If you’ve ever paused before writing “What kind of books” or “What kinds of books,” you’re not alone. Both forms appear constantly in everyday English, yet they don’t always mean exactly the same thing. The difference becomes clearer when you look at what kind is doing in the sentence.
At its simplest, “what kind of” usually asks about a type or category treated as one general idea. “What kinds of” usually asks about several different types or categories. However, there’s an important wrinkle: “what kind of” can naturally come before plural nouns, especially in conversational American English.
For example, you might ask, “What kind of books do you like?” That doesn’t necessarily mean you like only one type of book. You could enjoy mysteries, biographies, fantasy, and history. The question treats “book” as a broad category.
Quick Answer
“What kind of” and “what kinds of” are both correct. The main difference is whether you’re treating the category as one general type or asking about multiple distinct types.
- What kind of = asks about a type, category, or variety in a general sense.
- What kinds of = asks about multiple types, categories, or varieties.
- What kind of can appear before singular, plural, or uncountable nouns, depending on context.
- What kinds of normally appears before a plural count noun or an uncountable noun when multiple varieties are being discussed.
Compare these examples:
What kind of music do you like?
This asks about your general taste in music.
What kinds of music do you like?
This emphasizes the different genres or varieties you enjoy.
Likewise:
What kind of books do you read?
This can ask generally about your reading preferences.
What kinds of books do you read?
This more strongly invites an answer involving several categories, such as mystery, science fiction, history, and romance.
So, don’t assume that “what kind of” must always be followed by a singular noun. Real English is more flexible than that.
Comparison Overview
| Expression | Main idea | Common noun pattern | Example |
| What kind of | One general type or category | Singular, plural, or uncountable | What kind of car do you drive? |
| What kind of | General category | Plural noun can occur naturally | What kind of books do you read? |
| What kinds of | Multiple types or categories | Usually plural count noun | What kinds of books do you read? |
| What kinds of | Several varieties | Uncountable noun can occur | What kinds of coffee are available? |
| Kind of | Somewhat or rather | Adjective/adverbial use | I’m kind of tired. |
| Kinds of | Multiple varieties or categories | Usually plural noun | There are many kinds of tea. |
The key distinction isn’t simply singular noun versus plural noun. It concerns the number of categories you have in mind.
That distinction explains why both “What kind of books?” and “What kinds of books?” can be grammatical.
Main Differences Between What Kind of vs. What Kinds of
The most useful way to understand what kind of vs. what kinds of is to focus on the word kind rather than automatically looking at the noun after of.
“What Kind of” Usually Refers to a General Type
When you say “what kind of,” you often want to identify the general nature, category, or type of something.
For example:
- What kind of car do you own?
- What kind of food do you like?
- What kind of music does she listen to?
- What kind of job are you looking for?
- What kind of weather do you prefer?
The expected answer might identify one category:
- “A hybrid car.”
- “Italian food.”
- “Classical music.”
- “A remote job.”
- “Cool, dry weather.”
However, the answer doesn’t have to contain only one item.
If someone asks:
What kind of books do you enjoy?
You might answer:
“I mostly read mysteries and historical fiction.”
The question uses singular kind, but the answer can mention several genres. The question frames books as a broad category rather than explicitly asking you to list multiple categories.
“What Kinds of” Emphasizes Multiple Categories
The plural kinds makes the idea of variety more explicit.
For example:
What kinds of books do you enjoy?
This wording naturally suggests that you may name several categories.
You could answer:
“I read mysteries, biographies, science fiction, and historical fiction.”
The plural form makes the range of possible categories more prominent.
Other examples include:
- What kinds of cars are popular in your area?
- What kinds of food does the restaurant serve?
- What kinds of jobs require this certification?
- What kinds of movies do you usually watch?
- What kinds of plants grow well indoors?
Here, the speaker is generally interested in multiple varieties.
The Following Noun Doesn’t Always Determine the Answer
A common mistake is assuming that kind must go with a singular noun and kinds must go with a plural noun.
English doesn’t work that neatly.
Consider:
What kind of books do you read?
This is perfectly natural.
Now consider:
What kinds of books do you read?
That is also perfectly natural.
The difference lies primarily in how the speaker conceptualizes the categories.
The first treats “books” as a broad subject. The second draws attention to the various types of books.
What Does “What Kind Of” Mean?
