What vs. Which – English Grammar Exercises for A1
Read the text messages and phone conversations below. Imagine you are driving to work, but you are stuck in a terrible traffic jam. You are calling your boss or a friend to report the delay and asking for advice on an alternative route using your GPS map. Choose the best word to fill in the blank.
1 Boss: Hello? Where are you? ______ road are you on right now?
(A) How
(B) What
(C) Which
(D) Who
2 You: I am stuck. The GPS shows Highway 1 and the Coast Road. ______ road is faster?
(A) What
(B) Where
(C) Which
(D) How
3 Boss: I need to know your schedule. ______ time did you leave your house this morning?
(A) When
(B) Which
(C) How
(D) What
4 You: I don’t know this area well. ______ is the name of the bridge that is closed?
(A) Which
(B) What
(C) How
(D) Where
5 You: I can take the underground tunnel or the old bridge to avoid the traffic. ______ way is better?
(A) What
(B) Who
(C) Which
(D) Why
6 You: I am looking at the map. ______ do you think about taking the small back streets?
(A) How
(B) Which
(C) What
(D) Why
7 You: There are three exits coming up on the highway. ______ exit do I need to take to get to the office?
(A) What
(B) Which
(C) Where
(D) How
8 Boss: I just turned on the radio. ______ happened on the main highway today?
(A) How
(B) Which
(C) What
(D) Who
9 You: I have Apple Maps and Google Maps open. ______ app is more accurate for live traffic?
(A) What
(B) Which
(C) Where
(D) Whose
10 Boss: Usually, the highway is fine. ______ is the best route to the office in general?
(A) Which
(B) How
(C) What
(D) Where
11 Boss: The radio says a car crashed. ______ color is the car that crashed in front of you?
(A) What
(B) Which
(C) How
(D) Who
12 You: Both lanes are moving very slowly. ______ lane are you in, the left lane or the right lane?
(A) What
(B) Where
(C) Which
(D) Whose
13 You: I don’t use this GPS app very often. ______ does the red line on the screen mean?
(A) How
(B) Which
(C) Why
(D) What
14 You: I am at the crossroads. I can turn left or go straight. ______ direction should I go?
(A) What
(B) Which
(C) Where
(D) How
15 Boss: I can send you a map link or a text message with directions. ______ of these two options is easier for you to read while driving?
(A) What
(B) Which
(C) How
(D) Who
16 Boss: I cannot see the map right now. ______ is the traffic like on Main Street?
(A) How
(B) Which
(C) What
(D) Why
17 You: I need to stop and use the bathroom. There are two gas stations here. ______ one has a public restroom?
(A) What
(B) Which
(C) Who
(D) Where
18 Boss: There are many accidents today. ______ streets should I avoid when I drive home later?
(A) Which
(B) How
(C) What
(D) Where
19 You: I am completely lost at this intersection. ______ way is north, left or right?
(A) What
(B) Where
(C) Which
(D) How
20 You: I will be very late for the morning meeting. ______ should I tell the team?
(A) How
(B) Which
(C) What
(D) Why
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) What
- Why it is correct (Key): The boss is asking a general question about your location. Because there are thousands of roads in the city and no options are provided, it is an open question. We use “What”.
- Error Analysis: (C) Which is a Common Mistake (only used when choosing from a specific, limited list). (A) How is a Structural Error. (D) Who is a Meaning Trap (used for people, not roads).
2 (C) Which
- Why it is correct (Key): The speaker provides exactly two options: Highway 1 or the Coast Road. Because the choice is limited, you must use “Which”.
- Error Analysis: (A) What is a Common Mistake. (B) Where and (D) How are Structural Errors.
3 (D) 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: (A) When is a Meaning Trap (“When did you leave” is correct, but “When time” is absolutely incorrect). (B) Which and (C) How are Structural Errors.
4 (B) What
- Why it is correct (Key): When asking for the name of a place, person, or thing out of thousands of possibilities, the fixed English structure is always “What is the name…”.
- Error Analysis: (C) How is a classic Common Mistake (direct translation error from “How is the name” in other languages). (A) Which is a Structural Error. (D) Where is a Meaning Trap.
5 (C) Which
- Why it is correct (Key): You are choosing between exactly two routes: the underground tunnel or the old bridge. The options are limited.
- Error Analysis: (A) What is a Common Mistake. (B) Who and (D) Why are Meaning Traps.
6 (C) What
- Why it is correct (Key): To ask for an opinion or advice, the standard English structure is “What do you think about…”.
- Error Analysis: (A) How is a very Common Mistake for A1 learners who directly translate “How do you think”. (B) Which and (D) Why are Structural Errors here.
7 (B) Which
- Why it is correct (Key): The GPS shows exactly three exits coming up. The choice is physically limited to that small, visible group.
