what kind

• Fragewort-Phrase zur Bestimmung von Art, Kategorie, Beschaffenheit oder Qualität von etwas. Hinweis: 'What kind (of)' besteht aus dem Fragewort 'what', dem Substantiv 'kind' und optional der Präposition 'of'; in Verbindung mit Substantiven fungiert es als komplexe Bestimmungsphrase.

An interrogative determiner phrase used to ask about type, category, nature, or quality of something. Note: 'What kind (of)' is a phrase consisting of the interrogative determiner 'what' + the noun 'kind' + optional preposition 'of'. When used before nouns, it functions as a complex determiner phrase modifying those nouns to inquire about their classification or characteristics. This entry focuses on its determiner-like usage with nominal complements.

1. Interrogative determiner (type/category)A1formal

   Used before nouns to ask about the specific type, category, class, or variety of a person, thing, or concept.

   Interrogativdeterminativ (Art/Kategorie)

   • What kind of book do you enjoy reading?
   • What kind of person would do such a thing?
   • What kind of music is playing in the background?

2. Interrogative determiner (quality/characteristic)A2formal

   Used to inquire about the nature, quality, character, or distinguishing features of something, often implying evaluation or description.

   Interrogativdeterminativ (Beschaffenheit/Eigenschaft)

   • What kind of weather should we expect tomorrow?
   • What kind of impression did the interview make?
   • What kind of results are you hoping to achieve?

3. Pronominal usage (standalone inquiry)A1informal

   Used without a following noun (or with 'of' + implied noun) to ask about type or category when the noun is clear from context. (Note: This functions pronominally but is directly derived from the determiner phrase).

   Pronominale Verwendung (selbstständige Frage)

   • I need a new phone. What kind do you recommend?
   • She loves desserts. What kind does she like best?
   • What kind of problems are we talking about?

4. Indirect question usageB1formal

   Used to introduce a noun clause that reports a question about type or category, functioning as the object of verbs like 'know', 'ask', 'wonder', 'decide'.

   Verwendung in indirekten Fragen

   • I can't decide what kind of car to buy.
   • Do you know what kind of person he is?
   • She asked what kind of support we could provide.

5. Exclamatory or emphatic useB2informal

   Used in exclamations or rhetorical questions to express surprise, disapproval, or emphasis regarding the nature or type of something.

   Ausrufender oder verstärkender Gebrauch

   • What kind of nonsense is this?
   • What kind of friend would betray you like that?
   • What kind of world are we leaving for our children?