An interrogative pronoun introduces a question that seeks information. If the pronoun is not part of a question, it is not an interrogative pronoun.<\/p>\n
There are five interrogative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, <\/em>and what<\/em>.<\/p>\n Examples<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Who<\/u> is the new park commissioner?<\/p>\n Of whom<\/u> are we speaking?<\/p>\n Whose<\/u> are the shoes by the door?<\/p>\n Which<\/u> is the right way to go?<\/p>\n What<\/u> is the radio station we’re listening to?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Each of the interrogative pronouns can also function as a relative pronoun, which in turn can be a subject pronoun<\/a>, an object pronoun<\/a>, or a possessive pronoun.<\/p>\n The following sentences compare each of the five interrogative pronouns with their relative or possessive form.<\/p>\n Who<\/em><\/p>\n Interrogative:<\/strong> Who<\/u> gave you the apple pie?<\/p>\n Relative:<\/strong> The apple pie was baked by Sally, who<\/u> lives next door. (subject)<\/p>\n Whom<\/em><\/p>\n Interrogative:<\/strong> To whom<\/u> shall we give the message?<\/p>\n Relative:<\/strong> Robert is the one to whom<\/u> we’ll give the message. (object)<\/p>\n Whose<\/em><\/p>\n Interrogative:<\/strong> Whose<\/u> is that?<\/p>\n Relative:<\/strong> That book belongs to Timothy, whose<\/u> knowledge of literature is greater than mine.<\/p>\n Which<\/em><\/p>\n Interrogative:<\/strong> Of the kitchen tables, which<\/u> do you like best?<\/p>\n Relative:<\/strong> I would like that kitchen table, which<\/u> is more my style. (subject)<\/p>\n What<\/em><\/p>\n Interrogative:<\/strong> What<\/u> is the theory of relativity?<\/p>\n Relative:<\/strong> The theory of relativity is what<\/u> we will study. (subject meaning \u201cthe thing that\u201d)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Although less common and considered by some to be archaic, words such as whatever, whichever, whoever,<\/em> and whomever<\/em> can serve as interrogative pronouns:<\/p>\n It’s pouring outside. Whatever<\/u> shall we do now?<\/em><\/p>\n Whoever<\/u> would bring snakes in a can to an insurance seminar?<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n An interrogative pronoun replaces a noun, as shown in the previous examples:<\/p>\n Who<\/u> gave the apple pie? Sally<\/u> gave the apple pie. <\/em>(Sally <\/em>replaces Who<\/em>.)<\/p>\n To whom<\/u> shall we give the message? We shall give the message to Robert<\/u>. <\/em>(Robert <\/em>replaces whom<\/em>.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n An interrogative determiner, also known as an interrogative adjective, looks the same as an interrogative pronoun, but it modifies rather than replaces a noun. It does not stand alone; it depends on the noun it describes to complete its function.<\/p>\n Which<\/u><\/em> brand<\/span> is your favorite?<\/em><\/p>\n Whose<\/u><\/em> hockey gloves<\/span> can I use?<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n If the interrogative words are pronouns and not determiners, they will not modify a noun:<\/p>\n Which<\/u><\/em> is your favorite?<\/em><\/p>\n Whose<\/u><\/em> can I use?<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n In understanding interrogative pronouns, we will also want to recognize how they differ from interrogative adverbs such as where, when, why<\/em>, and how.<\/em><\/p>\n The answer to a question with an interrogative pronoun will be a noun:<\/p>\n Who<\/u> gave the apple pie?<\/em><\/p>\n Sally<\/u> <\/em>(noun) gave the apple pie.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The answer to a question with an interrogative adverb will be an adverbial that addresses an action:<\/p>\n When<\/u><\/em> are you leaving for Michigan?<\/em><\/p>\n We are leaving for Michigan tomorrow morning<\/u><\/em>. (The answer is an adverb phrase that addresses the action of leaving.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n English includes several different types of pronouns, such as personal, demonstrative<\/a>, relative, indefinite, reflexive<\/a>, and possessive<\/a> pronouns. In this review, we’ve examined what interrogative pronouns are.<\/p>\nInterrogative Pronouns vs. Determiners<\/h2>\n
Interrogative Pronouns vs. Adverbs<\/h2>\n
Related Topic<\/h3>\n