'What' or 'that'?

Let's talk about then we use 'what' and 'that'. Sometimes we use 'what' to mean 'the thing(s) that'. This is very, very common in spoken English.

• I heard what you said. (= I heard the thing that you said.)
• She always does what she wants. (= She always does the things that she wants.)
• What you need is a cup of tea. (= The thing that you need is a cup of tea.)

If 'what' is the subject of a verb, the verb is singular.

• What she likes is books. (NOT: What she likes are books.)

But, if we use 'anything', 'nothing', 'something' or 'everything', we need to use 'that' and not 'what'.
 

• Take anything that you want.
• Her mother gave her everything that she needed.

Sometimes we use 'what' to mean 'the thing(s) that'. This is very, very common in spoken English.
 

• I heard what you said. (= I heard the thing that you said.)
• If 'what' is the subject of a verb, the verb is singular.
• What she likes is books. (NOT: What she likes are books.)

But, if we use 'anything', 'nothing', 'something' or 'everything', we need to use 'that' and not 'what'.
 

• Take anything that you want.
• Her mother gave her everything that she needed.

Let's review!
 

Put in 'that' or 'what'.

1. I have everything ______________________________ I want.
2. ______________________________ we need to do is talk more.
3. She bought nothing ______________________________ was useful.