1. Interrogative Pronoun:
* Asking a question: This is the most common use. "What" seeks information about something unknown or unspecified.
* Example: "What did you eat for breakfast?"
2. Relative Pronoun:
* Introducing a relative clause: "What" acts as the subject or object of a relative clause, which provides additional information about a noun.
* Example: "The book what I borrowed is missing." (Less common; "which" is more typical in this case.)
* Example: "I know what you mean."
3. Exclamatory Pronoun:
* Expressing surprise or strong emotion: "What" can stand alone or with other words to express a sense of amazement or disbelief.
* Example: "What! You're leaving already?"
4. Other uses:
* As part of a compound pronoun: "Whatever" and "whatsoever" act as pronouns.
* Example: "Whatever you choose will be fine."
* In idioms and expressions: "What have you got?" "What's the matter?"
Important Notes:
* "What" is often used with other words, such as "is," "are," "was," "were," "do," "does," "did," etc.
* It's crucial to understand the context to determine the function of "what" in a sentence.
Let me know if you'd like examples of any specific use of "what."