what
pron, determiner, predeterminer
wɒt pron, determiner, predeterminer
1
which
used to ask for information or for someone’s opinion When there is a limited number of possible things or people, use . 当物或人的可选数量有限时，用 which
What are you doing?
你在做什么？
What subjects did you enjoy most?
你最喜欢哪些学科？
What colour is the new carpet?
新地毯是什么颜色的？
What’s your new boss like?
你的新老板是个怎样的人？
What do you think of my painting?
你觉得我的画怎样？
What do you mean, you want to spend Christmas alone?
你是什么意思，你想一个人过圣诞节？
what on earth/in the world/in heaven’s name etc (used for emphasis when you are surprised, angry etc) 到底，究竟
What on earth’s going on?
到底发生了什么事？
Which leg (NOT 不说 what leg) did he break?
他哪条腿断了？
It was one of his sisters. I can’t remember which (NOT 不说 what) .
是他的一个姐姐，我记不得是哪一个了。
2 used to introduce a CLAUSE about something that is or was not known or not certain 什么事〔用于引导从句〕
No one knows exactly what happened.
没人确切地知道发生了什么事。
It is not clear to what extent these views were shared.
不清楚有多少人认同这些观点。
what to do/say/expect etc
They’re discussing what to do next.
他们正在讨论下一步要做什么。
3 the thing which …的东西 （事情 ）
Show me what you bought.
给我看看你买的东西。
I believe what he told me.
我相信他对我说的话。
I could get you a job here if that’s what you want.
如果这是你的要求的话，我可以给你提供一份这里的工作。
What he did was morally wrong.
他做的事很缺德。
She gave him what money she had (=all the money she had, although she did not have much) .
她把她仅有的钱全都给了他。
4 used at the beginning of a statement to emphasize what you are going to say …的是…〔用在陈述句的开始，强调准备说的内容〕
What that kid needs is some love and affection.
那个孩子需要的是一些爱和关怀。
What we’ll do is leave a note for Mum to tell her we won’t be back till late.
我们要做的是给妈妈留一张便条，告诉她我们要很晚才回来。
What matters is the British people and British jobs.
重要的是英国的人民和英国的就业岗位。
5
what?
a. used to ask someone to repeat something they have just said because you did not hear it properly b. used when you have heard someone calling to you and you are asking them what they want c. used to show that you are surprised or shocked by something that someone has just said 什么？〔对他人所说的话表示惊讶或震惊〕
‘Could you turn the music down a bit?’ ‘What?’
“你能不能把音乐的音量调低一点？”“什么？”
‘Elaine!’ ‘What?’ ‘Come on!’
“伊莱恩！”“什么事？”“快一点！”
‘I think I’ve lost my passport.’ ‘What?’
“我想我护照丢了。”“什么？”
6 used at the beginning of a sentence to emphasize that you think something or someone is very good, very bad etc 多么，何等〔用在句子开头，强调某事或某人很好或很坏等〕
What a lovely day!
多好的天气！
What a horrible thing to do!
做这种事真可怕！
What nice people they are!
他们是多好的人啊！
7 used to ask someone to complete a name when they have only given you the first part of it 什么〔用于问清别人的全名〕
‘Do you know his name?’ ‘It’s David.’ ‘David what?’
”“你知道他的名字吗？”“戴维。”“戴维什么？”
8
what about...? what of ...?
a. used to make a suggestion b. also 又作 used to introduce a new subject into a conversation, or to mention something or someone else that also needs to be considered …怎么样〔用于在交谈中引入新话题，或提及也需要考虑的其他事或人〕 formal
What about dinner at my place next week?
下周到我家吃饭怎么样？
what about doing sth
What about going to a movie?
去看场电影如何？
What about Patrick? What’s he doing nowadays?
帕特里克怎么样？ 他现在在干什么？
What about me? Aren’t I coming too?
我呢？难道我不一起去吗？
So that’s the food – now what about the wine?
这些是吃的，那么酒呢？
And what of her other job? How is that progressing?
她的另一份工作呢？ 进展如何？
9
what (...) for?
a. used to ask why someone does something b. used to ask what purpose or use something has 〔某物〕有何用？
‘She’s decided to work part-time.’ ‘What for?’
“她决定去做非全时的工作。”“为什么？”
What did you do that for?
你为什么那样做？
What’s this gadget for?
这个小玩意儿是干什么用的？
10 used to give yourself time to think before guessing a number or amount 嗯，哦〔猜测数目或数量前给自己时间考虑〕
You’re looking at, what, about £4000 for a decent second-hand car.
