The difference between “what kind of” and “what kinds of” is mainly about singular and plural nouns. Use what kind of when asking about one type or category and use what kinds of when asking about multiple types or categories. Both expressions are grammatically correct.
For example, you can ask, “What kind of music do you like?” when asking about a general type of music. You can also ask, “What kinds of music do you like?” when asking about several types or categories. In everyday English, however, the distinction can be flexible because kind of is sometimes used with plural nouns when the speaker is asking about a category generally. Understanding the difference helps you write clearer questions and choose the form that best matches your intended meaning.
Quick Answer: What Kind of vs What Kinds of?
Use what kind of when referring to one type, category or variety. Use what kinds of when referring to multiple types or categories. For example, “What kind of book do you want?” asks about one type, while “What kinds of books do you enjoy?” asks about several types.
Why Do People Confuse “What Kind Of” and “What Kinds Of”?
The confusion happens because kind can be used in both singular and plural forms and English speakers sometimes use the singular expression in a broad or general way.
Compare:
- What kind of food do you like?
- What kinds of food do you like?
Both questions can be natural, but they can suggest slightly different meanings.
The first question tends to treat food as a general category and asks what type or style the person prefers.
The second question more clearly suggests that the speaker is interested in multiple types of food.
Another important point is that the noun after kind of or kinds of can be singular or plural depending on the structure.
For example:
- What kind of book is this?
- What kinds of books do you read?
The number of kind/kinds usually helps show whether the speaker is focusing on one category or several.
What Kind Of: Meaning and Usage
What kind of is used to ask about a type, category, variety, or nature of something.
The basic pattern is:
What kind of + noun + …?
Asking About One Type
Use what kind of when you want to identify one type or category.
Example:
What kind of car do you drive?
The question asks about the type or category of car.
Another example:
What kind of food is this?
The speaker wants to know what type of food it is.
Asking About a General Preference
What kind of is also very common when asking about someone’s general preference.
Examples:
- What kind of music do you like?
- What kind of books do you read?
- What kind of movies do you enjoy?
- What kind of job are you looking for?
Even though a person may like several types of music or books, the singular kind is very common when the question treats the subject as a general category.
“What Kind of” With Uncountable Nouns
The singular form is especially natural with uncountable nouns.
Examples:
- What kind of music do you like?
- What kind of advice did he give you?
- What kind of information do you need?
- What kind of water is this?
You would not normally make these uncountable nouns plural simply because you are asking about different varieties.
What Kinds Of: Meaning and Usage
What kinds of is the plural form. It is useful when you are clearly asking about several types, categories, or varieties.
The basic pattern is:
What kinds of + plural noun + …?
Asking About Multiple Types
Use what kinds of when you expect or want several answers.
Example:
What kinds of books do you read?
Possible answers might include:
- novels
- biographies
- mysteries
- history books
The plural kinds emphasizes variety.
Asking About Several Categories
You can also use it when discussing different categories.
Example:
What kinds of problems can this software solve?
The question suggests that there are several types of problems.
Another example:
What kinds of skills are required for this job?
This asks about multiple skills or categories of skills.
What Kind Of vs What Kinds Of: Comparison Table
| Expression | Main Use | Typical Noun | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| What kind of | One type or general category | Singular or uncountable noun | What kind of book do you want? |
| What kind of | General preference | Singular/uncountable noun | What kind of music do you like? |
| What kinds of | Multiple types | Usually plural noun | What kinds of books do you read? |
| What kinds of | Several categories | Usually plural noun | What kinds of jobs are available? |
The simplest rule is:
kind = one type
kinds = multiple types
However, natural English sometimes allows what kind of to refer to a broad category even when several varieties could be included.
When Should You Use “What Kind Of”?
Use what kind of when you are asking about one type, category, or general nature.
For One Specific Type
What kind of phone is this?
You are asking the type or category of one phone.
For General Preferences
What kind of music do you enjoy?
This is a natural way to ask about someone’s general taste.
With Uncountable Nouns
What kind of advice do you need?
Advice is uncountable, so what kind of advice is natural.
When Identifying Something
What kind of animal is that?
You want to identify the animal’s type or category.
When Should You Use “What Kinds Of”?
Use what kinds of when you want to emphasize several different types or categories.
For Multiple Types
What kinds of books are available?
The question suggests several types of books.
For Multiple Categories
What kinds of jobs are suitable for beginners?
This asks about different categories of jobs.
When Expecting Several Examples
What kinds of activities do children enjoy?
The answer may include sports, games, drawing, reading, and other activities.
When Discussing Variety
What kinds of food are popular in this region?
The plural emphasizes different varieties of food.
20 Examples of What Kind Of and What Kinds Of
- What kind of music do you like?
- What kind of car does she drive?
- What kind of books do you enjoy?
- What kind of food do you prefer?
- What kind of job are you looking for?
- What kind of movie is this?
- What kind of information do you need?
- What kind of person is he?
- What kind of computer do you use?
- What kind of weather do you prefer?
- What kinds of books do you read?
- What kinds of movies do you enjoy?
- What kinds of jobs are available?
- What kinds of activities do you recommend?
- What kinds of food can we prepare?
- What kinds of problems can occur?
- What kinds of skills do employers want?
