
|
What you need is a break.
|
|
Direct Object
|
S + V + what + S + V
|
I believe what you say.
|
|
Object of Preposition
|
S + V + Prep + what + S + V
|
Listen to what I am telling you.
|
|
Subject Complement
|
S + [Be] + what + S + V
|
This is what I wanted.
|
Meanings
In this context, 'what' functions as a nominal relative pronoun. Unlike 'who' or 'which', it does not refer back to a specific noun (antecedent) mentioned earlier; instead, it 'contains' the noun within itself, usually meaning 'the thing(s) that' or 'that which'.
The Object of a Verb
Using 'what' to represent the thing that receives an action.
“She finally found what she was looking for.”
“Tell me what you want for dinner.”
The Subject of a Sentence
Using 'what' at the start of a sentence to act as the main topic.
“What matters most is your health.”
“What he said really hurt my feelings.”
The Complement of a Preposition
Using 'what' after words like 'to', 'for', or 'about'.
“You should pay attention to what the teacher says.”
“I am worried about what might happen next.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
What + Clause
|
What he did was wrong.
|
|
Negative (Clause)
|
What + Negative Clause
|
What I don't like is the smell.
|
|
Negative (Main)
|
Negative Main + What
|
I don't know what happened.
|
|
Question
|
Aux + S + V + What + Clause
|
Did you see what she wore?
|
|
With Modal
|
What + S + Modal + V
|
What you should do is wait.
|
|
Plural Meaning
|
What + S + V + are
|
What I need are new shoes.
|
Formality Spectrum
I do not comprehend what you are asserting. (Communication)
I don't understand what you're saying. (Communication)
I don't get what you're on about. (Communication)
I don't vibe with what you're saying. (Communication)
The 'What' Replacement Map
The Thing That
- What I want The thing that I want
The Things That
- What I bought The things that I bought
What vs. That
Should I use 'What'?
Is there a noun before the gap?
Can you replace it with 'the thing that'?
Common Verbs with 'What'
Communication
- • say
- • tell
- • explain
- • mention
Mental State
- • know
- • think
- • believe
- • understand
Desire
- • want
- • need
- • like
- • hope
Examples by Level
I like what you have.
Show me what is in your bag.
I hear what you say.
Do what I do.
I don't know what he wants.
What I need is a glass of water.
Tell me what happened at school.
She forgot what she bought.
What you said yesterday really surprised me.
I'm not sure what I should do next.
He always gets what he wants.
What matters is that we are all safe.
What concerns the board is the lack of transparency.
You must account for what might go wrong.
What he lacks in experience, he makes up for in enthusiasm.
I can't quite put into words what I'm feeling.
What with the rising costs, we had to cancel the trip.
It is not what he said, but how he said it that bothered me.
For what it's worth, I think you made the right choice.
What remains to be seen is whether the policy will work.
He is a man who knows what's what in the world of finance.
What little money he had, he gave to charity.
The company has become what it is today through sheer grit.
I shall do what I must to protect my family.
Easily Confused
Learners use 'what' to refer to the previous sentence.
Using 'what' after a noun.
Deciding between the specific 'what' and the general 'whatever'.
Common Mistakes
I like the book what you gave me.
I like the book that you gave me.
What is your name is John.
What your name is is John.
I want what do you have.
I want what you have.
This is what I want it.
This is what I want.
Tell me what is the time.
Tell me what the time is.
I don't know that what he said.
I don't know what he said.
What he said it was true.
What he said was true.
He failed the test, what was a shame.
He failed the test, which was a shame.
I'm interested in what does he do.
I'm interested in what he does.
What I need are a new car.
What I need is a new car.
He gave me what money that he had.
He gave me what money he had.
Sentence Patterns
What I like about ___ is ___.
I don't know what ___ means.
What matters most to me is ___.
That is exactly what ___ was talking about.
Real World Usage
What I can bring to this role is five years of experience.
I totally forgot what I was going to say lol.
I'll have what the person at the next table is eating.
Could you describe what happened when you clicked the button?
What a day! This is exactly what I needed.
What is significant about this study is the sample size.
The 'Thing' Test
No Nouns Allowed
Cleft for Emphasis
Polite Clarification
Smart Tips
Immediately delete 'what' from your mind. Use 'that' or 'which' instead.