“What kind of” is a question phrase used to ask about the type, nature, category, or variety of something.
The noun kind means a type or category. The word of then connects that category to the thing being described.
For example:
What kind of animal is that?
You want to know its type or classification.
A possible answer is:
“It’s a fox.”
The same structure works in many situations:
- What kind of phone is that?
- What kind of coffee do you drink?
- What kind of person is he?
- What kind of exercise do you prefer?
- What kind of house are you looking for?
The phrase is especially useful when you want classification rather than identification.
Compare:
Which book do you want?
This asks you to identify a particular book.
What kind of book do you want?
This asks about the type of book you want.
That distinction is subtle but important.
“What Kind Of” With Singular Count Nouns
A singular count noun commonly follows what kind of.
Examples:
- What kind of car do you drive?
- What kind of dog do you have?
- What kind of movie is this?
- What kind of computer do you need?
- What kind of job do you want?
Here, the structure is straightforward:
what + kind + of + singular noun
The question usually asks about the category of one item.
“What Kind Of” With Uncountable Nouns
What kind of also works naturally with uncountable nouns.
Examples include:
- What kind of coffee do you want?
- What kind of advice do you need?
- What kind of information are you looking for?
- What kind of furniture do you prefer?
- What kind of music do you enjoy?
Words such as music, advice, information, furniture, and equipment don’t normally take ordinary plural forms in standard English.
So you wouldn’t normally say:
What kinds of advices do you need?
Instead, if you mean multiple varieties of advice, you can say:
What kinds of advice do you need?
Notice what happened. Kinds became plural because you’re discussing multiple types of advice. The word advice itself remains uncountable.
What Does “What Kinds Of” Mean?
“What kinds of” explicitly points toward more than one type, category, or variety.
The plural kinds tells the reader or listener that several classifications may be involved.
For example:
What kinds of restaurants do you like?
The question may invite answers such as:
- Mexican restaurants
- Italian restaurants
- Indian restaurants
- seafood restaurants
- vegetarian restaurants
The emphasis falls on different categories.
“What Kinds Of” With Plural Count Nouns
The most obvious pattern is:
what + kinds + of + plural noun
Examples:
- What kinds of cars are available?
- What kinds of books are popular?
- What kinds of animals live there?
- What kinds of jobs pay well?
- What kinds of flowers grow in this climate?
This construction works especially well when the speaker expects several possible categories.
Read More: Acception vs. Exception: Meaning, Difference, and Correct Usage
“What Kinds Of” With Uncountable Nouns
You can also use what kinds of with uncountable nouns when the meaning involves multiple varieties.
For example:
What kinds of coffee does this café sell?
Coffee is uncountable when referring to the substance or drink generally. However, coffee can have many varieties or types.
You might answer:
“They sell espresso, cold brew, decaf, and several single-origin coffees.”
Likewise:
What kinds of information are included in the report?
Here, information remains uncountable. Kinds indicates that the speaker is interested in different categories of information.
Can You Say “What Kind of” With a Plural Noun?
Yes. This is one of the most important points to remember.
You can naturally say:
- What kind of books do you read?
- What kind of shoes do you wear?
- What kind of movies do you like?
- What kind of games do you play?
- What kind of restaurants do you visit?
These aren’t automatically incorrect because books, shoes, movies, games, and restaurants are plural.
Why does this work?
Because kind can refer to the broader category represented by those plural objects.
Imagine walking into a shoe store and asking:
“What kind of shoes are you looking for?”
You’re not necessarily asking for one pair or one shoe type. You’re asking about the general style or category you want.
Perhaps the answer is:
“I’m looking for running shoes.”
The plural shoes refers to the general product category.
Now compare:
“What kinds of shoes do you sell?”
This sounds more like a request for a range of categories:
“We sell running shoes, hiking shoes, dress shoes, sandals, and boots.”
Both questions work. Their emphasis differs.
Why the Simple Singular-Plural Rule Doesn’t Work
A rule such as “kind = singular noun” and “kinds = plural noun” is too simplistic.
It may help beginners understand the basic concept, but it fails to explain natural English.
Consider these two questions:
What kind of movies do you like?
What kinds of movies do you like?
Both are grammatical.
The first can ask about your general movie preferences. The second more strongly highlights the different movie genres you enjoy.
That’s why meaning and context matter more than mechanical noun matching.
Can You Say “What Kinds of” With a Singular Noun?
