Korean Job Discussion Forums

[T-J]

To the first person that can explain which answer is correct and why the other choices are incorrect.

Question: Which sentence below uses the underlined 'what' in the example sentence grammatically the same?

Example: Mary sometimes has trouble concentrating on what she reads because of the TV.

1. Make sure you understand what you have read.
2. There is a chance you will forget what the pencil is for.
3. Did you hear what they said?
4. This is what he really wants.
5. What I want is the truth.

[Dodgy Al]

The word 'what' has two functions. Firstly, it is a question word, ie. 'What is your name?'

It also functions as a relative pronoun, ie 'This is what he really wants'. Therefore, all the sentences use the word 'what' in the same way as your example. Keep it simple.

I like Kilkenny.

[cruisemonkey]

[lifeinkorea]

2. There is a chance you will forget what the pencil is for.

Maybe because there is an adverb of frequency whereas the other ones don't.

[T-J]

[T-J]

[T-J]

[robot]

The answer is #2.

In the others, the pronoun what means "that which". Even if it sounds a bit odd in each of the sentences, the grammar works:

1. Make sure you understand that which you have read.
3. Did you hear that which they said?
4. This is that which he really wants.
5. That which I want is the truth.[/quote]

Doesn't work for two though:

2. There is a chance you will forget that which the pencil is for.

It's because in this case what works as part of the separated collocation [what... for] meaning "for what reason/purpose".

[bobbybigfoot]

Nicely done robot. Drink expensive beer (guiness or kilkenny) and drink alot of it. Then report back.

[cruisemonkey]

Guiness isn't beer.

It's breakfast in a bottle... Erin take off your bra.

[T-J]

We have a winner.

I'm always shocked at these questions. It's a difficult question for a native speaker. They teach the kids how to answer them, but the students lack the ability to form grammatically simple sentences.

Robot, PM me to collect your prize.

[Chamchiman]

[Sector7G]

[the oak llama]

[The Cosmic Hum]

hmm...

...I think the answer is not that complicated(after much thinking and research)

The correct answer is number two...and robot gives some great insight to that...well done.
However, I think that explanation fails to explain how the example sentence would not also take...that which...
ie...Mary sometimes has trouble concentrating on that which she reads because of the TV.

The Oak Llama draws attention to this source of confusion �which is why I am posting this answer�even though the contest has already been won.

To that end...the reason that the example and number two are grammatically the same...
...they are both the object of a preposition.
on what...
what...for
I hope this was useful.