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Interrogative pronouns in English: Meaning, usage, exercises
Interrogative pronouns in English are one of the important grammar structures, used frequently in communication and real exams. Many students think that interrogative pronouns usually include words like Who, What, Which... and are used for asking questions. That assumption is not wrong, however, besides having the function of asking questions, interrogative pronouns also have other usages. In the article below, PREP will provide you with knowledge about this matter!
I. Interrogative pronoun definition
Interrogative pronouns in English are used to ask questions or request information and replace question words like "anything" or "anyone". Like most other pronouns, English interrogative pronouns replace nouns in sentences.
Common interrogative pronouns in English are What, Which, Who, Whose, Whom. Below are some interrogative pronouns with examples:
- What is your favorite color?
- Which book do you recommend?
- Who is coming to the party?
- Whom did you meet yesterday?
- Whose car is parked outside?
II. The usage and types of interrogative pronouns in English
Let’s check out the interrogative pronoun list with PREP! Let’s check all interrogative pronouns in the below table!
| Interrogative pronoun | The usage of the interrogative pronoun | Example |
| What | Used to request information about a person, thing, event or state. | What is your favorite food? |
| Which + Noun | Used to request selection or determination from a number of available options. | Which color do you prefer, red or blue? |
| Who | Used to ask about the identity or person involved in an action, event, or matter | Who is the new manager of the company? |
| Whose | Used to ask about ownership or ownership relationships. | Whose book is this? |
| Whom | Used to ask about the object of an action or matter. | Whom did you invite to the party? |
III. Notes on interrogative pronouns in English
1. A comparison of Who, Whose, and Whom
While all these three interrogative pronouns in English denote a human subject, their usage is not quite the same. Let's explore their differences together with PREP below!
Interrogative pronoun | Who | Whose | Whom |
Similarities | All of them have human subjects | ||
Differences | Used to ask questions about the identity or person performing the action. | Used to ask questions about ownership or ownership relationships. | Used to ask questions about the object of an action or matter. In modern colloquial contexts, “whom” is often replaced by “who”. |
Examples | Who is the person standing over there? | Whose dog is this? | Whom did she invite to the party? |
Note: In modern English, "whom" is not common and is often replaced by "who" in daily contexts. In addition, "Who" is often used as the subject of a sentence or clause, while "Whom" is used as the object being referred to by the main subject in a sentence. For example:
- _____ is the manager? Because the interrogative pronoun plays the role of the main subject in the sentence, “who” is employed. We often say "She is the manager" instead of "Her is the manager".
- _____ did you call last night? Because the interrogative pronoun plays the role of the object being referred to by the main subject "you" in the sentence, “whom” is employed.
2. A comparison between What and Which
What and Which are two interrogative pronouns in English used to describe objects and events. However, these two pronouns have their distinct uses. Let's explore the differences between these two interrogative pronouns together with PREP!
Interrogative pronoun | What | Which |
Similarities | Both refer to objects or events | |
Differences | “What” is used when the information or option you are asking about is not predetermined. It is often used when you want to know something unknown or unknown. | “Which” is used when you have a specific list or options and want to choose one from them. |
Example | What is your favorite color? | Which book do you want to read? |
Note: “Which” is often used when there are several clear choices, while “What” is used when a specific list is not available.
IV. Other common interrogative pronouns in English
In addition to the four interrogative pronouns in English mentioned above, there are also other variations derived from these pronouns. Let's explore them together with PREP in the below section!
Interrogative pronoun | Meaning | Example |
Whatever | it is not important what is | Whatever you decide, I will support you. |
Whichever | any one from a limited set | Whichever shirt you choose, it will look great on you. |
Whoever | any person - subject | Whoever left their bag here, please come and claim it. |
Whomever | any person – object | Whomever you invite to the party, make sure they RSVP. |
V. Exercises on interrogative pronouns
Exercise: Fill in the blanks with appropriate interrogative pronouns:
- _____ car is parked outside, please move it.
- Please give the gift to _____you think deserves it.
- _____wins the competition will receive a cash prize.
- You can take _____route you prefer to get to the destination.
- You can choose _____you like from the menu.
- _____movie did you watch last night?
- _____dog is this?
- _____did you meet yesterday?
- _____is your best friend?
- _____is your favorite singer?
Answer keys:
- Whosoever
- whomever
- Whoever
- whichever
- whatever
- Which
- Which
- Whom
- Who
- What
English interrogative pronouns are one of the grammatical items you must master to conquer English grammar. Hopefully, Preppies will find useful knowledge in this article. PREP wishes you success!
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