Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions about people, things, or ideas. They help form questions and are essential for seeking information or clarification in both written and spoken English.

Example:

Instead of saying: “I want to know the person. The person broke the vase.”

We can use an interrogative pronoun to ask: “Who broke the vase?”

In this example, “who” is the interrogative pronoun that asks about the person responsible for breaking the vase, making the inquiry more direct and concise.

Types of Interrogative Pronouns#

There are five main interrogative pronouns in English:

1. Who
2. Whom
3. Whose
4. What
5. Which

Let’s examine each type and understand their roles in questions.

Who#

“Who” is used to ask about people. It typically functions as the subject of a question.

Examples:

• Who is coming to the party?
• Who wrote this book?

Whom#

“Whom” is also used to ask about people, but it functions as the object of a verb or preposition. It’s considered more formal than “who” and is often replaced by “who” in casual conversation.

Examples:

• To whom should I address this letter?
• Whom did you invite to dinner?

Whose#

“Whose” is used to ask about possession or ownership.

Examples:

• Whose car is parked in the driveway?
• Whose idea was it to have a surprise party?

What#

“What” is used to ask about things, ideas, or actions.

Examples:

• What is your favorite color?
• What happened at the meeting?

Which#

“Which” is used to ask about a choice between a limited number of options.

Examples:

• Which flavor of ice cream do you prefer?
• Which of these books have you read?

Usage and Common Mistakes#

Using “Who” vs. “Whom”#

The choice between “who” and “whom” often confuses English speakers. A simple trick is to answer the question with a pronoun:

• If “he” or “she” fits, use “who.”
• If “him” or “her” fits, use “whom.”

Example:

• Who is going to the store? (He is going to the store.)
• Whom did you see? (I saw him.)

“Whose” vs. “Who’s”#

“Whose” is the possessive form, while “who’s” is a contraction of “who is” or “who has”.

Correct: Whose book is this?

Correct: Who’s going to the party? (meaning “Who is going to the party?”)

Using “What” vs. “Which”#

Use “what” when there are many possibilities, and “which” when choosing from a limited set of options.

Correct: What would you like for dinner? (many possibilities)

Correct: Which restaurant should we go to, Italian or Chinese? (limited options)

Interrogative Pronouns in Indirect Questions#

Interrogative pronouns are also used in indirect questions, where the word order doesn’t change:

• Direct: What is your name?
• Indirect: Could you tell me what your name is?

Key Takeaways#

• Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions about people, things, or ideas.
• The five main interrogative pronouns are who, whom, whose, what, and which.
• “Who” and “whom” are used for people, with “whom” being more formal and used as an object.
• “Whose” asks about possession or ownership.
• “What” is used for things, ideas, or actions.
• “Which” is used when choosing from limited options.
• Be careful to distinguish between “whose” (possessive) and “who’s” (contraction of “who is” or “who has”).
• Use “what” for broad questions and “which” for questions with limited options.

FAQs#