which */*/*/

which */*/*/
UK [wɪtʃ] / US / US [hwɪtʃ] determiner, pronoun
Summary:

Which can be used in the following ways: - as a determiner (followed by a noun): Which colour do you like best? - as a pronoun (without a following noun): Choose any card – it doesn't matter which. (introducing a question): Which is the hottest month of the year? (followed by "of"): Which of you is responsible for this department? (introducing a relative clause): My car, which I have owned for five years, is a Ford.
1)
a) used for asking for a specific choice from a limited number of possibilities

Which would you like, tea or coffee?

Which way did they go?

which of:

Which of the secretaries did you talk to?

b) used when someone knows, says, is not certain about etc the specific choice between two or more possibilities

They're all so pretty – I don't know which one to choose.

It was either whisky or vodka – I forget which.

Did he say which hotel he was staying at?

I don't know which is worse – spending Christmas alone or watching my friends get drunk.

2) used for introducing information that shows what specific thing or type of thing you are talking about. You can also use "that" to introduce this type of relative clause, and this is more usual

I've been thinking about those questions which you asked me last week.

It's a story which every child will enjoy.

the air crash in which Hammarskjöld died

•

Usage note:
The relative pronouns which or that are often left out when they are the object in this type of relative clause: Did you find the book (which/that) you were looking for?
3) used for adding information or a comment about a particular thing or fact when it is already clear what that thing or fact is

Bogart starred in the film Casablanca, which was made in 1942.

A skilled workforce is essential, which is why our training programme is so important.

The search will not begin until dawn, by which time it will probably be too late.

in which case (= if this happens):

Of course it may rain, in which case we shall have to hold the ceremony indoors.

•

know/tell which is which — to be able to see the difference between two or more similar things

They look exactly alike to me. How can you tell which is which?


English dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Which — Which, pron. [OE. which, whilk, AS. hwilc, hwylc, hwelc, from the root of hw[=a] who + l[=i]c body; hence properly, of what sort or kind; akin to OS. hwilik which, OFries. hwelik, D. welk, G. welch, OHG. wel[=i]h, hwel[=i]h, Icel. hv[=i]l[=i]kr,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Which — which  Unix утилита, отображающая полный путь к указанным командам или сценариям. Содержание 1 Описание 2 Опции 3 Пример использования …   Википедия

  • Which — Voir « which » sur le Wiktionnaire …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Which — is an English relative pronoun and interrogative pronoun.Which may also refer to: *Which?, a UK charity and its magazine *which (Unix), a Unix command See also * English relative clauses, for discussion of when to use which and when to use that… …   Wikipedia

  • Which? — Infobox Magazine title = Which? image size = image caption = frequency = Monthly category = Consumer publisher = Which? firstdate = October 1957 country = flagcountry|United Kingdom language = English website = [http://www.which.co.uk… …   Wikipedia

  • which — /hwich, wich/, pron. 1. what one?: Which of these do you want? Which do you want? 2. whichever: Choose which appeals to you. 3. (used relatively in restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses to represent a specified antecedent): The book, which I… …   Universalium

  • which — I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, of what kind, which, from Old English hwilc; akin to Old High German wilīh of what kind, which, Old English hwā who, gelīk like more at who, like Date: before 12th century 1. being what one or ones out of a …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Which? — a magazine produced each month by the Consumers’ Association in Britain. It consists of reports comparing different makes of similar products and services, to help people to decide which one to buy. It is only available to members of the… …   Universalium

  • which — See: GAME AT WHICH TWO CAN PLAY …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • which — See: GAME AT WHICH TWO CAN PLAY …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Which (Unix) — which Voir « which » sur le Wiktionnaire …   Wikipédia en Français

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