What Kind of vs What Kinds of

When you’re asking about types, categories, or varieties, you may wonder whether to say “what kind of” or “what kinds of.” Both expressions are grammatically correct, but they are used in slightly different situations. The main difference is whether you are talking about one type or multiple types. For example, “What kind of music do you like?” asks about a general type of music, while “What kinds of music do you listen to?” suggests several types or genres.

The confusion often comes from the fact that kind is a countable noun, so it can be singular or plural. However, native speakers sometimes use the singular form when discussing a category in a broad or general sense. Understanding this distinction will help you choose the natural expression in everyday conversations, formal writing, questions, and English exams.

Quick Answer

Use “what kind of” when asking about one type or a general category: “What kind of food do you like?” Use “what kinds of” when asking about multiple types or varieties: “What kinds of food are available?” Both are correct; the context determines which sounds natural.

Why People Confuse It

The phrases what kind of and what kinds of look almost identical, and both can introduce a noun.

The difference is simply the number of categories being discussed:

• What kind of + singular/uncountable noun → one type or a general category
• What kinds of + plural noun → multiple types or varieties

For example:

• What kind of car do you drive?
• What kinds of cars are popular in your city?

The first question focuses on the type of car. The second asks about several categories of cars.

There is another reason this can feel confusing: “kind of” also has an informal meaning similar to “somewhat” or “rather,” as in “I’m kind of tired.” That meaning is different from the noun phrase discussed in this article.

First Word: “What Kind Of”

“What kind of” is generally used when you are asking about one type, category, or variety.

It is especially common with singular countable nouns and uncountable nouns.

Examples

• What kind of book are you reading?
• What kind of car do you want?
• What kind of music do you enjoy?
• What kind of job are you looking for?
• What kind of coffee do you prefer?

Notice that uncountable nouns such as music, coffee, advice, and furniture do not normally need a plural form.

You can also use what kind of when the question is broad rather than literally limited to one specific item.

For example:

What kind of music do you like?

The speaker is not necessarily asking you to name only one song or genre. They are asking about your general musical preference.

Singular Countable Nouns

When kind is singular, a singular countable noun usually follows it:

What kind of phone do you use?

What kind of restaurant should we try?

What kind of dog is that?

Second Word: “What Kinds Of”

“What kinds of” is used when you are asking about more than one type, category, or variety.

Because kinds is plural, it commonly appears with plural countable nouns.

Examples

• What kinds of books do you read?
• What kinds of cars are sold here?
• What kinds of foods are popular in this region?
• What kinds of jobs are available?
• What kinds of games do children play?

The plural form emphasizes variety.

For instance:

What kinds of books do you enjoy?

This could invite an answer such as:

I enjoy mystery novels, biographies, science fiction, and historical fiction.

The question suggests that several categories may be relevant.

Comparison Table

Expression	Main use	Common noun pattern	Example
What kind of	One type or general category	Singular or uncountable noun	What kind of music do you like?
What kinds of	Multiple types or varieties	Usually plural noun	What kinds of music do you listen to?
This kind of	One type/category	Singular or uncountable noun	I like this kind of food.
These kinds of	Multiple types/categories	Usually plural noun	These kinds of foods are healthy.
That kind of	One particular type	Singular or uncountable noun	I don’t like that kind of behavior.
Those kinds of	Several types	Usually plural noun	I avoid those kinds of situations.

The important point is not simply whether the noun after “of” is singular or plural. You should first consider whether you mean one category or several categories.

When to Use Each

Use “what kind of” for one type

Choose what kind of when the question focuses on one category.

• What kind of car do you have?
• What kind of person is he?
• What kind of exercise do you prefer?
• What kind of food should we order?

Use “what kinds of” for multiple types

Choose what kinds of when you expect several categories in the answer.

• What kinds of cars are available?
• What kinds of exercise do you do?
• What kinds of food are served?
• What kinds of books does the library have?

A useful comparison

Consider these two questions:

What kind of food do you like?

This sounds like a question about your general preference.

What kinds of food do you like?

This more strongly suggests that you like several different varieties.

Both can be correct. The difference is mainly focus and number, rather than a completely different meaning.

Examples: What Kind of vs What Kinds of

Here are more examples to make the distinction clear.

1. Music

What kind of music do you listen to?

This asks about your general musical preference.

What kinds of music do you listen to?

This emphasizes different genres or varieties.

2. Books

What kind of book are you looking for?

You may be searching for one particular type.

What kinds of books do you enjoy?

You are asking about several types of books.

3. Cars

What kind of car does Sarah drive?

The question asks about Sarah’s car type.

What kinds of cars are popular in your country?

The question asks about multiple categories of cars.

4. Movies

What kind of movie do you want to watch?

This usually means, “Which type of movie should we choose?”

What kinds of movies do you enjoy?

This asks about multiple movie genres.

5. Jobs

What kind of job are you looking for?

This asks about one general career category.

What kinds of jobs are available in this field?

This asks about multiple employment possibilities.

6. Food

What kind of food do you like?

This asks about general food preference.

What kinds of food are served at the restaurant?

This asks about different varieties available.

7. Questions

What kind of question is that?

You are identifying one category.

What kinds of questions might appear on the test?

You are asking about several categories.

8. Problems

What kind of problem are you having?

The speaker is asking you to identify the problem category.

What kinds of problems can this software solve?

