How to Ask with Purpose: Understanding Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative Pronoun – Ask Questions

An interrogative pronoun is a pronoun that is used to ask questions. We get proper information by using an interrogative pronoun in a sentence.

There are five main interrogative pronouns

• who
• whose
• whom
• what
• which

Use of Interrogative Pronouns in Sentences

When we use interrogative pronouns in a sentence, we should keep in our mind that

• The sentence in which we use an interrogative pronoun is always a question.
• When we complete the sentence, we should put down the question mark.

Sentences with Interrogative Pronouns

Here are some examples of sentences that use interrogative pronouns.

1) ‘Who, whose, and whom’ are used for persons only

We use ‘who’ to ask a question when we expect a person’s name.

• Who gave you that book?
• Who is your school’s principal?
• Who painted the wall?
• Who was driving the bus?

We use ‘who’ to ask when we expect the name and family, as

• Who are you? (This means, ‘What is your name?’)
• Who is he?
• Who is your brother?

We use ‘whose’ to ask a question when we want proper information about what belongs to someone.

• Whose was that book?
• Whose bag have you carried?
• Whose pen did you lend?
• Whose raincoat is this?

We use ‘whom’ to get proper information about the person.

• Whom did you meet?
• Whom did you give stationery to?
• Whom have you told about the mishap?
• Whom do you share your food with?

2) ‘What’ is used for things only, as

• What is more bitter than bitter gourd?
• What did you tell?
• What are you buying?
• What is brighter than light?
• What do you want?

3) We can use ‘what’ when the expected information is about the profession of a person.

•  What is your father? (Here the occupation of father is expected; as,

My father is a writer.

• What is he?
• What is your mother?

4) ‘Which’ is used for things as well as persons.

We use ‘which’ for questions concerning a limited number, as

• Which of those pens is yours?
• Which book can you give?
• Which colour do you like?
• Which of these girls is your sister?