A what是一个指事物的疑问词：
What bird is that？
那是什么鸟？
What makes that noise？
什么发出的噪音？
What country do you come from？
你是哪国人？
What did he say？
他说了什么？
B whatfor？意为为何：
What did you do that for？等于：
Why did you do that？
你为何做那事？
C what＋belike？需要他们进行描述，可以用于人或物：
What was the exam like？
It was very difficult．
这次考试如何？
难极了。
What was the weather like？
It was very windy．
天气如何？
风非常大。
Whats the food like in your hostel1？
Its quite good．
你们学生公寓的伙食如何？
还很好。
用于人时，既可指人的外表，也可指人的性格特点、品质：
Hes short and fat and wears glasses．
他个子不高，非常胖，戴眼镜。
Hes a very talkative，friendly man．
他是一个很健谈、和善的人。
what does he／she／it look like？仅指外表，也表示他／她／它像哪个（什么）：
What does she look like？
She is tall and glamorous2．She looks like a film star．
她长什么样儿？
她个子非常高，非常有魔力。看起来像个电影明星。
What does it look like？
Its black and shiny．It looks like coal．
它看起来什么样？
它黑而亮，看起来像煤。
D what is he？表示他从事什么职业：
What is his father？
He is a tailor．
他爸爸是做什么的？
他是个裁缝。
what作形容词时可用于指人，但不容易见到：What students are you talking about？（你们在谈论什么学生？）这种使用方法是可以的，但用Which students？时较为容易见到。
E what和how用于有关度量等的提问中
what主要与这类名词连用为what＋age／depth／height／length／ width，但在口语中用how old／deep／high／tall／long／wide？结构。在需要准确的回答时用what size／weight？结构，尽管也可用how big／heavy？结构：
What age are you？／What is your age？／How old are you？
你多大年龄？
What height is he？／What is his height？／How tall is he？
他有多高？
What is the weight of the parcel？／How heavy is it？
包裹有多重？
What size do you take in shoes？
你穿多大号的鞋？
