Meaning
‘Which way‘ is a common way to ask someone for directions regarding location or in the direction that something faces. Also, ‘which way‘ can be used to ask about the best approach or method of doing something. Knowing how to use ‘which‘ in a question means thinking about how much you already know.
Today’s Sentences
- Which way does the sun set?
- Which way does the room face?
- Which way is the storm moving?
- Which way do I go to get to the subway?
- Which way do I go to look at winter jackets?
- Writer’s Note
01
Which way does the sun set?
Situation 1
Can I ask you a random question?
Of course.
Which way does the sun set?
From what I know, it rises in the east and sets in the west.
Situation 2
Which way does the sun set?
It sets in the west, doesn’t it?
What part of the city is west?
I think it’s that side of town.
02
Which way does the room face?
Situation 1
Here are the key cards to your room.
Thank you.
May I ask, which way does the room face?
It’s south facing.
Great, thank you.
Situation 2
Which was does this room face?
We’re in the living room and it faces east.
Is it true that you get sun streaming through first thing in the morning?
Absolutely!
And you’ve got really tall windows to get all that light in.
It’s a beautiful home.
03
Which way is the storm moving?
Situation 1
Have you been keeping up with the news?
No, I haven’t.
Which way is the storm moving?
The current radars show it heading west.
Gosh, I hope it passes without any devastation.
Situation 2
Which way is the storm moving?
The winds are blowing east but the storm is heading west.
That’s crazy.
I hope the storm loses momentum.
04
Which way do I go to get to the subway?
Situation 1
Excuse me, which way do I go to get to the subway?
Go down this road and turn left.
You’ll see the stairs that lead to the subway.
Thank you so much.
No problem!
Situation 2
Which way do I go to get to the subway?
It’s really close-by.
Take a right at that 4-way stop and you’ll see the station.
Perfect.
Thanks for your help.
You’re welcome.
Have a nice day.
05
Which way do I go to look at winter jackets?
Situation 1
Excuse me, which way do I go to look at winter jackets?
Winter jackets should be near the back of the store.
Great, thanks!
No problem.
Situation 2
Do you need any help today?
Yes, which way do I go to look at winter jackets?
We just changed the layout of the store.
Winter jackets are on the left wall over there.
Thanks for your help.
Writer’s Note
Here are some expressions using, ‘which way‘, that can be used to ask about the best approach or method of doing something.
- Which way is the best way to sleep?
- Which way is the best way to cook salmon?
- Which way is the best way to pack a suitcase?
- Which way is the best way to invest your money?
- Which way is the best way to lay laminate flooring?
What vs. Which
Use ‘what‘ when there are lots of possible options or when you don’t know how many options there are.
- What are you plans for the weekend?
- What is your favorite color?
- I didn’t hear what you said.
- Do you know what time it is?
- What did you eat for dinner?
In contrast, ‘which‘ indicates there are fewer possible options. You already know that the answer is one of two things or one of a few things. Using it indicates you have some background information before asking the question.
- Which hand do you wear your watch?
- Which part of the book was your favorite?
- Which set of cutlery do you use first?
- I don’t know which pair of shoes to wear.
- How do you know which seeds will grow?
Super Duper Secret!
If you’re unsure if you should use ‘which‘, try adding the words ‘of your‘ or ‘of‘ and another pronoun right after it. If it works, ‘which‘ is the correct choice. Try it out!
