What is it vs What is that vs What's that vs What's this

Quando usar cada um em inglês, com significado, registro e exemplos.

What is it

Top 2000 (comum)

What is that

Top 1000 (muito comum)

What's that

InformalTop 5000 (bastante comum)

What's this

Top 1000 (muito comum)
 What is itWhat is thatWhat's thatWhat's this
Pronúncia🇬🇧 //wɒt ɪz ɪt//🇺🇸 //wɑt ɪz ɪt//🇬🇧 //wɒt ɪz ðæt//🇺🇸 //wɑt ɪz ðæt//🇬🇧 //wɒts ðæt//🇺🇸 //wɑts ðæt//🇬🇧 //wɒts ðɪs//🇺🇸 //wɑts ðɪs//
SignificadoUma pergunta pedindo identificação ou explicação.A question asking for identification or explanation.Uma pergunta pedindo a identificação de algo.A question asking for identification of something.Uma pergunta sobre algo que você vê ou ouve.A question asking about something you see or hear.Uma pergunta sobre algo que você vê ou tem.A question asking about something you see or have.
ExemploLook at that! What is it?Look at that strange object! What is that?Look at that strange noise; what's that?When I saw the strange device on the table, I asked, 'What's this?'
RegistroNeutroNeutroInformalNeutro
Quão comumTop 2000 (comum)Top 1000 (muito comum)Top 5000 (bastante comum)Top 1000 (muito comum)
Colocaçõeswhat is it about, what is it for, can you tell me what it iswhat is that noise, what is that thing, what is that smellwhat's that sound?, what's that over there?, what's that doing?what's this about, what's this place, what's this doing here
Erros comunsOmitting 'is' (saying 'what it?'), Not using a question mark at the end, Using in inappropriate formal contextsOmitting 'that' (e.g. saying 'What is?'), Using in overly formal contexts, Incorrect intonation in questioningUsed in formal situations where a more polite inquiry is needed., Confused with 'what is that', which is more formal.Using it with a serious tone in formal situations., Confusing it with 'what is that' which can be seen as more formal.
Notas de usoUse na conversa do dia a dia ao pedir esclarecimento. Evite em escrita formal.Use in everyday conversation when asking for clarification. Avoid in formal writing.Usado para perguntar sobre algo desconhecido. Adequado na maioria dos contextos, especialmente na fala informal.Used to inquire about something unknown. Appropriate in most contexts, especially informal speech.Usado em conversas informais. Evite em ambientes formais ou na linguagem escrita, pois pode parecer muito íntimo.Used in casual conversation. Avoid in formal settings or written language, as it may seem too familiar.Use em situações informais quando quiser esclarecer algo sobre um objeto ou situação. Evite em contextos formais.Use in informal settings when you want clarification about an object or situation. Avoid in formal contexts.

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What is it
What is that
What's that
What's this

Perguntas frequentes: What is it vs What is that vs What's that vs What's this

Qual é a diferença entre What is it, What is that, What's that e What's this?

What is it: A question asking for identification or explanation. What is that: A question asking for identification of something. What's that: A question asking about something you see or hear. What's this: A question asking about something you see or have.

Pode mostrar um exemplo de cada?

What is it: Look at that! What is it? What is that: Look at that strange object! What is that? What's that: Look at that strange noise; what's that? What's this: When I saw the strange device on the table, I asked, 'What's this?'

Posso usar What is it, What is that, What's that e What's this de forma intercambiável?

Nem sempre. What is it, What is that, What's that e What's this são relacionadas e às vezes se sobrepõem, mas diferem em registro, frequência e uso, então trocar uma pela outra pode mudar o sentido ou o tom. Veja as diferenças acima antes de substituir.