买一辆说得过去的二手车，你要考虑的话，嗯，大约 4000 英镑。
11
what’s his/her/its name what d’you call him/her/it
11. also 又作 used when talking about a person or thing whose name you cannot immediately remember 他/她/它叫什么来着〔用于说到某人或某物时一时记不起名称时〕
The hospital have just got a, what d’you call it, er... a scanner.
医院刚买了一台新的叫什么来着，嗯…扫描器。
Is what’s his name still working there?
那个叫什么名字的还在那里工作吗？
12
(and) what’s more
12. used when adding information that emphasizes what you are saying 而且〔用于补充信息，强调自己所说的话〕
Gas is a very efficient fuel. And what’s more, it’s clean.
天然气是一种很有效的燃料，而且还清洁。
13
what’s what
13. the real facts about a situation that are important to know 事情的真相
She’s been working here long enough to know what’s what.
她已经在这里工作很长时间了，很了解情况。
14
what’s it to you?
14. used to tell someone angrily that something does not concern them 跟你有什么关系？
That’s right, I didn’t pass. What’s it to you, anyway?
对，我没及格，跟你又有什么关系呢？
‘How did he die?’ Suddenly Emily was angry. ‘What’s it to you?’
“他怎么死的？”埃米莉突然生气了。“那跟你有什么关系？”
15
... or what
15. a. used at the end of a question to show that you are impatient with someone or something b. used after mentioning one or more possibilities to show that you are not certain about something c. used after a description of someone or something to emphasize it 很，非常〔用于对某人或某物描述的强调〕
Are you afraid of him, or what?
你是怕他还是什么？
Is that work going to be finished by Friday, or what?
那工作星期五完成，还是什么时候？
I don’t know whether it was an accident or on purpose or what.
我不知道是意外还是人为所致，或是其他什么原因。
Nearby are the remains of a deserted village. Spooky or what?
附近有一处废弃村庄的遗址，可怕极了。
Is that madness or what?
是疯了还是怎么的！
16
so what? what of it?
16. also 又作 used to say that you do not care about something or think it is important 那有什么了不起？ 那又怎样？〔表示某人对某事不关心或认为某事不重要〕
‘Your room looks a real mess, Tracey.’ ‘So what?’
“你的房间真乱，特雷西。”“那又怎么样？”
‘But, Paul, she’s so much older than you?’ ‘What of it?’
“不过，保罗，她比你年龄大那么多。”
17
you what?
17. a. used to ask someone to repeat something they have just said. It is more polite to say PARDON b. used to show that you are surprised 你说什么？〔表示惊讶〕 BrE
‘I want to tell you something.’ ‘You what? I can’t hear what you’re saying.’
“我想跟你说件事。”“你说什么？我听不到你说的话。”
‘So I resigned.’ ‘You what?’
“所以我辞职了。”“你说什么？”
18
what if...?
18. a. used to ask what you should do or what the result will be if something happens, especially something unpleasant b. used to make a suggestion 如果…怎么样？〔用于提出建议〕
What if this plan of yours fails, what then?
如果你的这个计划失败会怎样，那又怎么办呢？
‘What if it rains tomorrow?’ ‘We’ll just have to postpone it.’
“要是明天下雨怎么办？”“我们就只好延期。”
What if we moved the sofa over here? Would that look better?
要是我们把沙发挪到这边来会怎么样？ 看上去会不会好一些？
19
...and what have you
19. used at the end of a list of things to mean other things of a similar kind 等等; 这一类东西〔用于物品清单末尾，表示还有类似的东西〕
The shelves were crammed with books, documents, and what have you.
架子上塞满了书本、文件之类的东西。
20
what with sth
20. used to introduce a list of reasons that have made something happen or made someone feel in a particular way 因为某事，由于某事〔用于列举各种理由〕
She couldn’t get to sleep, what with all the shooting and shouting.
枪声和喊声此起彼伏，她无法入睡。
21
what’s with sb?
21. used to ask why a person or group of people is behaving strangely [美] 某人怎么啦？ AmE
What’s with you people?
你们这些人怎么啦？
22
what’s with sth?
22. used to ask the reason for something [美] …怎么回事？ AmE
What’s with all the sad faces?
一张张脸都那么伤心，怎么回事？
23
now what?
23. used to ask what is going to happen next, what you should do etc 下一步会怎样？ 下一步怎么办？
24