grammar · neutral

what + S + V

Band 4-5speakingtask2

a nominal relative clause using 'what' meaning 'the thing(s) that' or 'that which'.

Examples

“What she said surprised everyone.”

“You should consider what is realistic.”

“I don't understand what he wants.”

Band 8 sentence

“What the committee failed to consider was the long-term social impact of the policy.”

Collocations

  • what + clause (meaning 'the thing(s) that')
  • ask/decide/know what + clause

Word family

what nominal relative pronoun

Common mistakes

I know the thing what he wants→I know what he wants / I know the thing that he wants

What he wants is not clear to me about→What he wants is not clear to me

Say it for a higher band

5the thing that + clause→6that which + clause→7+what + S + V

Synonyms

the thing that

Easily confused

the thing that

“What bothers me is the lack of support.”

Related words

defining vs non-defining relative clauses (use of commas and that/which/who), who + Vthe + superlative + N + (that) + S + Veach of whom + V, which is why + S + VIndefinite pronouns + who/that + V (someone/anyone/anything + who/that)the majority of + N + who + Vthose who + V

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Relative clauses

Learn it with its set