The speaker is asking about several types of problems.

9. Animals

What kind of animal is a dolphin?

You are identifying one classification.

What kinds of animals live in this forest?

You are asking about different species or groups.

10. People

What kind of person is your teacher?

This asks about personality or character.

What kinds of people enjoy this activity?

This asks about different groups of people.

11. Clothes

What kind of clothes do you usually wear?

This asks about your general style or clothing category.

What kinds of clothes are suitable for winter?

This asks about multiple clothing types.

12. Questions in conversation

What kind of questions should I ask?

This can mean, “What category of questions would be appropriate?”

What kinds of questions should I prepare for?

This emphasizes several possible categories.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using “what kinds of” with a singular noun

Incorrect or awkward:

What kinds of car do you want?

Better:

What kind of car do you want?

Or, if discussing several categories:

What kinds of cars do you want to consider?

Mistake 2: Assuming “what kind of” is always singular

The expression what kind of can also be followed by an uncountable noun:

What kind of advice do you need?

What kind of information are you looking for?

What kind of music do you enjoy?

So don’t automatically assume that the noun must be singular and countable.

Mistake 3: Thinking “kinds” is always more correct

Some learners think the plural form is better because a question may have many possible answers.

That’s not necessarily true.

What kind of music do you like?

is completely natural, even if the answer includes several genres.

Mistake 4: Confusing “kind of” with “kinda”

In informal English, kind of can mean “somewhat”:

I’m kind of tired.

This is different from:

What kind of movie do you want to watch?

In the first sentence, kind of is an informal degree expression. In the second, kind is a noun meaning a type or category.

Memory Trick

Use this simple rule:

ONE category → KIND

MORE THAN ONE category → KINDS

Think:

What kind? → One type

What kinds? → Several types

For example:

• What kind of phone? → one category
• What kinds of phones? → several categories

Another useful trick is to connect kind with is and kinds with are:

What kind of car is it?

What kinds of cars are available?

This isn’t an absolute grammar rule for every sentence, but it can be a helpful learning shortcut.

American vs British English

There is no major difference between American and British English when it comes to the basic distinction between what kind of and what kinds of.

Speakers in both varieties commonly use the singular form for a general category:

What kind of music do you like?

Both American and British speakers also use the plural form when emphasizing different types:

What kinds of music are popular?

The difference is therefore mostly about meaning, context, and emphasis, not nationality.

You may occasionally hear variations in how frequently speakers use singular or plural constructions in informal conversation, but both forms are standard English.

Similar Words

Several expressions have meanings close to what kind of and what kinds of.

What type of

This is very similar to what kind of:

What type of computer do you need?

It can sound slightly more formal or technical.

What sort of

What sort of is especially common in British English but is also understood and used elsewhere:

What sort of music do you enjoy?

It generally means the same thing as what kind of.

Which type of

Use which type of when the possible choices are more clearly defined:

Which type of payment do you prefer?

What variety of

This is useful when discussing different varieties of a product, food, plant, or other category:

What variety of apples do you prefer?

What category of

This is more formal and is common in academic, technical, or professional contexts:

What category of expense does this belong to?

Final Verdict

The difference between what kind of and what kinds of is straightforward once you focus on the number of categories.

Use what kind of when referring to one type or when asking about a category in a general sense:

What kind of music do you like?

Use what kinds of when you want to emphasize multiple types, varieties, or categories:

What kinds of music do you listen to?

However, don’t treat this as an inflexible rule. In natural English, speakers sometimes use what kind of for a broad question even when the eventual answer contains several examples.

FAQs

1. Is “what kind of” grammatically correct?

Yes. What kind of is completely grammatical and extremely common in English. It is used to ask about a type, category, or variety.

2. Is “what kinds of” correct?

Yes. What kinds of is also grammatically correct. It emphasizes multiple types or varieties.

3. Which is correct: “What kind of books” or “What kinds of books”?

Both can be correct. What kind of books often asks about the general category of books you like, while what kinds of books more clearly emphasizes multiple categories.

4. Should I say “what kind of music” or “what kinds of music”?

Both are possible. What kind of music do you like? is extremely natural for asking about general musical preference. What kinds of music do you like? places more emphasis on different genres.

5. Is “what sort of” the same as “what kind of”?

Generally, yes. What sort of and what kind of can often be used interchangeably when asking about type or category.

6. Is “what type of” more formal than “what kind of”?

Often, yes. What type of can sound somewhat more formal or technical, while what kind of is very common in everyday conversation.

7. Can “what kind of” be followed by an uncountable noun?

Yes. For example:

What kind of information do you need?

What kind of food do you prefer?

Remember This

What kind of = one type or a general category

What kinds of = multiple types or varieties

When you’re unsure, ask yourself:

“Am I focusing on one category, or several categories?”

If it is one or general, use what kind of. If you want to highlight multiple varieties, use what kinds of.

Conclusion

The choice between what kind of and what kinds of depends mainly on whether you are thinking about one category or several categories. What kind of is especially common when asking about a general preference or identifying a type, while what kinds of highlights variety and multiple categories. Neither expression is inherently more correct than the other.

The most natural English also depends on context. Don’t worry if you hear native speakers use what kind of in questions where the answer contains several examples. In everyday English, the singular form is often used broadly. Once you understand the difference in emphasis, choosing between the two becomes much easier.