which
(wĭch, hwĭch)pron.1. What particular one or ones: Which of these is yours?
2. The one or ones previously mentioned or implied, specifically:
a. Used as a relative pronoun in a clause that provides additional information about the antecedent: my house, which is small and old.
b. Used as a relative pronoun preceded by that or a preposition in a clause that defines or restricts the antecedent: that which he needed; the subject on which she spoke.
c. Used instead of that as a relative pronoun in a clause that defines or restricts the antecedent: The movie which was shown later was better.
3. Any of the things, events, or people designated or implied; whichever: Choose which you like best.
4. A thing or circumstance that: He left early, which was wise.
adj.1. What particular one or ones of a number of things or people: Which part of town do you mean?
2. Any one or any number of; whichever: Use which door you please.
3. Being the one or ones previously mentioned or implied: It started to rain, at which point we ran.
Usage Note: The relative pronoun
which can sometimes refer to a clause or sentence, as opposed to a noun phrase:
She ignored him, which proved to be unwise. They swept the council elections, which could never have happened under the old rules. More than 80 percent of the Usage Panel approved both of these examples in our 2009 survey. Sometimes
which clauses of this sort are presented as separate sentences. These are technically sentence fragments, and they often pack a rhetorical punch:
"I was caught for a week on the Siachen Glacier, in a giant blizzard. There is no harsher place on this earth; it belongs to no one. Which won't keep people from squabbling over it someday" (Andrea Barrett). While this example is perfectly acceptable, writers who want to avoid this use of
which and adhere to the traditional rules can usually substitute
this for it at the start of a new sentence, though often at the loss of some dramatic flair. · Note that
which clauses that modify whole sentences can sometimes create ambiguities. The sentence
It emerged that Martha made the complaint, which surprised everybody may mean either that the complaint itself was surprising or that it was surprising that Martha made it. This ambiguity may be avoided by using other constructions such as
It emerged that Martha made the complaint, a revelation that surprised everybody. Remember that
which is used in this way only when the clause or sentence it refers to precedes it. When the clause or sentence follows, writers must use
what, particularly in formal style:
Still, he has not said he will withdraw, which is more surprising. Still, what is more surprising, he has not said he will withdraw. See Usage Notes at
that,
what,
whose.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
which
(wɪtʃ) determiner1. a. used with a noun in requesting that its referent be further specified, identified, or distinguished from the other members of a class: which house did you want to buy?.
b. (as pronoun): which did you find?.
c. (used in indirect questions): I wondered which apples were cheaper.
2. a. whatever of a class; whichever: bring which car you want.
b. (as pronoun): choose which of the cars suit you.
3. used in relative clauses with inanimate antecedents: the house, which is old, is in poor repair.
4. as; and that: used in relative clauses with verb phrases or sentences as their antecedents: he died of cancer, which is what I predicted.
5. the which archaic a longer form of which, often used as a sentence connector
[Old English hwelc, hwilc; related to Old High German hwelīh (German welch), Old Norse hvelīkr, Gothic hvileiks, Latin quis, quid]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
which
(ʰwɪtʃ, wɪtʃ)
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): This book, which I read last night, was exciting. The socialism which Owen preached was unpalatable to many. The lawyer represented five families, of which ours was the largest.
4. (used relatively in restrictive clauses having that as the antecedent): Damaged goods constituted part of that which was sold at the auction.
5. (used after a preposition to represent a specified antecedent): the house in which I lived.
6. (used relatively to represent a specified or implied antecedent) the one that; a particular one that: You may choose which you like.
7. (used in parenthetic clauses) the thing or fact that: He hung around for hours and, which was worse, kept me from doing my work.
adj. 8. what one of (a certain number or group mentioned or implied)?: Which book do you want?
9. whichever; any that: Go which way you please, you'll end up here.
10. being previously mentioned: It rained all day, during which time we played cards.
[before 900; Middle English; Old English
hwilc, hwelc=
hwe- (akin to
hwā who) +
-līc body, shape, kind; c. Old Saxon
(h)wilik, Old High German
hwelīk, Old Norse
hvīlīkr, Gothic
hwileiks literally, of what form]
usage: The relative pronoun
which refers to inanimate things and to animals:
The house, which we had seen only from a distance, impressed us even more as we approached. The horses which pulled the coach were bay geldings. Formerly,
which referred to persons, but this use, while still heard (
the friend which helped me move), is now nonstandard. The “rule” taught by some usage guides, that
which should be used only with nonrestrictive clauses, has not taken hold generally. In edited prose a majority of the clauses in which
which is the relative pronoun are restrictive:
Facts which we had ignored turned out to be critical. See also
that. Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
which
Which can be a determiner or a pronoun.
1. asking for informationYou use which when you are asking for information about one of a limited number of things or people. A noun phrase beginning with which or consisting of the pronoun which can be the subject, object, or complement of a verb. It can also be the object of a preposition.
Which type of oil is best?
Which is her room?
Be Careful!
When the noun phrase is the object of a verb or preposition, you put an auxiliary verb after the object, followed by the subject and the main verb. When the noun phrase is the object of a preposition, the preposition usually goes at the end of the clause.
Which hotel did you want?
Which station did you come from?
2. used in reported clausesWhich is often used in reported clauses.
Do you remember which country he played for?
I don't know which to believe.
3. used in relative clausesWhich can be a relative pronoun in both defining and non-defining relative clauses. In relative clauses, which always refers to things, never to people.
We heard about the awful conditions which exist in some prisons.
I'm teaching at the local college, which is just over the road.
In relative clauses, you can use either which or who after a collective noun such as family, committee, or group. After which you use a singular verb. After who you usually use a plural verb.
He is on the committee which makes decisions about planning.
They are a separate ethnic group who have their own language.
Be Careful!
When which is the subject of a non-defining clause, don't use another pronoun after it. Don't say, for example, 'He stared at the painting, which it was completely ruined'. You say 'He stared at the painting, which was completely ruined'.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012