Cool MateWhat are they vs What are those
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
What are they
Top 2,000 (common)
What are those
| What are they | What are those | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //wɒt ɑː ðeɪ//🇺🇸 //wʌt ɑr ðeɪ// | |
| Meaning | A question asking about a group of people or things. | |
| Example | What are they doing over there? | - |
| Register | Neutral | - |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | - |
| Collocations | what are they called, what are they thinking, what are they for | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'what is they' instead of 'what are they', Confusing with 'who are they' when asking about people, Not using it in questions, like making it a statement | - |
| Usage notes | Used in conversations when seeking to identify or gather information about a group. Avoid in formal writing, more appropriate in spoken contexts. | - |
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Frequently asked questions: What are they vs What are those
What's the difference between What are they and What are those?
What are they: A question asking about a group of people or things. What are those:
Can I use What are they and What are those interchangeably?
Not always. What are they and What are those are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.