which

Det

Determiner

×

A word placed before a noun to show which person or thing is meant, or how much or how many.

1. 1.What, of those mentioned or implied.

   • They couldn't decide which song to play.
   • Show me which one is bigger.
   • Which song shall we play?

2. 2.The/Any .. that; whichever.

   • You may go which way you please.
   • Take which one you want.

3. 3.Designates the one(s) previously mentioned.

   • She only speaks Chinese, which language I can hardly follow.
   • I'm thinking of getting a new car, in which case I'd get a red one.
   • He once owned a painting of the house, which painting would later be stolen.

Pron

Pronoun

×

A word that replaces or refers to a noun or noun phrase.

1. 1.What one or ones (of those mentioned or implied).

   • I'm unable to determine which is bigger.
   • Which's your spouse? -The one in trousers.
   • By now, you must surely know which is which.

2. 2.The/Any ones that; whichever.

   • Please take which you please.

3. 3.In a non-restrictive relative clause, referring to something previously mentioned.

   • He had to leave, which was very difficult.
   • The front door was open, which concerned me.
   • She had a young child, which cried incessantly.

4. 4.In a restrictive relative clause, referring to a noun previously mentioned.

   • This is the letter which I received.
   • This is the letter in which he explains his decision.
   • The men which acompanyed him on his waye stode amased, for they herde a voyce, butt sawe no man.

Conj

Conjunction

×

A word that links words, phrases, or clauses.

1. 1.And.(informal)

   • We didn’t find any strips of skin. Which, by the way, ughhh!
   • They only offered me five dollars, which I wouldn’t do it for less than fifteen.
   • Nate’s brother gestures toward me as though I’m a piece of trash he passed on the street, which, okay, valid.

Overall

Very common· #71

By learning goal

Everyday conversation

Uncommon

General reading & writing

Very common

Academic

Common

Literature

Uncommon