He passed the examination, that surprised everybody. vs He passed the examination, what surprised everybody

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings. The first phrase 'he passed the examination, that surprised everybody.' implies that the fact that he passed surprised everyone. The second phrase 'he passed the examination, what surprised everybody?' suggests that there is a question about what specifically surprised everyone. The choice between 'that' and 'what' depends on the intended meaning.

Last updated: April 03, 2024 • 308 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"He passed the examination, that surprised everybody."

This phrase is used to indicate that the fact that he passed the examination was surprising to everyone.

Show examples from the web [+]

He passed the examination, that surprised everybody.
In 2015 he passed the examination as a real estate agent and became part of the Via dei Colli real estate team; he deals with the selling and buying customers, both Italian and foreign, as well as preparing estimates for the restructuring and coordinating the works.
A week later on the 28th of November he performed his first solo flight, while on the 20th of December 1967 with a flight experience of 20h34' and 195 landings, he passed the examination and obtained his private helicopter pilot licence.
In 1867, he passed the entry examinations and entered the Foochow Arsenal Naval School established by Shen Baozhen to study navigation.
He passed the CPA examination in 1971.
He passed the imperial examination in 1610 at the age of 28.
He studied in Yuelu Academy in Changsha Prefecture, where he passed the prefectural examination in 1833, only a year after his father, Zeng Linshu.
In 1921 he passed the bar examination and then worked as an assistant in the Reich Ministry of Justice.
In 1957 he passed the philosophical Final Examination.
After the legal clerkship in 2002 he passed the second state examination.
He passed the first state examination in the spring of 1783.
When he was barely twenty, he passed the Imperial examination with the highest rank of jìnshì (進士 "metropolitan graduate"), and spent the next several years in official positions.
1. In order to be authorized to navigate with the aid of radar, the boatmaster must hold a special attestation delivered by the competent authority as proof that he has passed the examination covering professional knowledge of the subjects referred to in Chapter B of Annex II.
He planned to achieve the status of Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons as soon as possible and, after having attended the fellowship course at Guy's Hospital in London, he passed the final examination on 10 December 1936.
After his officer training in Berlin-Lichterfelde (1886-1891), he passed the diplomatic examination (1890-1891) with the appointment as Secretary of the Imperial German Embassy in St. Petersburg and London (1891-1894).
He passed the competitive examination for entry to the Diplomatic Service in January 1899 and was posted as an attaché to Paris in October 1899, being promoted Third Secretary in January 1901.
Four years after his first trial, without giving up, he took the exam again and, at the age of 32, he passed the military service examination.
In July 1953 he passed the final examinations for his doctorate, becoming doctor in Theology. Meanwhile, always under Söhngen's guidance, he chose the theme for the examination that needs to be passed in Germany to be admitted to lecturing.
Though he passed the county civil examination at age 20, Xu was never able to pass the provincial civil service examinations, even after attempting it eight times.
In 1929 he passed the Law Bar examination and in 1931 he received the university habilitation to teach labor law after he published his book «The trade unions association in public German law».
1996 I passed the examination as Tourist Guide for the provinces Novara and Verbano-Cusio-Ossola.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"He passed the examination, what surprised everybody"

This phrase is used to suggest that there is a question about what specifically surprised everyone, possibly referring to something other than passing the examination.

Show examples from the web [+]

He passed the examination, what surprised everybody
In 2015 he passed the examination as a real estate agent and became part of the Via dei Colli real estate team; he deals with the selling and buying customers, both Italian and foreign, as well as preparing estimates for the restructuring and coordinating the works.
A week later on the 28th of November he performed his first solo flight, while on the 20th of December 1967 with a flight experience of 20h34' and 195 landings, he passed the examination and obtained his private helicopter pilot licence.
In 1867, he passed the entry examinations and entered the Foochow Arsenal Naval School established by Shen Baozhen to study navigation.
He passed the CPA examination in 1971.
He passed the imperial examination in 1610 at the age of 28.
He studied in Yuelu Academy in Changsha Prefecture, where he passed the prefectural examination in 1833, only a year after his father, Zeng Linshu.
In 1921 he passed the bar examination and then worked as an assistant in the Reich Ministry of Justice.
In 1957 he passed the philosophical Final Examination.
After the legal clerkship in 2002 he passed the second state examination.
He passed the first state examination in the spring of 1783.
When he was barely twenty, he passed the Imperial examination with the highest rank of jìnshì (進士 "metropolitan graduate"), and spent the next several years in official positions.
1. In order to be authorized to navigate with the aid of radar, the boatmaster must hold a special attestation delivered by the competent authority as proof that he has passed the examination covering professional knowledge of the subjects referred to in Chapter B of Annex II.
He planned to achieve the status of Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons as soon as possible and, after having attended the fellowship course at Guy's Hospital in London, he passed the final examination on 10 December 1936.
After his officer training in Berlin-Lichterfelde (1886-1891), he passed the diplomatic examination (1890-1891) with the appointment as Secretary of the Imperial German Embassy in St. Petersburg and London (1891-1894).
He passed the competitive examination for entry to the Diplomatic Service in January 1899 and was posted as an attaché to Paris in October 1899, being promoted Third Secretary in January 1901.
Four years after his first trial, without giving up, he took the exam again and, at the age of 32, he passed the military service examination.
In July 1953 he passed the final examinations for his doctorate, becoming doctor in Theology. Meanwhile, always under Söhngen's guidance, he chose the theme for the examination that needs to be passed in Germany to be admitted to lecturing.
Though he passed the county civil examination at age 20, Xu was never able to pass the provincial civil service examinations, even after attempting it eight times.
In 1929 he passed the Law Bar examination and in 1931 he received the university habilitation to teach labor law after he published his book «The trade unions association in public German law».
1996 I passed the examination as Tourist Guide for the provinces Novara and Verbano-Cusio-Ossola.

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