Both “what” and “such” are words we often use to express surprise, admiration, emphasis, or description. They can appear in exclamations, questions, and statements. Although they may sound similar in meaning, they have different grammatical rules and sentence structures. Understanding how to use each correctly will make your English sound more natural and expressive.
1. The Word “What”
a. Basic Function
The word “what” is a determiner, pronoun, or exclamative word. It is often used to ask about or emphasize the identity, nature, or kind of something.
b. Using “What” in Questions
When used in a question, “what” asks for specific information.
Structure:
👉 What + noun + verb … ?
Examples:
- What time is it?
- What color do you like best?
- What did you say?
- What kind of food do you prefer?
Here, “what” asks for details or information. It can be used before a noun (what time), by itself (what did you say?), or before a phrase (what kind of food).
c. Using “What” in Exclamations
“What” can also express strong emotion, such as surprise, admiration, or disappointment.
Structure:
👉 What + (a/an) + adjective + noun + (subject + verb)
Examples:
- What a beautiful day it is!
- What an amazing story you told!
- What kind of person would do that?
- What big eyes you have!
In these cases, “what” emphasizes the degree or quality of a noun. Notice that:
- We use “what a” before singular countable nouns (What a surprise!)
- We use “what” without “a” before plural or uncountable nouns (What beautiful flowers! / What terrible weather!)
d. “What” as a Pronoun in Statements
“What” can also act as a pronoun to mean “the thing(s) that.”
Examples:
- I don’t know what you mean.
- What you said made me laugh.
- She gave me what I wanted.
Here, “what” refers to something unspecified or unknown, connecting two parts of a sentence like a relative pronoun.
2. The Word “Such”
a. Basic Function
The word “such” is a determiner or pronoun that emphasizes quality, degree, or type. It usually modifies nouns and often means “of this kind” or “of that degree.”
b. Using “Such” to Emphasize a Noun
Structure:
👉 Such + (a/an) + adjective + noun
Examples:
- She is such a kind person.
- It was such an exciting movie!
- He told such funny stories.
- They live in such a beautiful house.
Here, “such” gives emphasis to the quality of the noun. It expresses strong emotion, similar to “very,” but with more emphasis.
Compare:
- It was a very nice day.
- It was such a nice day.
The second sentence feels more emotional or expressive.
c. Using “Such” without an Adjective
“Such” can also be used directly before a noun.
Examples:
- He is such a liar!
- Don’t be such a fool!
- She has such talent.
These examples express judgment or admiration about a person or thing.
d. Using “Such” in Exclamations
Like “what,” “such” is often used in exclamatory sentences to show surprise or emotion.
Structure:
👉 Such + (a/an) + adjective + noun + (that + clause)
Examples:
- Such a beautiful sunset!
- Such delicious food!
- It was such a good idea that everyone agreed.
Notice that “such” can also introduce a result clause with “that”:
- She spoke with such confidence that everyone listened carefully.
- It was such bad weather that we stayed inside all day.
3. Comparing “What” and “Such”
Although both express strong feelings, they differ in structure:
| Expression | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| What | What + (a/an) + adjective + noun | What a beautiful garden! |
| Such | Such + (a/an) + adjective + noun | Such a beautiful garden! |
The meanings are almost the same, but “what” begins an exclamation sentence, while “such” focuses more on describing the quality of the noun.
✅ More Comparison Examples:
- What a surprise! = Such a surprise!
- What an interesting book! = Such an interesting book!
- What beautiful flowers! = Such beautiful flowers!
Both are grammatically correct, but “what” often starts a full exclamation, while “such” sounds slightly more formal or descriptive.
4. Summary
| Use | “What” | “Such” |
|---|---|---|
| Question | What are you doing? | ❌ Not used in questions |
| Exclamation | What a nice dress! | Such a nice dress! |
| With uncountable/plural nouns | What beautiful music! | Such beautiful music! |
| With result clause | ❌ | Such good weather that we went out |
| As pronoun (meaning “the thing that”) | What you said was true. | ❌ |
✅ Final Tip:
Use “what” when you want to ask or exclaim about a specific thing or quality, and use “such” when you want to describe or emphasize the degree or kind of something.
Examples:
- What a nice day! (strong exclamation)
- It’s such a nice day! (emphasis in a statement)
Both words make your English more expressive and natural when used correctly.
