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sagrerasonia Sep 8th, 2007 01:15 pm

What page or Which page
 
Hi! everybody

I'm not very sure about the correct form of the question

Is it what page? or is it which page? I normally use which page? but I've seen what page? written on a label, so now I've got doubts about the correct form
Can anyone help me?

Thanks a lot!

mesmark Sep 8th, 2007 08:50 pm

Re: What page or Which page
 
both are fine.

Which page did they cover in class today?

What page did they cover in class today?

What pages are we supposed to read for homework?

Which pages are we supposed to read for homework?

All are Ok in my book. I'll run some more examples through my head and see if I can find some where they aren't interchangeable.

susan53 Sep 10th, 2007 03:05 pm

Re: What page or Which page
 
Which is usually used for a closed question - ie one with a limited range of answers :Which football team do you prefer - Manchester United or Arsenal? - whereas what is used for an open question : What is your favourite football team?

However, what is often used instead of which in closed questions too (What pen do you want - the red one or the blue one? )

When there's a large number involved, but that number is actually limited - eg the pages in a book - the speaker can see it both ways : as limited because she knows there are 125 or as open because there are too many to be bothered about counting. So either which or what may be used. It comes back to the idea that grammar is meaning - what you say depends on what you choose to express, or "mean".


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