Difference between which and what

[bebo]

Test No. errors/elem-14 "Listen and Improve Your English", question 2

First of all there was the verb to listen to what means in effect deliberately to hear something.

(a) First of all
(b) what
(c) something

Test No. errors/elem-14 "Listen and Improve Your English", answer 2

First of all there was the verb to listen to which means in effect deliberately to hear something.

Correct entry: which
The error was: (b) what
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when do we use some?

[Alan]

This is a so-called partitive article and refers to a general amount or quantity as in: He has brought some food/biscuits for the meal.
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Passive Voice

[huyen]

I think there should be a comma after "first of all".

[Alan]

Do you?

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Phrasal Verbs/take

[Meredith]

I know that British & American English differ in some uses of the comma, and perhaps BE now uses fewer commas than AE. In the quiz sentence quoted below, I'd add a comma after the introductory phrase "First of all," as another reader suggested. But the sentence can be understood without that comma.
I find the main clause, however, very difficult to understand without any commas and without quotes or italics marking the phrase "to listen to."

First of all there was the verb to listen to what means in effect deliberately to hear something.

The impulse is to read it as "to listen to what means in effect...," making the error hard to spot. I read and reread the sentence and finally had to check the answer!

Interesting sentence, and a terrific web site

thanks
Meredith

[Conchita]

[Saneta]

This sentence:,, First of all there was the verb to listen to which means in effect deliberately to hear something.'' has made me confused. Please write it in other, equivalent sentences/words. Thanks a lot!

[Kitosdad]

"I find your explanation confusing."

"I find myself confused by your explanation."

"Your explanation is causing me some confusion."

"The whole class found themselves confused by his explanation."

Hope that helps.

Kitos.
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Englishman living in Germany.

[Shyone]

[Kitosdad]

Quite right Andrea. I read the question wrongly. ( Slaps own wrist.)

Bill.
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Englishman living in Germany.

[Kitosdad]

Saneta, If you had used a couple of comma's in your question...........................

First of all there was the verb," to listen to," which means in effect, deliberately to hear something.

Kitos.
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Englishman living in Germany.

[Saneta]

Thank You very much Kitosdad, now this sentense makes a sense to me!