Definition and Usage of “What”

The term “what” serves multiple functions in the English language, primarily as an interrogative pronoun. It is used to inquire about the identity, nature, or value of a person, object, or matter. Here’s a detailed breakdown of its various uses:

1. Interrogative Pronoun:

   • Identity Inquiry: “What” is commonly used to ask questions that seek specific information about something. For example:
     • “What is this?”
     • “What do you think I am?”
   • Character or Role Inquiry: It can also inquire about the character or occupation of a person:
     • “What does he do?”
   • Repetition Request: In conversational contexts, it can be used to ask for clarification or repetition:
     • “You said what?”

2. Exclamatory Use:

   • The word can express surprise or excitement:
     • “What mountains!”
     • “What a suggestion!”

3. Relative Pronoun:

   • In some contexts, it can function similarly to relative pronouns like “that” or “which”:
     • “He said what everyone expected he would.”

4. Idiomatic Expressions:

   • The term appears in various idiomatic phrases that convey different meanings:
     • “Say what you will” implies that one should express their opinion regardless of others’ views.
     • “What if” introduces hypothetical scenarios.

5. Prepositional Phrases:

   • It can introduce prepositional phrases that provide additional context:
     • “What with unemployment increasing…”

6. Colloquial and Informal Uses:

   • In informal speech, it may appear at the end of statements as a tag question:
     • “A clever play, what?”

7. Historical Context and Etymology:

   • The word has roots in Old English (hwæt) and has cognates in several other Germanic languages, indicating its long-standing presence in the English lexicon.

In summary, “what“ is a versatile word primarily used for asking questions about identity and nature but also serves exclamatory and idiomatic functions within the language.

Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used

• Merriam-Webster Dictionary A comprehensive dictionary that provides definitions, usage examples, etymology, and phonetic pronunciations for words in the English language.

• Oxford English Dictionary An authoritative resource on the history and development of the English language with detailed entries on word origins and usage over time.

• Cambridge Dictionary A reliable source for definitions and translations that includes examples of how words are used in context across different varieties of English.

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