Question

what was it和what it was的区别

Answer 1

区别是：
what was it是特殊疑问句，意思是它是什么。
what it was是陈述句语序，不能单独做问句，要跟在主句后面。

例句：
what was it
1、What was it that sparked your interest in motoring?
是什么让你对开车产生了兴趣？
2、What was it ultimately that led you to leave Sarajevo for Zagreb?

最终是什么让你离开萨拉热窝前往萨格勒布的？
3、What was it like growing up in Hillsborough?

在希尔斯伯勒长大的生活是怎样的？

what it was
1、He explained what the Crux is, or rather, what it was.
他解释了什么是南十字座，或者更确切地说，过去南十字座是什么。
2、Our village is very different from what it was before.

我们村跟从前大不一样了。
3、By the time she'd twigged what it was all about it was too late.

等到她把一切都想通时，已为时太晚。

Answer 2

What was it 是特殊疑问句的标准用法， 特殊疑问词What和系动词is需要提前；
what it was一般用于从句，如Could you tell me what it was?

希望能帮到你，满意请采纳，谢谢。