What Is an Interrogative Pronoun? Definition and Examples
What phrase do you employ while you don’t know the phrase? Interrogative pronouns like what or who substitute unknown nouns, particularly in questions. Don’t know the one that known as you? Ask “Who known as?”
Interrogative pronouns will be complicated, particularly when in comparison with different pronouns or different interrogative elements of speech. Under, we clarify every part you must learn about learn how to use interrogative pronouns.
What’s an interrogative pronoun?
Interrogative pronouns are a sort of pronoun that replaces a noun when it’s unknown. They’re commonest in interrogative sentences (questions) as a solution to request the lacking info.
The principle interrogative pronouns are what, which, who, whom, and whose. Every has a distinct kind of antecedent (the noun a pronoun replaces). For instance, who replaces an unknown particular person, and what replaces an unknown factor. Interrogative pronouns are much like indefinite pronouns, besides that indefinite pronouns normally confer with one thing that’s already been recognized, whereas interrogative pronouns confer with one thing unknown.
There are additionally 4 compound interrogative pronouns: no matter, whichever, whoever, and whomever. Identical to reflexive pronouns add the suffix –self or –selves, interrogative pronouns add the suffix –ever. As interrogative pronouns, these compounds add additional emphasis, implying that the unknown noun is actually a thriller. Nonetheless, these similar phrases even have completely different capabilities as indefinite or relative pronouns (defined under).
Interrogative pronoun examples
Principal interrogative pronouns examples
- what
- which
- who
- whom
- whose
Compound interrogative pronouns examples
- no matter
- whichever
- whoever
- whomever
Learn how to use interrogative pronouns
The 5 interrogative pronouns (and their compound variations) every substitute a distinct kind of noun. The right one to make use of is determined by the form of noun the interrogative pronoun represents and the pronoun case, resembling topic and object pronouns. Interrogative pronouns will be singular or plural with out altering the phrase, however they nonetheless have to comply with subject-verb settlement, so be sure to conjugate the verb appropriately.
| Noun it replaces | Pronoun case | Interrogative pronoun examples | |
| what | factor | topic or object | What is that this stain? |
| which | one choice in a alternative | topic or object | Which is your umbrella? |
| who | particular person | topic | Who’s texting you so late? |
| whom | particular person | object | Whom are you texting so late? |
| whose | particular person | possessive | The crimson truck blocking me is whose? |
For instance, if the unknown noun is an individual and the sentence treats it like a topic, use who.
[An unknown person] despatched me flowers.
Who despatched me flowers?
If the unknown is an individual and the sentence treats it like an object, use whom.
You voted for [an unknown person].
You voted for whom?
Whom did you vote for?
For whom did you vote?
If the unknown noun is an individual and possessive, use whose.
Out of all of the performances, [an unknown person’s] was your favourite.
Out of all of the performances, whose was your favourite?
Watch out as a result of whose will also be used as an interrogative adjective if it’s used with one other noun.
Whose efficiency was your favourite? [interrogative adjective]
If the unknown noun is a factor, use what no matter whether or not it’s the topic or object.
This fruit known as [an unknown thing].
This fruit known as what?
What is that this fruit known as?
The interrogative pronoun which is a bit completely different as a result of it represents an choice or a alternative. Even when the choices are identified or talked about earlier, we use which after we’re unsure of the choice being mentioned.
They’ve pink and crimson telephone circumstances, so which would you like?
Nonetheless, watch out as a result of which will also be used as a relative pronoun or an interrogative adjective, each with completely different capabilities.
Different interrogative elements of speech
You’re in all probability questioning why we haven’t but talked about why, in addition to the place, when, and how. Whereas these wh– phrases are nonetheless interrogative, they aren’t interrogative pronouns. They’re both a distinct a part of speech or a distinct kind of pronoun often called a relative pronoun.
Interrogative adverbs
The opposite in style wh– phrases the place, when, and why, in addition to how, are interrogative adverbs. Whereas interrogative pronouns characterize unknown nouns, interrogative adverbs characterize unknown adverbs. Usually, adverbs describe verbs and actions (amongst different issues), resembling the place, when, or why an occasion occurred.
When does the get together begin?
The place do you need to get lunch?
Interrogative determiners (interrogative adjectives)
Among the similar interrogative pronouns will also be used as adjectives, phrases that describe nouns. Particularly, these phrases are a sort of adjective known as determiners that specify or establish a noun, particularly if there are a number of choices. On this sense, interrogative pronouns are much like demonstrative pronouns, which will also be used as determiners.
Interrogative determiners are simple to seek out as a result of they at all times come earlier than a noun, identical to different adjectives.
Whose motorbike is that?
What variety of particular person eats fried hen for breakfast?
Relative pronouns
Interrogative pronouns are sometimes confused with relative pronouns as a result of they’re largely the identical phrases: what, which, who, whom, and whose. The distinction between interrogative pronouns and relative pronouns is how they’re used.
Relative pronouns have a really particular perform associated to clauses. Like conjunctions, relative pronouns join a relative clause to an impartial clause. Relative clauses are a sort of subordinate clause (dependent clause), which suggests they will’t exist in a sentence with out an impartial clause. The relative pronoun merely acts as a connector.
My neighbors who stay above me dance for hours.
I at all times admire a quiet night at residence, which is uncommon.
Who vs. whom
In English, who vs. whom is likely one of the most complicated pairs of phrases. Individuals are at all times getting them blended up as a result of they’re each interrogative pronouns that characterize individuals. The distinction between who and whom is the case of the phrase they characterize (the antecedent). If the interrogative pronoun is changing a noun used because the topic, who is right. If it’s changing a noun used as an object, whom is right.
Bellingham [subject] handed the ball to Mbappe [object].
Who handed the ball to Mbappe?
Bellingham handed the ball to whom?
Whose vs. who’s
One other generally confused pair is whose and who’s. This pair is a bit simpler as a result of they’re two utterly completely different phrases: Whose is the interrogative pronoun mentioned above, and who’s is a contraction for both “who’s” or “who has.”
Who’s answerable for figuring out whose flip it’s on the money register?
Interrogative pronouns FAQs
What’s an interrogative pronoun?
Interrogative pronouns are a sort of pronoun that replaces an unknown. They’re commonest in interrogative sentences (questions) as a solution to request lacking info.
What’s the distinction between common pronouns and interrogative pronouns?
Common pronouns are any phrases that substitute different nouns, usually to make communication simpler so that you don’t need to repeat the identical correct title time and again. Interrogative pronouns are a selected kind of pronoun that substitute unknown nouns, which is why they’re most frequently utilized in questions.
How do you employ interrogative pronouns?
The 5 interrogative pronouns every work with a distinct kind of antecedent (the phrase a pronoun replaces). What replaces a factor, which replaces an choice or a alternative, who replaces an individual within the topic case, whom replaces an individual within the object case, and whose replaces an individual as a possessive noun.
