We use _wat_:
- to refer to a whole phrase: "It is raining, which makes her sad"
- without an antecedent (or to refer to an invisible [_dat_](#/lesson/Pronouns.De03)): "[That] what goes around, comes around"
- to refer to [alles](#/lesson/Pronouns.Id03) (everything, all), [iets & niets](#/lesson/Pronouns.Id06) (something and nothing), _or weinig_ (little, few).
- to refer to an independent [indefinite pronouns](#/lesson/Pronouns.Id01) or [adjective](#/lesson/AdverbsAndAdjectives.01), e.g. _het enige, het mooie_ (the beautiful thing), _het grootste_ (the biggest thing).
_Wat_ referring to a whole phrase
When we refer to a whole phrase, we always use _wat:_
Het gaat deze zomer veel regenen, wat slecht nieuws is voor de toeristische sector. | It is going to rain a lot this summer, which is bad news for the tourist industry.
Ze letten goed op hun gezondheid, wat niet betekent dat ze nooit eens patat eten. | They look after their health, which does not mean that they never have fries.
_Wat_ without antecedent
Just like in English, we can use _wat_ without an antecedent. You could say that it refers to an invisible [_dat_](#/lesson/Pronouns.De03).
[dat] Wat ze zei, was zeer schokkend. | [that] What she said was very shocking.
[dat] Wat we vergaten, was dat er een uur tijdsverschil was. | [that] What we didn't remember was that there was an hour time difference.
_Wat_ referring to _alles, iets, niets,_ or _weinig_
Dat is iets wat ik me nog goed kan herinneren. | That is something that I recall very well.
Is dat alles wat je hebt gedaan? | Is that all that you have done?
Ik heb niets gevonden wat het probleem kan verklaren. | I have not found anything that could explain the problem.
Er is maar weinig wat ik niet lust! | There are only very few things that I do not like (to eat).
_Wat_ referring to independent indefinite pronouns and adjectives
In English, adjectives are normally linked to a noun or pronoun. That is why we add 'thing' to the English translation.
It is also acceptable to use 'dat', just like in English. However, there is a strong preference for 'wat'.
Het laatste wat ik me kan herinneren, is dat ik tegen die auto aanbotste. | The last thing that I can recall is that I collided with that car.
Het eerste wat ze na de wedstrijd zei was dat ze honger had. | The first thing that she said after the match was that she was hungry.
Dat is het enige wat ze zei. | That is the only thing that she said.
Dat was wel het vreemdste wat we ooit hadden meegemaakt. | That really was the weirdest (that) thing we ever experienced.
Dat is het minste wat je van ze mag verwachten. | That is the least that you could expect from them.
_Wat_ turning into _waar_
If _wat_ is preceded by a preposition, it turns into a [pronominal adverb](#/lesson/Pronouns.Ad02): We substitute _wat_ for _waar_ and let the preposition follow after it.
preposition + wat | | waar +preposition
Het gaat deze zomer veel regenen, waar we niet blij mee zijn. | It is going to rain a lot this summer, which we are not happy with.
Ze letten goed op hun gezondheid, waar ze op de lange termijn voor zullen worden beloond. | They look after their health, which they will be rewarded for on the long run.
_Wat_ without an antecedent (see above) never turns into a pronominal adverb.