whole is typically used only with a singular noun. You can use
entire as a substitute for
whole. It indicates that every part of something is involved.
I ate the whole thing. I ate the entire thing. (every part of the thing)
And that's the whole story. And that's the entire story. (every part of the story)
On occasions when
whole or
entire is used with a plural, it indicates that every part of more than one instance of something is involved.
Whole/Entire cities were destroyed during the war. (every part of more than one city; every part of one city and every part of another city and every part of another city, ...)
In the singular the
all of the can be used where
whole is used.
The whole/entire room was brightly lit. = All of the room was brightly lit.
From where I stood, I could not see the whole/entire house. = From where I stood, I could not see all of the house.
The use of
all the with a plural makes it a definite expression. It refers to some previously defined set of things.
all of the may be used instead.
Without
the the expression is indefinite. It is just all of those things in general.
(This is matter involving the use of
the rather than the use of
all.)
All (of) the books I bought yesterday had fewer than 200 pages.
All books in Chinese are incomprehensible to me.
CJ