❶何, どんなもの[こと]; (値段が)いくら (how much)
What is this?.
♔基本What is this? .
これは何ですか.
✓POINT
This is what. (これは「何」である)が疑問文になって Is this what? さらに what が文頭に出て What is this? となる.
What is her name?—It's Sylvia.
会話What is her name?—It's Sylvia.
彼女の名前は何というのですか.—(彼女の名前は)シルビアです.
What is your address [phone number]?
What is your address [phone number]?
君の住所はどこ[電話番号は何番]ですか.
What is your father?—He's a teacher.
会話What is your father?—He's a teacher.
君のお父さんは何をしている人ですか.—父は教師です.
✓POINT
上の会話例は「職業・身分」を聞く時の言い方. ただし, What is your father's job? または What does your father do? というほうがふつう.
who ❶
What is the time [the date]?
What is the time [the date]?
今何時[きょうは何日]ですか.
What is the price of this dictionary?
What is the price of this dictionary?
この辞書の値段はいくらですか.
What's the weather like in New York?
What's the weather like in New York?
ニューヨークのお天気はどうですか.
文法 ちょっとくわしく
この what は like (前置詞)の目的語.
The weather is like what in New York. (お天気はニューヨークでは「どのようで」ある)が疑問文になって Is the weather like what New York? さらに what が文頭に出て What is the weather like in New York? となる.
What is this? Do you know what this is?—Yes, I do. It's a panda.
会話What is this? Do you know what this is? —Yes, I do. It's a panda.
これは何だ? 君はこれが何だか知っていますか.—ええ, 知っています. パンダです.
✓POINT
What is this? は文の一部に組み入れられると what this is の語順になる.
What do you think this is?—I think it's a kind of shark.
会話What do you think this is?—I think it's a kind of shark.
君はこれが何だと思いますか.—サメの一種だと思います.
⦣ Yes, No の答えを求めない疑問文の場合はこの語順になる. 前例との違ちがいに注意.
❷何を
What do you have?
♔基本What do you have?
君は何を持っているのですか.
✓POINT
You have what. (君は「何」を持っている)が疑問文になって Do you have what? さらに what が文頭に出て What do you have? となる.
What does your father do?—He works for a bank.
会話What does your father do?—He works for a bank.
君のお父さんは何をしていらっしゃるのですか.—銀行に勤めています.
What can I do for you?
What can I do for you?
(店員などが「あなたのために私は何ができますか」)何かご用ですか; 何を差し上げましょうか.
⦣ Can I help you? ともいう.
What do you think of this movie?
What do you think of this movie?
この映画をどうお考えですか.
⦣ ×How do you think ~? としない.
What are you reading, Bob?—Sorry. What did you say?
会話What are you reading, Bob?—Sorry. What did you say?
ボブ, 何を読んでいるの.—すみません. 今何ておっしゃったのですか.
⦣ 親しい友人などには単に What? ともいう.
I know what you're going to say.—What?—That's what!
会話I know what you're going to say.—What?—That's what!
ぼく君が何て言おうとしているか知ってるよ.—何だ?—「何だ」だよ.
⦣ 子供たちの言葉遊びの1つ.
You are what you do, not what you say.
You are what you do, not what you say.
君(にとって大事なこと)は何をするかであって, 何を言うかではない[言葉よりも行動が大事だ].
I didn't know what to do.
I didn't know what to do.
私は何をすべきか[どうしていいか]わからなかった.
❹関係代名詞として(~する)もの[こと], (~である)もの[こと]
what I want
what I want
私が欲ほしいもの
what happened after that
what happened after that
その後で起こった事
This is what I want.
This is what I want.
これは私が欲しいものです.
I don't believe what he says.
I don't believe what he says.
私は彼の言うことを信じない.
You don't have to be afraid of what you are.
You don't have to be afraid of what you are.
君は(自分がそうであるところのもの)自分というものを不安に思う必要はない.
What I want is freedom.
What I want is freedom.
私が欲しいものは自由だ.
What he said is true.
What he said is true.
彼が言ったことは本当だ.
What I like best is fishing.
What I like best is fishing.
僕ぼくが一番好きなことは魚釣つりです.
What happened after that was very interesting.
What happened after that was very interesting.
その後起きた事はとてもおもしろかった.