what captivates you

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what captivates you" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking someone about their interests or what they find fascinating. Example: "In our conversation, I would love to know what captivates you the most about art."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Tanya Tarr: What captivates you the most in the luxury jewelry industry?

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Third Screen: Can you give me an example of what captivated you?

Huffington Post

Here you have a stairatorium that embraces you with beautiful flooring and very large open space, and that's what captivates from the beginning.

The New York Times

But the wall is what captivates him most.

The Washington Post

What captivates non-fans about Senna's character?

The Guardian

On a plate, the scene or the saying is what captivates a buyer.

The New York Times - Magazine

But what captivates the first-time visitor immediately is the living museum of calculating devices on display throughout the building.

The New York Times

But what captivates viewers immediately are several Chinese earthenware horses dating from the Tang dynasty (A.D. 618-907).

The New York Times

Lowbrow to highbrow, the political to the personal, what captivates Ms. Nevins matters, because that's often how HBO documentaries materialize.

The New York Times - Arts

Yet what captivates here is the awkward, uncomfortable space these dancers inhabit as they alternately minister to and grapple with each other.

The New York Times

What captivates us in his own writing is not the philosophical reaction to his age, but the vivid and startling picture he paints of it.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "what captivates you" in writing, consider the audience and context. It's suitable for interviews, profiles, and articles exploring personal motivations and interests.

Common error

While "what captivates you" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. More formal alternatives like "what interests you" or "what do you find significant" might be more appropriate depending on your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what captivates you" functions as an interrogative clause, specifically a question seeking to uncover the subject's interests or passions. As Ludwig AI confirms, the structure is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Formal & Business

7%

Science

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what captivates you" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to inquire about someone's interests and passions. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While predominantly found in News & Media, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis of usage contexts, it can also appear in more formal settings. For alternatives, consider "what fascinates you" or "what interests you", depending on the desired nuance. When writing, be mindful of the audience; it's best to avoid overuse in strictly formal academic or scientific contexts. It’s a great way to discover more about someone’s motivation and interest in a conversation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what fascinates you

Replaces "captivates" with "fascinates", emphasizing a strong sense of interest and intrigue.

what do you find fascinating

Rephrases the question to focus directly on the feeling of fascination.

what enthralls you

Similar to "captivates" but implies a more intense and spellbinding effect.

what intrigues you

Focuses on something that arouses curiosity or interest; "intrigues" suggests a mysterious or complex appeal.

what interests you

Uses the more general term "interests" instead of "captivates", broadening the scope to include anything that someone finds engaging.

what excites you the most

Focuses on what generates excitement or enthusiasm in someone.

what absorbs you

Highlights the aspect of being completely engrossed or immersed in something.

what are you passionate about

Directly asks about someone's passions, indicating strong enthusiasm and dedication.

what do you find most appealing

Emphasizes the attractiveness or desirability of something to the person being asked.

what do you love about

Targets what someone is passionate about or deeply enjoys.

FAQs

What's a more formal alternative to "what captivates you"?

In more formal contexts, you could use alternatives such as "what interests you?", "what do you find significant?", or "what aspects do you find most compelling?" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How can I use "what captivates you" in a sentence?

You can use "what captivates you" to start a question, such as "In our conversation, I would love to know "what captivates you" the most about art?" or "What captivates you about this field of study?".

Is "what captivate you" grammatically correct?

No, the grammatically correct phrase is "what captivates you". The verb "captivate" needs to agree with the singular "what", even though the question is directed to "you".

What can I ask instead of "what captivates you"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "what interests you", "what fascinates you", or "what intrigues you". Each alternative has a slightly different nuance, so choose the one that best fits the situation.