Usually, “what kinds of + singular count noun” is not the normal construction when you mean several types of that noun.
For example:
What kinds of car do you want?
This sounds unnatural in standard English.
A natural version would be:
What kind of car do you want?
Or, if you’re asking about several cars or categories:
What kinds of cars do you want?
The plural forms work together naturally:
- what kind of car
- what kinds of cars
However, remember that uncountable nouns behave differently:
What kinds of coffee do you sell?
Here, coffee doesn’t need to become plural simply because kinds is plural.
What Kind of vs. What Kinds of With Uncountable Nouns
Uncountable nouns make this distinction particularly interesting.
Consider tea.
What kind of tea do you drink?
This asks about the general type of tea you prefer.
What kinds of tea do you sell?
This asks about several varieties.
The same pattern works with many other nouns:
| Uncountable noun | One general type | Multiple varieties |
| Coffee | What kind of coffee? | What kinds of coffee? |
| Music | What kind of music? | What kinds of music? |
| Food | What kind of food? | What kinds of food? |
| Information | What kind of information? | What kinds of information? |
| Advice | What kind of advice? | What kinds of advice? |
| Furniture | What kind of furniture? | What kinds of furniture? |
The important point is that kind and kinds describe the number of categories. They don’t necessarily describe the grammatical number of the noun after of.
What Kind of vs. What Kinds of in Questions
The choice becomes easier when you think about the answer you’re expecting.
When You Expect One General Category
Use what kind of when you’re asking for a general classification.
What kind of car do you drive?
Possible answer:
“I drive an electric car.”
Another example:
What kind of music do you like?
Possible answer:
“I like jazz.”
The answer identifies a general category.
When You Expect Several Categories
Use what kinds of when you’re inviting a range of categories.
What kinds of music do you like?
Possible answer:
“Jazz, blues, classical music, and folk.”
The question naturally opens the door to a broader list.
Context Can Make Either Form Appropriate
Suppose you’re interviewing someone about their reading habits.
You could ask:
What kind of books do you usually read?
This sounds casual and natural.
You could also ask:
What kinds of books do you usually read?
This sounds a little more focused on the range of genres.
Neither question is inherently wrong. The speaker simply chooses a different framing.
Common Mistakes With What Kind Of and What Kinds Of
These expressions cause several recurring errors.
Mistake: Assuming “What Kind Of” Always Needs a Singular Noun
This is probably the most common misconception.
Incorrect rule:
“What kind of” must always be followed by a singular noun.
Natural examples prove otherwise:
- What kind of books do you read?
- What kind of shoes do you prefer?
- What kind of movies do you watch?
The phrase can naturally precede plural nouns.
FAQs:
Is “what kind of” singular or plural?
Kind is singular in the phrase “what kind of.” However, the noun after of can be singular, plural, or uncountable depending on the sentence and intended meaning.
For example:
What kind of car do you drive?
and:
What kind of books do you read?
Both are natural.
Is “what kinds of” grammatically correct?
Yes. “What kinds of” is standard English when you want to ask about multiple types, categories, or varieties.
For example:
What kinds of movies do you enjoy?
The question suggests several possible movie categories.
Can “what kind of” be followed by a plural noun?
Yes. This construction is common and natural.
Examples include:
- What kind of shoes do you wear?
- What kind of books do you like?
- What kind of movies do you watch?
- What kind of restaurants do you prefer?
The plural noun doesn’t automatically require kinds.
What is the difference between “what kind of” and “what kinds of”?
“What kind of” generally presents something as one broad category or type. “What kinds of” emphasizes multiple distinct categories or varieties.
For example:
What kind of food do you like?
asks about your general food preference.
What kinds of food do you like?
can emphasize the different types of food you enjoy.
Which is correct: “What kind of books” or “What kinds of books”?
Both can be correct.
“What kind of books” often asks about a general category or preference.
“What kinds of books” more strongly emphasizes multiple categories.
The surrounding context determines which one fits better.
Conclusion:
The difference between “what kind of” and “what kinds of” is small on the surface but useful once you understand the underlying idea. What kind of usually asks about a general type, category, or variety. It can appear naturally before singular nouns, plural nouns, and uncountable nouns. What kinds of puts stronger emphasis on multiple categories or varieties. It commonly appears before plural count nouns and can also precede uncountable nouns when multiple types are involved.
