Why You Are Using 'What' Wrong: the Hidden Grammar Rule Most Native Speakers Miss
By Elena Rostova
Q1: Can "what" ever be used as a simple relative pronoun like "which" or "that"?
In standard written English, no. "What" cannot refer directly to a preceding noun. You cannot say "The decision what changed everything." You must use "that" or "which." "What" can only head a relative clause when it embodies the antecedent itself ("What changed everything was that decision").
Q2: Should a sentence beginning with "What we need..." take "is" or "are"?
Default to "is" in almost all formal writing. A fused relative clause acts as a singular conceptual unit. You write: "What we need is additional staff members." Use "are" only when the clause itself contains an overtly plural relative concept, such as: "What were once small startups are now international conglomerates."
Q3: How do I tell if "what" is an interrogative pronoun or an interrogative determiner?
Check whether the word stands entirely alone or immediately precedes a noun. If it stands alone ("What did you say?"), it is an interrogative pronoun replacing the missing information. If it precedes a noun ("What metrics did you track?"), it functions as an interrogative determiner modifying that noun.
Elena Rostova holds a Master's degree in Public Health Journalism. She covers groundbreaking medical research, holistic wellness trends, mental health awareness, and nutritional science.