- Error Analysis: (A) What is a Common Mistake. (C) Where and (D) How are Structural/Meaning Errors.
8 (C) What
- Why it is correct (Key): Asking about an event (“happened”) is a completely open-ended question. The answer could be an accident, construction, bad weather, etc.
- Error Analysis: (B) Which is a Common Mistake. (A) How is a Meaning Trap (“How did it happen” asks for the method, but “What happened” asks for the event itself). (D) Who asks for a person.
9 (B) Which
- Why it is correct (Key): The choice is strictly limited to the two apps you have open: Apple Maps or Google Maps.
- Error Analysis: (A) What is a Common Mistake. (C) Where and (D) Whose are Meaning Traps.
10 (C) What
- Why it is correct (Key): Asking about “the best route” in general, out of all possible roads in the city, is an open question.
- Error Analysis: (A) Which is a Common Mistake (only used if you said, “Which route is best, Route A or Route B?”). (B) How and (D) Where are Structural Errors.
11 (A) What
- Why it is correct (Key): To ask about a color generally (there are infinite colors), English always uses “What color”.
- Error Analysis: (B) Which is a Common Mistake (you only use “Which color” if you are choosing from a specific list, like “Which color is it, red or blue?”). (C) How and (D) Who are structurally incorrect.
12 (C) Which
- Why it is correct (Key): The speaker gives exactly two options at the end of the sentence: the left lane or the right lane.
- Error Analysis: (A) What is a Common Mistake caused by not reading to the end of the sentence. (B) Where and (D) Whose are Meaning Errors.
13 (D) What
- Why it is correct (Key): Asking for the definition or meaning of a symbol on a map is an open question. The standard structure is “What does it mean?”.
- Error Analysis: (A) How is a very Common Mistake (“How does it mean” is incorrect in English). (B) Which is a Structural Error. (C) Why is a Meaning Trap.
14 (B) Which
- Why it is correct (Key): The choice is restricted to the two directions you just mentioned: turn left or go straight.
- Error Analysis: (A) What is a Common Mistake. (C) Where is a Meaning Trap (“Where should I go” is correct, but “Where direction” is wrong). (D) How is a Structural Error.
15 (B) Which
- Why it is correct (Key): The phrase “these two options” strictly limits the choice. The preposition “of” directly follows the gap, making “Which of” the correct phrase.
- Error Analysis: (A) What is a Common Mistake (“What of” is incorrect). (C) How and (D) Who are Meaning Traps.
16 (C) What
- Why it is correct (Key): To ask for a description of a situation, the fixed English structure is “What is [noun] like?”.
- Error Analysis: (A) How is a very Common Mistake (“How is the traffic” is correct, but because the word “like” is at the end of the sentence, you MUST use “What is the traffic like”). (B) Which is a Structural Error.
17 (B) Which
- Why it is correct (Key): There are exactly two gas stations physically in front of you. You are asking the listener to identify one from that limited group.
- Error Analysis: (A) What is a Common Mistake. (C) Who and (D) Where are Meaning Errors.
18 (C) What
- Why it is correct (Key): The boss is asking generally about streets in the whole city to avoid. There is no limited list provided.
- Error Analysis: (A) Which is a Common Mistake. (B) How and (D) Where are Structural Errors.
19 (C) Which
- Why it is correct (Key): The speaker gives a limited menu of exactly two options: left or right.
- Error Analysis: (A) What is a Common Mistake. (B) Where is a Meaning Trap (“Where is north” is correct, but “Where way” is grammatically wrong).
20 (C) What
- Why it is correct (Key): Asking for advice on a message (“should I tell the team”) is an open question. The answer could be anything.
- Error Analysis: (B) Which is a Common Mistake. (A) How is a Meaning Trap (“How should I tell them” asks for the method, like via email or phone, but “What should I tell them” asks for the actual words/message).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
When you are looking at a map or stuck in traffic, choosing the correct question word depends on the number of choices you have in front of you:
- Use WHAT for the Whole City (Unlimited Choices):
- When you ask a general question and the answer could be any road, color, or event, use What. You are not giving a list.
- Example: “What road are you on?” (You could be on any of the 10,000 streets in the city).
- Example: “What is the name of this highway?”
- Use WHICH for the Map Screen (Limited Choices):
- When you look at your GPS and see 2 or 3 specific roads, or when you reach an intersection and can only go left or right, you MUST use Which.
- Example: “Which road is faster, Highway 1 or the Coast Road?” (The choice is locked to only these two).
- Example: There are two exits here. “Which one should I take?”
- Fixed Navigation Phrases (Never translate word-by-word):
- Asking for descriptions: Always use “What is it like?” (Never How is it like).
- Asking for an opinion: Always use “What do you think?” (Never How do you think).
- Asking for definitions: Always use “What does it mean?” (Never How does it mean).
- Asking the time: Always use “What time?” (Never When time).