What vs. Which – English Grammar Exercises for A1
Read the conversation snippets below. Imagine you and your roommate are planning a movie night. You are discussing your general movie preferences and then choosing between specific movies, snacks, and options on your TV. Choose the best word to fill in the blank.
1 Let’s have a movie night! ______ kind of movies do you like to watch on weekends?
(A) How
(B) What
(C) Which
(D) Who
2 We have The Matrix and Inception. ______ movie do you want to watch tonight?
(A) Which
(B) What
(C) Where
(D) Who
3 There are so many great films. ______ is your favorite movie of all time?
(A) Which
(B) Who
(C) What
(D) How
4 I have two warm blankets here on the sofa. ______ one do you want?
(A) What
(B) Whose
(C) Which
(D) The which
5 I need to finish my homework first. ______ time do you want to start the movie?
(A) What
(B) When
(C) Which
(D) How
6 We can order pizza or burgers for dinner. ______ food do you prefer?
(A) What
(B) Which
(C) Who
(D) Why
7 ______ do you think about action movies? I think they are too loud.
(A) How
(B) Which
(C) Why
(D) What
8 Look at the TV screen. There are two Netflix profiles. ______ profile is yours?
(A) Which
(B) What
(C) Who
(D) Whom
9 I recognize that man on the screen. ______ is the name of the main actor in this film?
(A) How
(B) Which
(C) What
(D) Who
10 I made sweet popcorn and salty popcorn. ______ bowl do you want to hold?
(A) What
(B) Which
(C) How
(D) Where
11 There are thousands of movies on Netflix. ______ should we watch tonight?
(A) What
(B) Which
(C) When
(D) How
12 ______ part of the movie is your favorite, the beginning or the end?
(A) What
(B) Which
(C) Where
(D) Who
13 I don’t speak this language. ______ does this Spanish word in the subtitles mean?
(A) How
(B) Which
(C) What
(D) Why
14 We can watch the movie on the big TV or on my laptop. ______ screen is better for you?
(A) What
(B) Who
(C) Which
(D) Whose
15 ______ genre of movie makes you laugh the most?
(A) What
(B) Which
(C) Who
(D) How
16 There are three remote controls on the table. ______ remote turns on the television?
(A) What
(B) Which
(C) Where
(D) Whose
17 ______ is your favorite thing about having a movie night at home?
(A) Which
(B) How
(C) Why
(D) What
18 Both actors are great. ______ actor do you like more, Brad Pitt or Leonardo DiCaprio?
(A) Which
(B) What
(C) Who
(D) Whom
19 I don’t understand the story at all. ______ is happening right now?
(A) How
(B) Which
(C) What
(D) Why
20 We have the original English audio and the French dub. ______ language should I select?
(A) What
(B) Which
(C) How
(D) Where
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) What
- Why it is correct (Key): You are asking a general question about movie genres. Because there are many genres in the world (unlimited choices), we use “What”.
- Error Analysis: (C) Which is a Common Mistake (only used when giving a limited list). (A) How is a Structural Error. (D) Who is a Meaning Trap (used for people, not “kinds of movies”).
2 (A) Which
- Why it is correct (Key): The choice is strictly limited to two specific movies (The Matrix or Inception). When options are restricted, you must use “Which”.
- Error Analysis: (B) What is a Common Mistake. (C) Where and (D) Who are Meaning Traps.
3 (C) What
- Why it is correct (Key): Out of millions of movies ever made, you are asking for their favorite. This is an open-ended question with unlimited choices.
- Error Analysis: (A) Which is a Common Mistake. (B) Who is a Meaning Trap (movies are not people). (D) How is a Structural Error.
4 (C) Which
- Why it is correct (Key): You are pointing at two specific blankets in front of you. “Which one” is the standard phrase to ask someone to choose from a visible group.
- Error Analysis: (A) What is a Common Mistake. (B) Whose is a Meaning Trap (you are offering them a blanket, not asking who owns it). (D) The which is a Structural Error.
5 (A) What
- Why it is correct (Key): When asking for a specific hour on the clock, the fixed English phrase is always “What time”.
- Error Analysis: (B) When is a Meaning Trap (“When do you want to start” is correct, but “When time” is incorrect). (C) Which and (D) How are Structural Errors.
6 (B) Which
- Why it is correct (Key): The speaker gives exactly two options: pizza or burgers.
- Error Analysis: (A) What is a Common Mistake (you would only use “What” if you asked “What food do you want?” without giving any specific options). (C) Who and (D) Why are Structural Errors.
