Which city is the biggest in the world?
Which city is the biggest in the world?
What city is the biggest in the world?
Are all these sentences possible?.
Thank you.
32 Answers
Nila
Which is correct. But you will hear both.
Try looking at this article that explains the difference in usage between the two. In my own estimation, I have to disagree with what was said earlier by Ian.
The word "which" is used in a limiting sense, and expresses a request for a selection from a clearly defined and definite number of options. It is usually used to choose between two to a few different options; however, the number of cities in the world is so large that to the average person, the number would represent an unknown number of possibilities. For this reason, I think that "what" would be fine to use here.
Either can be used, but it really depends on the characteristic of the set which you are choosing from.
Sorry every one - I give up.
I have in Izanni an adversary who will not give up.
He is trying to not only telling us what is correct but what "sounds" correct.
I have been here before with him - he seems to think that repeated mis-use of something in language makes it "correct" - it does not but it can make it "acceptable".
Further I object to Izanoni (who says he is still learning English - my native language - (and samdie to a lesser extent) jumping to the defense of anything just because it is in common use in the USA.
Just because a language changes over time does not make those changes "correct" but merely "acceptable". That is where we got "ain't" from.
Nila,
I agree with Ian on this one. "Which" in this case is the grammaticaly correct term to define a choice. If you are confused just think about the start of the question:
If I were to say "What" at the beginning of the question you would instinctively be expecting to hear something like, "What are you doing?" "What is wrong with my food?"...Etc. Now if I were to start my question with "Which" you would instinctively expect to hear.. "Which type of food do you like?", "Which dress looks prettier?", and so forth.
Which offers choice
What asks for clarification
I hope this helps you with what you asked and makes clear to you which usage is correct!
As with many of your (Nila) questions, this is not really a question of grammar but, rather, of usage. There is no grammatical rule that states that "which" should/must be used when there are X choices (and "what" when there are more than X). Neither is there any rational basis for saying that X should be 2,3,4, etc. In the extreme case of only two choices, one could ask "Which do you prefer?" ("what" would, I think be odd in this case). However, one could equally ask "What is your preference?" (and, in this case, I would find "which" equally odd).
These are, however, not questions of "following the rules"/logic (as are questions of number agreement between subject and verb, choosing the nominative/possessive/accusative form of a pronoun (in English) or sequence of tenses. They are questions of usage (and involve fairly subtle distinctions, at that).
We all have our prejudices/favorite phrases/customary way of saying things. There is, however, a tremendous difference between hearing someone say/ask something and asking yourself "Huh? What on earth is he saying (trying to say)?" and thinking "I would phrase it differently but I understand the intent." The former, is usually an indication that the speaker has violated the basic rules/patterns of the language (with a result that no native speaker would ever say) while the latter goes to the habits/customs/preferences of particular (even if they are numerous) speakers.
You can safely say either of these without any fear of being looked at strangely. You might also say.
Which is the biggest city in the world?
What is the biggest city in the world?
Well, there certainly is a huge battle raging here, and I would jump in, but I would be on the opposite side of Izanoni, and I know by experience that the argument would ultimately end in despair for me... 
(but Ian and Renae know that I'm here on the sidelines rooting for you!) 
Nila, I would say that "Which city is the biggest in the world?" would be technically correct, however, you will hear people say "What....?" all the time, so, when writing it down, I would say Which, but when saying, you could pretty much say it however you want and no one would really care.
Then, how could I make this questions?
What hotel are you now in?
Which hotel are you now in?
Here I would say Which also, but like the previous sentences, you will hear What all the time.
What time do you go to work?
Certainly, there is an implied list here that is both finite and countable. It is asking for a specific time that can be chosen from an implied list of values. If this is to difficult for you to see the distinction, then how about
What time would you prefer to come to work?
Now there is a choice to be made, yet I suppose you will still bring in the language purists to come in with there sticks and strike there bells, all the while decrying - yours does not sound as sweet....
Right: "What time do you go to work?": Clarification! And beautiful the way it is.
Wrong: "What time would you prefer to come to work?": This sentence should be worded as a choice!
To make the sentence grammatically correct one would write:
Right: "Which time would you prefer to come to work?" because a choice is required from the respondant.
Izanoni, what is funny is that you knew before I posted this exactly what I would say! Which means that you are slowly beginning to recognize the correct usage, just not willing to admit it!
Ian don't give up! You have my vote! I wholeheartedly agree that just because a poor grammar choice is widely used does not mean that it can be categorized as proper grammar! See my other entries in this thread. It doesn't matter how much something is said, it doesn't make it correct.
Which day of the week/month is it? Certainly "possible" and, even more certainly, the choices are fairly restricted (could be easily listed). However for each time that I've heard "which" in this context, I've heard "what" a hundred times.
Which time is it? Assuming that one-minute resolution is usually adequate, that only leaves 24*60 possible choices. Not a short list (but certainly shorter than the list of all the cities in the world). I feel fairly certain that I have never heard anyone use this in favor (favour [for you, Ian]) of "What time is it?"
See the following to clarify: link text
Regards. DonL.
"What is the name of the street," - Izanoni here you go again.
It can only be "what" because there is only one name to a street (everywhere I have been with few exceptions) although in the town or city there will be many names. So what?
Izanoni, what is funny is that you knew before I posted this exactly what I would say! Which means that you are slowly beginning to recognize the correct usage, just not willing to admit it!
Glad to see your still here with me....now my question is how do you reconcile the difference between the following
What time do you go to work? - Clarification - asks for a specific time (as you have stated)
What city is the largest in the world? - Clarification - asks for a specific city
In a previous post you put that time would not be a choice (I am assuming because it is a fact), if you apply your rules evenly then the largest city in the world is not a choice either (it is a fact as well).
As you can see..this specific question is asking for an opinion because of the variables of the word "biggest". Is the city "biggest" in area, or "biggest" in population. What makes a city big? This is a question that demands a choice from the existent cities. As it is nearly impossible to decide what would indeed be "biggest" beyond a doubt this question begs for an opinion.
I disagree with this assessment because the implied choice is not between measures of bigness, it is between cities of the world.
By saying that the choice must be made regarding what units to judge size on, you open the door to the argument that when someone asks what time it is that they are in effect being asked to make a decision amongst the various units of time available.
On the other hand, seeing things from your point of view, a better argument can be made based on what the OED has to say about the two
"what" corresponds to the demonstrative "that;" whereas, "which" corresponds to the demonstrative "such."
Examine the following objectively and see what you think:
Which dress would you like? --- The green dress is such
What dress would you like? --- The green dress. That is the dress I would like.
Which city is the largest in the world? --- The city of Shanghai is such.
What city is the largest in the world? --- The city of Shanghai. That is the largest city in the world
What time do you go to work? --- 7:00 PM. That is the time that I go to work.
Which time do you go to work? --- 7:00 PM is such
What street do you live on? --- Main street. That is the street I live on
Which street do you live on? --- Main street is such.
I won't make any comments but will leave the evaluation up to you.
Just because a language changes over time does not make those changes "correct" but merely "acceptable". That is where we got "ain't" from
This argument makes no sense. The "correctness" of a language rests upon usage. Your perception of language seems to be that it some static monolith. I am more concerned with where your perception of "correctness" stems from.
If the changes in language did not matter then you would be throwing your hands up and saying, "thou art a fool, Izanoni" rather than "you are a fool, Izanoni." But I suppose that this analogy like any others that I have made are lost on you.
