What vs WHY

The phrases 'what' and 'why' are not directly comparable as they serve different purposes in a sentence. 'What' is used to ask about the identity or nature of something, while 'why' is used to ask about the reason or cause of something. Both are correct in their respective contexts.

Last updated: March 30, 2024 • 723 views

What

The word 'what' is a valid question word used to inquire about the identity or nature of something.

Use 'what' when you want to ask about the specific thing, action, or idea that is being referred to.

Examples:

What is your name?
What are you doing?
What do you want to eat?
What time is it?
What is the capital of France?

Show examples from the web [+]

What disgusting creatures human beings are.
What satisfaction for that rotten blackmailer.
What are you planning on blowing...
What really happened to Emily and why.
What was guarded at first soon becomes expansive.
What Romania needs is a saviour.
What we have learned has shaped our theology.
What the project is not standing.
What attacked Talyn was a Retrieval Squad.
What matters is that child deserves protection.
What the Blackfoot call their Dog Soldiers.
What we saw tonight was ridiculous.
What kills most people is unreal expectations.
What you said yesterday about answerswg questions...
What we need is leverage against Beck.
What I said yesterday was terrible.
What you did today was astonishing.
What you did tonight was inexcusable.
What your daughter Posted was slander.
What I've chosen for breakfast recently.

WHY

The word 'why' is a valid question word used to inquire about the reason or cause of something.

Use 'why' when you want to ask for the reason behind an action, decision, or situation.

Examples:

Why are you late?
Why did you choose that option?
Why is the sky blue?
Why do birds sing?
Why did the company decide to rebrand?

Show examples from the web [+]

There was no WHY in Auschwitz.
WHY? He's Mum's boyfriend.
[Loud kiss] MUST BE WHY I LOVE YOU.
SO, DID ANYONE EXPLAIN WHY HOTCH IS STEPPING DOWN?
WHY DID THE PERPETRATOR COME TO PRISON?
(laughter) I'M VERY SORRY, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY I'VE BEEN INCLUDED IN ZIS CARTOON.
! WHY do we TAKE their orders?
AND WHY WAS THIS SECRET KEPT?
I'll FIND OUT WHY, BY MAKING A FILM.
WHICH EXPLAINS WHY THINGS LOOK DIFFERENT.
DOES EX-CHlEF REIDACHER IKNOW WHY THE COLONEL DIED?
5. WHY A COMMUNITY APPROACH IN EXTERNAL AVIATION RELATIONS?
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY HIS BEST FRIEND WOULD BETRAY HIM.
DOES TRACY KNOW WHY YOU'RE ASKING HER?
REMIND ME WHY YOU'RE SHUCKED AND SILKY.
BUT WHY WOULD BETTY WANT TO KILL KENTUCKY?
WHY SHOULD YOU FEEL ANYTHING FOR THAT GUY?
WE GAVE HER ONE. WHY?
WHY ARE YOU STILL IN JAIL?
We're still not exactly sure WHY the dinosaurs disappeared, but certainly 65 million years ago, they disappear from the fossil record.

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