7 (D) What
- Why it is correct (Key): To ask for an opinion, the standard English structure is “What do you think about…”.
- Error Analysis: (A) How is a classic Common Mistake for learners who directly translate “How do you think” from their native language. (B) Which is a Structural Error.
8 (A) Which
- Why it is correct (Key): The choice is limited to the two specific Netflix profiles shown on the TV screen.
- Error Analysis: (B) What is a Common Mistake. (C) Who is a Meaning Trap (you cannot say “Who profile”). (D) Whom is a Structural Error.
9 (C) What
- Why it is correct (Key): When asking for the name of a person or a thing, the fixed English structure is “What is the name…”.
- Error Analysis: (D) Who is a Meaning Trap (you can ask “Who is that actor?”, but you cannot ask “Who is the name”). (A) How is a very Common Mistake for A1 learners.
10 (B) Which
- Why it is correct (Key): The options are locked into two specific items: the sweet bowl or the salty bowl.
- Error Analysis: (A) What is a Common Mistake. (C) How and (D) Where are grammatically wrong here.
11 (A) What
- Why it is correct (Key): The context states there are “thousands of movies,” which represents a massive, practically unlimited pool of choices. Therefore, we ask “What should we watch?”.
- Error Analysis: (B) Which is a Common Mistake. (C) When and (D) How do not fit the context of choosing a movie.
12 (B) Which
- Why it is correct (Key): There is a clear, limited choice provided: the beginning or the end.
- Error Analysis: (A) What is a Common Mistake. (C) Where and (D) Who are Meaning Traps.
13 (C) What
- Why it is correct (Key): Asking for the definition or meaning of a word is an open question. The correct structure is “What does it mean?”.
- Error Analysis: (A) How is a Common Mistake (“How does it mean” is incorrect English). (B) Which is a Structural Error.
14 (C) Which
- Why it is correct (Key): You are choosing between two specific screens: the TV or the laptop.
- Error Analysis: (A) What is a Common Mistake. (B) Who is a Meaning Trap. (D) Whose is a Meaning Trap.
15 (A) What
- Why it is correct (Key): Asking generally about the genres of movies without providing a list of options.
- Error Analysis: (B) Which is a Common Mistake. (C) Who and (D) How are Structural Errors.
16 (B) Which
- Why it is correct (Key): You are pointing at a small, specific group of items on the table (three remotes).
- Error Analysis: (A) What is a Common Mistake. (C) Where and (D) Whose are Meaning Traps.
17 (D) What
- Why it is correct (Key): Asking about someone’s “favorite thing” is an open question with infinite possible answers.
- Error Analysis: (A) Which is a Common Mistake. (B) How and (C) Why are Structural Errors.
18 (A) Which
- Why it is correct (Key): Even though you are asking about people (actors), you are giving a strict choice between two specific individuals: Brad Pitt or Leonardo DiCaprio. Therefore, you must use “Which actor”.
- Error Analysis: (C) Who is a Meaning Trap (you cannot combine “Who” directly with a noun. You can say “Who do you like more?”, but not “Who actor”). (B) What is a Common Mistake.
19 (C) What
- Why it is correct (Key): Asking about the events happening in a movie is a completely open-ended question.
- Error Analysis: (B) Which is a Common Mistake. (A) How and (D) Why do not fit the grammar of “___ is happening”.
20 (B) Which
- Why it is correct (Key): The options are limited to exactly two audio tracks: English or French.
- Error Analysis: (A) What is a Common Mistake. (C) How and (D) Where are Meaning Traps.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
When you are planning an activity or making a choice, knowing when to use What and Which is essential at the A1 level. The rule depends entirely on the number of choices:
- Use WHAT for Open Questions (Unlimited Choices):
- When you ask a general question and the answer could be almost anything in the world, use What.
- Example: What movie do you want to watch? (There are millions of movies).
- Example: What snacks should we buy? (There are hundreds of snacks).
- Use WHICH for Specific Choices (Limited Choices):
- When you give your friend a short menu to choose from (usually 2 or 3 options), or when you are pointing at specific items in the room, use Which.
- Example: Which movie should we watch, the comedy or the horror film? (The choice is locked to only these two).
- Example: Which remote control turns on the TV? (Pointing at three remotes on the table).
- Fixed Phrases NEVER to translate word-by-word:
- Asking for the time: Always use “What time” (Never When time).
- Asking for an opinion: Always use “What do you think” (Never How do you think).
- Asking for a definition: Always use “What does it mean” (Never How does it mean).
- Asking for a name: Always use “What is the name” (Never How is the name).