grammar question - which one is correct and WHY

What aspects do a proposal contain?
OR
What aspects does a proposal contain?

---

Posted by little j

What aspects does a proposal contain?

---

neither ... i think it should be:

WHICH aspects does a proposal contain?


ETA: i can't tell you why (i don't know)
ETA again: something about proposal being a single thing, which is why we use the word 'does' ('do' is for plurals)

What aspects does the proposal contain

Sounds weird, but subject of the verb does is proposal, which is singularl.

I'd still find another way to word it because it's awkward.

'What aspects are contained in the proposal?' eliminates the issue entirely, but are you sure you mean the word 'Contain?'

Edited to fix: Sorry, no idea where I got survey instead of proposal

---

Posted by AwaitingAugust

---

Posted by little j

What aspects does a proposal contain?

---

neither ... i think it should be:

WHICH aspects does a proposal contain?


ETA: i can't tell you why (i don't know)

---

That depends.

It would be WHAT aspects if we're asking in general, as in the answer could be anything.

'What is your favorite food?'

You would use WHICH if the choice is based on a limited number of factors 'Which do you prefer, red or blue?'


ETA: When using 'Which' they options don't have to be listed as I did above. A better example might be 'Which is your favorite food from Grand Luxe Cafe?' since there is a limit on the menu and it's a specific list of answers.

could you say 'What aspects SHOULD a proposal contain?'

just flows better.