- What kinds of animals live in this area?
- What kinds of courses are offered at the university?
- What kinds of changes would you like to see?
These examples show that both expressions are useful. The choice depends largely on whether you want to emphasize one category or multiple categories.
Common Mistakes With What Kind Of and What Kinds Of
Mistake 1: Always Using “Kinds”
Some learners think that because there can be many possible answers, they must always use kinds.
That is not necessary.
For example:
What kind of music do you like?
This is perfectly natural even though there are many types of music.
Mistake 2: Always Using “Kind”
The opposite mistake is using kind when you clearly want to emphasize several distinct categories.
For example:
What kinds of books are included in the library?
This is natural when asking about several categories of books.
Mistake 3: Forgetting the Plural Noun
When using kinds of to refer to several categories, the noun after of is normally plural.
Natural:
What kinds of books do you read?
Less natural for the intended meaning:
What kinds of book do you read?
Mistake 4: Confusing “Kind Of” With “Kind”
In informal English, kind of can also mean somewhat or rather.
Example:
I am kind of tired.
Here, kind of does not mean “type of.”
Compare:
What kind of music do you like?
Here, kind of means “what type of.”
Memory Trick: Kind = One, Kinds = More Than One
A simple memory trick is:
KIND = one type
KINDS = more than one type
Think of these examples:
What kind of book is this?
One book, one category.
What kinds of books do you read?
Several types of books.
You can also remember:
Singular → kind
Plural → kinds
This rule works well in many straightforward situations.
American vs British English
Both what kind of and what kinds of are used in American and British English.
There is no major American-British difference in the basic grammar of these expressions.
Examples:
American English:
What kind of music do you like?
British English:
What kind of music do you like?
Both varieties also use the plural form:
What kinds of books do you read?
The main difference is not regional. It is the meaning and emphasis the speaker wants to communicate.
Similar Expressions
Several expressions can be used when asking about types or categories.
What Type Of
What type of is very similar to what kind of.
What type of computer do you use?
What Sort Of
What sort of is common in both British English and other varieties.
What sort of music do you enjoy?
What Variety Of
What variety of is useful when discussing different forms or varieties of something.
What variety of apple is this?
Which Kind Of
Which kind of is used when choosing from known possibilities.
Which kind of tea would you like?
Which Types Of
Which types of asks someone to choose among several categories.
Which types of books are most useful for beginners?
What Is the Difference Between “What Kind Of” and “What Type Of”?
In many contexts, what kind of and what type of have nearly the same meaning.
For example:
What kind of computer do you need?
and:
What type of computer do you need?
Both ask about the category or type of computer.
What kind of is often more natural in everyday conversation, while what type of can sound slightly more formal or precise in some contexts.
What Is the Difference Between “What Kind Of” and “What Sort Of”?
What sort of is also very close in meaning to what kind of.
For example:
What kind of person is she?
and:
What sort of person is she?
Both ask about the person’s characteristics or nature.
The choice can depend on regional preference, style, and context.
Final Verdict: What Kind Of vs What Kinds Of
Both what kind of and what kinds of are correct.
Use what kind of when you are asking about one type, one category, or a general category:
What kind of music do you like?
Use what kinds of when you want to emphasize several types or categories:
What kinds of music do you enjoy?
In everyday English, what kind of is very common even when the possible answer could include several varieties. Therefore, the distinction is not always a strict grammatical rule. The plural form is especially useful when you want to clearly emphasize variety or multiple categories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it “what kind of” or “what kinds of”?
Both are correct. Use what kind of for one type or a general category, and what kinds of when emphasizing multiple types or categories.
Is “What kind of books do you read?” correct?
Yes. What kind of books do you read? is natural English. Here, kind refers broadly to the category or type of books the person reads.
Is “What kinds of books do you read?” correct?
Yes. This version is also correct and places more emphasis on the possibility of several different types of books.
What is the difference between kind and kinds?
Kind is singular and refers to one type or category. Kinds is plural and refers to multiple types or categories.
Can “what kind of” be used with plural nouns?
Yes. In natural English, what kind of can be used with plural nouns when asking about a general category or preference.
Example:
What kind of books do you like?
Which is more common: “what kind of” or “what kinds of”?
What kind of is very common in everyday English because it can ask about a general category or preference. What kinds of is useful when emphasizing multiple varieties or categories.
Is “what type of” the same as “what kind of”?
They are very similar. Both can ask about a category or type. What kind of is especially common in everyday conversation.
Remember This
- What kind of = one type or a general category
- What kinds of = multiple types or categories
- Kind is singular.
- Kinds is plural.
- What kind of music do you like? is natural.
- What kinds of books do you read? emphasizes variety.
- Both forms are grammatically correct.
- What type of and what sort of are common related expressions.
Conclusion
The difference between what kind of and what kinds of is mainly about whether you want to focus on one type or multiple types. What kind of is commonly used for a general category, a specific type or a broad question about someone’s preferences. What kinds of emphasizes several different categories or varieties.
However, English speakers do not always follow a strict singular versus plural rule with these expressions. For example, “What kind of books do you read?” is completely natural even though the noun books is plural. The important point is the meaning and emphasis of the question. Use kind for a general or singular category and kinds when you want to highlight variety.
