Quick Answer
What kind asks about one type of thing. What kinds asks about more than one type. Use “what kind” with a singular noun, like “What kind of car is that?” Use “what kinds” with plural nouns or when you expect several answers, like “What kinds of books do you like?” That is the whole difference, and it is easier than it looks. Keep reading for simple rules, examples, and a memory trick that will lock it in.
What Does “What Kind” Mean?
“What kind” is a question phrase you use when you want to know the type, sort, or category of one single thing. The word “kind” here means type, so “what kind of music” really means “what type of music.” It pairs with singular nouns or singular ideas.
Think of it this way. If a friend mentions “a movie” and you want to know which type, you ask one focused question:
- What kind of movie did you watch?
- What kind of coffee do you drink?
- What kind of dog is that?
In each case, you expect one answer: one movie type, one coffee type, one dog breed.
What Does “What Kinds” Mean?
“What kinds” is the plural form of the same question. You use it when you are asking about several types at once, or when the noun after it is plural. It opens the door to a list of answers instead of just one.
- What kinds of movies do you like?
- What kinds of plants grow in this garden?
- What kinds of skills do you need for that job?
Notice the difference in feel. “What kind of movie” points at one movie and asks for its type. “What kinds of movies” asks about your taste in general, so the answer could be a whole list: comedy, drama, and action.
Key Differences Between What Kind and What Kinds
This table gives you the fastest possible comparison of the two phrases.
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| What kind | Asks about one type (singular) | What kind of phone is this? |
| What kinds | Asks about several types (plural) | What kinds of phones are popular now? |
Correct Usage Rules for What Kind and What Kinds
These four simple rules cover almost every situation.
Rule 1: Match the noun. If the noun after “of” is singular, use “what kind.” If it is plural, use “what kinds.” “What kind of car” but “what kinds of cars.” The word after “of” tells you which one fits.
Rule 2: Match your expectation. Even without the word “of,” ask yourself if you expect one answer or many. “What kind of dessert should I order?” (one) versus “What kinds are on the menu?” (many). English is full of these small mix-ups, and even grammar spotlights like the to short vs too short article show how one tiny word changes the whole meaning.
Rule 3: Keep “kind” singular before singular nouns. “What kind of shoes” is wrong because “shoes” is plural. Say “what kinds of shoes.” This is the mistake people make most often.
Rule 4: In casual speech, “what kind” is often forgiven. Native speakers sometimes say “What kind of movies do you like?” in fast conversation. It is technically off, but nobody will be confused. Still, in writing, tests, and work emails, use the correct plural form.
15 Example Sentences
Read these out loud. The pattern will start to feel natural.
With “what kind” (singular):
- What kind of music do you play?
- What kind of job are you looking for?
- What kind of pizza should we order tonight?
- What kind of weather do you like best?
- What kind of person is your new teacher?
- What kind of phone do you use?
- What kind of tree is that in your yard?
- What kind of cake would you like for your birthday?
With “what kinds” (plural):
- What kinds of movies, such as comedy or horror, do you enjoy?
- What kinds of books did you read as a kid?
- What kinds of exercises are good for beginners?
- What kinds of fruit grow in your country?
- What kinds of games do your friends play?
- What kinds of jobs pay the best in this city?
- What kinds of plants can survive without much water?
For instance, if you are choosing between the two in a sentence, swap in “type” and “types” as a test. “What type of dog is that?” sounds right, so “what kind” is correct. “What types of dogs are common here?” sounds right, so “what kinds” is correct. You can find more natural phrasing ideas in the guide to other ways to say for instance.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: “What kind of movies do you like?” The noun “movies” is plural, so it should be “what kinds of movies do you like?” This is by far the most common error, and even fluent speakers make it.
Mistake 2: “What kinds of music do you like?” “Music” is uncountable and treated as singular here, so the natural question is “what kind of music do you like?” Watch out for uncountable nouns like music, weather, and information.
Mistake 3: Forgetting “of.” “What kind you like?” is incomplete. You need “what kind of thing” or at least “what kind” followed by the noun phrase.
Mistake 4: Mixing singular and plural in the same question. “What kinds of dog is that?” mixes plural “kinds” with singular “dog.” Pick one and stay consistent: “what kind of dog is that?” Just like the classic scrap or scrape confusion, the fix is simply slowing down and checking the words around your target word.
Memory Trick: Kind Is One, Kinds Is Many
Here is the trick: the “s” at the end of “kinds” means “more than one,” just like the “s” on the end of plural nouns such as “dogs” and “books.” No “s” means one. Add an “s” and you get many. Kind = one. Kinds = many.
Try it on a test sentence: “What ___ of animals live here?” Animals are many, so you need the “s” version: “What kinds of animals live here?” It works every time, and it is faster than memorizing a rule chart. These tiny singular versus plural traps show up everywhere in English, like the tricky trio in the witness vs witness’s vs witness’ guide, so this kind of quick check is worth building as a habit.
FAQs About What Kind vs What Kinds
1. Is “what kind of movies” wrong? Strictly speaking, yes. “Movies” is plural, so “what kinds of movies” is correct. In casual speech many native speakers still say “what kind,” and everyone understands it.
2. Can I use “what kind” without “of”? Yes, in short questions like “What kind do you want?” or “What kinds are available?” Just make sure the singular or plural still matches what you expect.
3. Is “what kinds of music” correct? It is not the natural choice. “Music” is uncountable, so use “what kind of music.” Reserve “what kinds” for plural countable nouns.
4. What about “what sort” and “what sorts”? The same rule applies. “What sort of film” is singular, and “what sorts of films” is plural. “Kind,” “sort,” and “type” all behave the same way.
5. Which one do native speakers use more? “What kind” is far more common overall, partly because it gets used (incorrectly) in plural spots too. “What kinds” appears most often in careful writing and formal questions.
6. Does it matter in exams like IELTS or TOEFL? Yes. Examiners notice subject and number agreement, so use “what kinds” with plural nouns in the writing and speaking sections.
7. Can I ask “what kind” about people? Yes. “What kind of person is she?” asks about personality or character. It is a normal, polite question.
8. Is “what kind” okay in a formal email? Yes. It is polite and correct in speech as well as when said in writing, for example: “What kind of schedule works best for you?”
Final Summary
What kind: use it when you ask about one type, with singular nouns.
What kinds: use it when you ask about several types, with plural nouns.
Remember the trick: the “s” in “kinds” stands for “many.” And if you want the full dictionary picture of the word itself, check Merriam-Webster’s definition of kind for extra senses and example uses.
