That versus What

[noelia]

Test No. incompl/elem-9 "Relative Pronouns", question 2

I don't understand a word ......... you are talking about.

(a) what
(b) that
(c) who

Test No. incompl/elem-9 "Relative Pronouns", answer 2

I don't understand a word that you are talking about.

Correct answer: (b) that

Your answer was: incorrect
I don't understand a word what you are talking about.
_________________________

why is that instead of what in this case?

noelia

[Alan]

In this sentence you need the relative pronoun that because what really means that which. So you have two sentences:

I don't understand a word that you are saying.
I don't understand what (that which) you are saying.
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Phrasal Verbs/bring

[Melyeu]

hi,
so, is it correct to say:
The book that I am talking about has red covers.
What I said yersterday had no interest for anyone.
?
thaks

[Chanra]

hello my name is chanra .i seem not clearly how to use the relative pronoun.can you give example and explain about it?
thank you.

[Misskhan]

[Marianne M.]

Would you like to explain why I have to use the word that and not what?

[Alan]

Hi,

We have to make a distinction here between 'that' (relative pronoun) as it refers back or relates to a preceding noun as in: I don't know the word that you have used and 'what' meaning 'that which/those which' introducing another sentence (an indefinite noun clause): I don't know what (that which) you are talking about. 'What' is not used as a relative pronoun except in what would be called 'non-standard' speech -The man what knocked on the door was poor.

Look at these two sentences:

Listen carefully to the words that I am using.

Listen carefully to what I am saying.

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story The Name of the Game

[Nice Rose]

daer sir,

why "that" and why not "what "

nice rose

[Maple_Leaf]

thank you! you help me much.

[Pau_v]

Ahh.. I see..
Thanks much Alan!
I was a bit confused for a while. I was thinking of the informal way of saying that sentence.
Grammar has never been my forte!!