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Who/Whom/Which/What - Uses - Interrogative - Pronouns - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

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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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