'what' vs. 'which'

[mastrochili]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #93 "Why Questions", question 1

......... countries have a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea?

(a) What
(b) Which
(c) Where
(d) Who

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #93 "Why Questions", answer 1

Which countries have a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea?

Correct answer: (b) Which

Your answer was: incorrect
What countries have a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea?
_________________________

what is the difference between "what" and "which"

[Mister Micawber]

.
Which is preferred when there are a limited number of available options.
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber

[Vermilion]

Oh. It sounds so odd for me. If question "What year did Prince Charles of England marry? " has a wide range of possible answers (really, somebody can say it was in 575 B.C. or 2097 A.D.), why does question about countries begin with "which"? We can choose from about 200 countries, is it not a wide choice?
It seems to me that some combinations of Why Questions must be learned just by heart, without the support of logic

[Mister Micawber]

No, it is your logic that is failing here. You must use common sense in English just as you do in your own language.

Only a limited number of countries border on the Mediterranean. Any intelligent person would not consider China or Madagascar or Australia-- the problem concerns only Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Portugal, etc., that is, countries that someone whose geography is poor might or might not think border on that sea.

Similarly, any reasonably intelligent person knows that Prince Charles is now alive and married Diana (1980?) and then Camilla (2005?) in the recent past. We do not consider the whole range of dates in history or all the countries in the world when choosing 'which' or 'what'.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber

[Alan]

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Hi Vermilion,

Both 'what' and 'which' are used to start questions but the difference is that 'what' is indefinite and 'which' suggests that the questioner has some idea of the choices possible.

If I ask: What book are you reading? it suggests I have no idea at all about the book, the author or the subject.

If I ask: Which book are you reading? it suggests either we have previously talked about the author or I have some idea of the kind of books you are reading.

In the test question 'which' is the preferred choice because as Charles has indicated in his answer above, there is a limited choice and a reasonable expectation that both parties to the question have some prior knowledge on the subject.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Phrasal Verbs/look

[Daemon99]

What/which movie is that song from?
What/which book is that dialogue from?

Which word fits better in the above sentences? If I were to ask them in a quiz, which one would be better? If I was talking to a friend of mine, who I know would know the answer, which one would be better to use?
_________________
Non-native speaker of English
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I intend to live forever - so far, so good.

[Mister Micawber]

If you thought your friend would know the answer, 'which' is grammatically more appropriate. Note, however, that in spoken English, few or no native speakers pause to consider; one or the other interrogative adjective will just pop out-- and probably with about equal frequency.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber

[Vermilion]

Hi Mister Micawber.

What a pity, evidently, I'm not intelligent – I do not know an year of Prince Charles' marriages, and answering the question about the Mediterranean Sea I would have to turn a greater quantity of countries over in my mind. For me situations of choice of two tens years and of two tens countries are equivalent.

It's definitely not an accusation against English. I don't know, may be it's even a compliment. There are a lot of expression in English, in Russian, in Japanese, and in any other language that must be just memorized, because the language is living, artistic and inspired creature by its nature, it operates both with images and logic; and if I wanted straight lines and accurate angles I would be occupied with technical drawing rather than with philology.

I just tried to share my difficulties.

And to practice in writing English, of course

Hi Alan,

thank you for answer. When it is talked of books, or cats, or clouds, or any particular things I really see the difference between what and which, but with measuring time (years) and space (countries) I am at a deadlock. But owing to your test now I know my weak spots! And will work on it.