INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS
[Sidenote: _Three now in use._]
97. The interrogative pronouns now in use are _who_ (with the forms
_whose_ and _whom_), _which_, and _what_.
[Sidenote: _One obsolete._]
There is an old word, _whether_, used formerly to mean which of two,
but now obsolete. Examples from the Bible:--
_Whether_ of them twain did the will of his father?
_Whether_ is greater, the gold, or the temple?
From Steele (eighteenth century):--
It may be a question _whether_ of these unfortunate persons had
the greater soul.
[Sidenote: _Use of_ who _and its forms._]
98. The use of _who_, with its possessive and objective, is seen in
these sentences:--
_Who_ is she in bloody coronation robes from Rheims?--DE QUINCEY.
_Whose_ was that gentle voice, that, whispering sweet,
Promised, methought, long days of bliss sincere?--BOWLES.
What doth she look on? _Whom_ doth she behold?--WORDSWORTH.
From these sentences it will be seen that interrogative _who_ refers
to _persons only_; that it is not inflected for gender or number, but
for case alone, having three forms; it is always third person, as it
always asks _about_ somebody.
[Sidenote: _Use of_ which.]
99. Examples of the use of interrogative _which_:--
_Which_ of these had speed enough to sweep between the question
and the answer, and divide the one from the other?--DE QUINCEY.
_Which_ of you, shall we say, doth love us most?--SHAKESPEARE.
_Which_ of them [the sisters] shall I take?--_Id._
As shown here, _which_ is not inflected for gender, number, or case;
it refers to either persons or things; it is selective, that is, picks
out one or more from a number of known persons or objects.
[Sidenote: _Use of_ what.]
100. Sentences showing the use of interrogative _what_:--
Since I from Smaylho'me tower have been,
_What_ did thy lady do?--SCOTT.
_What_ is so rare as a day in June?--LOWELL.
_What_ wouldst thou do, old man?--SHAKESPEARE.
These show that _what_ is not inflected for case; that it is always
singular and neuter, referring to things, ideas, actions, etc., not to
persons.
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