Move your main point to a 'What' clause at the start of the sentence.
Remember that English doesn't need 'the' (lo/ce) before 'what'.
Use 'what' to summarize their point without quoting them exactly.
Pronunciation
Sentence Stress
In a 'what' clause, the stress usually falls on the verb or the noun at the end of the clause, not on 'what' itself.
The 't' in 'What'
In casual speech (especially American English), the 't' in 'what' often becomes a 'flap t' (sounding like a quick 'd') when followed by a vowel.
Rising-Falling
What I need ↗ is a break ↘
Conveys a complete thought with emphasis on the second half.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
W.H.A.T. = Wonders Happen At The (thing that).
Visual Association
Imagine a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. The hat is the word 'What'—you don't see the noun (the rabbit) until the 'What' clause is finished.
Rhyme
If a noun is in the spot, 'that' is what you've got. If a noun is what you lack, 'what' is on the track.
Story
A traveler enters a shop but forgets the name of the item. He points and says, 'I want WHAT is on the shelf.' He doesn't need to say 'the vase' because 'what' covers it.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences starting with 'What I love about my best friend is...' and share them with someone.
Cultural Notes
In some UK dialects, you might hear people use 'what' as a standard relative pronoun (e.g., 'The man what I saw'). This is considered non-standard and should be avoided in exams or formal writing.
Americans often use 'what' clauses to start sentences for dramatic effect or to sound more direct in negotiations.
Using 'what' clauses is a preferred way to 'signpost' information, making it easier for non-native speakers to follow the logic of a presentation.
From Old English 'hwæt', which was originally only an interrogative pronoun (used for questions).
Conversation Starters
What is the one thing you love most about your city?
Tell me what you would do if you won the lottery.
What concerns you most about the future of technology?
Can you describe what a perfect day looks like to you?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
I can't believe ___ he told me.
Find and fix the mistake:
The car what I bought is blue.
Everything ___ she says is a lie.
need / is / what / a / I / holiday
I don't know what is the answer.
A: Why are you so happy? B: Because I finally got ___ I wanted!
Identify the relative usage:
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesI can't believe ___ he told me.
Find and fix the mistake:
The car what I bought is blue.
Everything ___ she says is a lie.
need / is / what / a / I / holiday
I don't know what is the answer.
A: Why are you so happy? B: Because I finally got ___ I wanted!
Identify the relative usage:
1. What I need... 2. What I said... 3. What I saw...
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises___ is important to me is your happiness.
you / what / did / heard / I / .
I liked everything what you cooked.
Lo que dijiste fue grosero.
He didn't know ___ to do next.
Match the beginnings and endings:
Is this ___ you were looking for?
The person what is standing there is my brother.
happens / what / stay / happens / here / in Vegas / .
Select the correct option:
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
No, 'what' is only for things or ideas. For people, use `who` or `the person who`. Example: `The person who called me` (not `What called me`).
`What` refers to a specific thing, while `whatever` means 'it doesn't matter what' or 'anything that'.
Because `what` already includes the meaning of 'the thing'. Saying 'the thing what' is like saying 'the thing the thing that'. Use `the thing that` instead.
Yes! You can say `What I need are some new shoes`. However, in casual English, many people use `is` even for plural things.
Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in both formal and informal English. It is a great way to provide emphasis.
That is the linguistic name for this use of `what`. It's called 'fused' because the noun and the pronoun are joined together into one word.
Usually, no. Nominal relative clauses are integrated into the sentence and don't require commas like non-defining relative clauses do.
No, use `that`. Say `All that I want` (not `All what I want`).
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
lo que
Spanish requires the article 'lo', whereas English uses the single word 'what'.
ce que / ce qui
French distinguishes between subject and object forms, while English uses 'what' for both.
was
The word order in German changes (verb goes to the end), which doesn't happen in English.
こと (koto) / もの (mono)
Japanese puts the 'thing' at the end, while English puts 'what' at the start of the clause.
ما (ma)
Arabic often requires a 'resumptive pronoun' later in the sentence (e.g., 'What I want it'), which is a major error in English.
...的 (de) stuff
Chinese word order is the reverse of English; the description comes before the 'de'.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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