Interrogative Pronouns
Interrogative pronouns are question words. We use them to ask about people, things, and choices. The three question words are who, what, and which.
What You'll Learn
- How to use who, what, and which to ask questions
- How to pick the right question word for people, things, or choices
When to Use
- Asking about a person: "Who is your friend?"
- Asking about a thing: "What is in the box?"
- Picking from choices: "Which is your bag?"
How to Form
Each question word is used for a different purpose. Pick the right one based on what you want to know.
| Question Word | Use It For | Example |
|---|---|---|
| who | People | Who is she? |
| what | Things | What is that? |
| which | Choices | Which is yours? |
Key Rules
- "Who" is for people: Use "who" when the answer is a person. "Who is at the door?" — "Dad is at the door."
- "What" is for things: Use "what" when the answer is a thing. "What is on the table?" — "A book is on the table."
- "Which" is for choices: Use "which" when you pick from a few things. "Which is your cup?" — "The red one is my cup."
Common Mistakes
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| What is your teacher? | Who is your teacher? | A teacher is a person, so use "who" |
| Who is in the bag? | What is in the bag? | A thing is in the bag, so use "what" |
| What do you want, the cake or the pie? | Which do you want, the cake or the pie? | There are choices, so use "which" |
Clue Words
Use "who" when the answer is a person:
mum, dad, teacher, friend, he, she
Use "what" when the answer is a thing:
something, a toy, a food, it
Use "which" when there are choices:
this or that, the red one or the blue one
Tip: Think about the answer. If the answer is a person, use "who". If the answer is a thing, use "what". If you must pick one, use "which".
Practice Tips
- Person or thing?: Read the sentence. Will the answer be a person? Use "who". Will it be a thing? Use "what".
- Look for choices: If you see two or more things to pick from, use "which".
Quick Reference
| Question Word | Asks About | Example | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| who | A person | Who is your mum? | She is my mum. |
| what | A thing | What is this? | It is a pencil. |
| which | A choice | Which is your hat? | The blue one. |