7. Interrogative Pronouns

There are only five main interrogative pronouns, all of which begin with –wh: who , whom , whose , which , and what . Each of these pronouns is used when asking a specific question. They are only used to ask questions and not for any other grammatical constructions. However, the five pronouns can also be used in sentences. As long as they are not used in questions, they are not interrogative pronouns.

We use interrogative pronouns when we need to know something – something that we have no knowledge of. There are other words beginning with –wh and we should not confuse them with the interrogative pronouns as they are not. The words are when, where, and why. Unlike other pronouns, the interrogative pronoun does not have an antecedent as the antecedent is unknown.

Out of the five interrogative pronouns, only who and whom refer to people while which and what are used for things. These pronouns do not have gender. The other pronouns considered as interrogative pronouns are whatever , whoever, whomever , and whichever .

Using the five interrogative pronouns

Examples:

  • Who  is that man in an overcoat and a bowler?
  • Who  is that standing next to you in the photo?
  • Whom  are you shouting at?
  • Whom  is she arguing with?
  • What  is the dog chewing?
  • What  are you grumbling about?
  • Which  do you think is better?
  • Which  of the snakes is the most poisonous?
  • Whose  is that car parked in front of my gate?
  • Whose  are those puppies?

Interrogative pronouns have three cases

The Interrogative   pronouns can be used in the subjective, possessive, and objective cases. .

Examples:

Subjective case

  • Who  ate my pizza?
  • Which  cost more – your dad's car or your mom's car?

  • What made you so sick?

Possessive case

What  and which do not hve a possessive form.

  • What  is the dog chewing?
  • Whose  baby is crying so loudly?

Objective case

  • Whom   did you borrow that broom from?

  • Which  one are you aiming your gun at?

  • What  are you thinking of? 

'Who' may be used as an object

Examples:

  • Who  do you invite to your party? (Object of verb invite )
  • Who   are you complaining about the whole day? (Object of preposition about)

‘Whom’ cannot be used as the subject

Examples:

  • Incorrect: Whom  beat him up yesterday?
    Correct:  Who  beat him up yesterday?

Whom can be used only as an object

Examples:

  • Whom  did he kill? (Object of kill )
  • Whom   are you thinking of to ask for help? (Object of preposition  of )

Preposition can be placed in front of interrogative pronoun  ‘ whom’

Examples:

  • At whom   are you so angry?
  • For whom  are you baking this carrot cake?
  • With whom   are you going on the trip

Avoid repeating the preposition

  • Wrong:  With whom  are you going on the trip with?

Other interrogative pronouns:

whatever , whoever , whomever , and whichever .

Examples:

  • He can say  whatever  he wants, nobody will believe him.

  • A reward will be given to whoever  provides information leading to the arrest of the wanted man.

  • She is handing out leaflets to whomever  will accept it.

  • It was like a buffet, we could choose whatever  of the dishes we liked.

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