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Interrogative Pronouns


INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS


 Consider the following sentences :-Who is there? Who are you?

About whom you are thinking? / Who are you thinking about?
Whom do you want? / Who do you want?
Whose is this book?
Which is the house?
Which do you prefer, tea or coffee?
What is the matter?
What do you want?
What will all (he neighbours say?

It will be noticed that the Pronouns in italics are similar in form to Relative Pronouns. But the work which they do is different. They are here used for asking questions, and are, therefore, called Interrogative Pronouns.

In the following sentences the Interrogative Pronouns are used in asking indirect questions.

I asked who was speaking. I do not know who is there. Tell me what you have done. Ask what he wants.
Say which you would tike best.

Again consider the following sentences: -
Who gave you that knife? (Nominative)
Whose is this book? (Possessive)
Whom did you see? / Who did you see?, To whom were you speaking? / Who were you
speaking to? (Accusative)
What is that? (Nominative)
What do you want? (Accusative)
Which is he? (Nominative)
Which do you prefer? (Accusative)

Nominative: who, Possessive: whose, Accusative: whom/who --Masc. and Fem. Singular and Plural.

Today the accusative who is more usual than whom, especially in spoken English.
What and which do not have different forms for different cases.

Who is used of persons only.
Who spoke? (We expect the answer to be the name of a person.)
Who goes there? Who made the top score? Who is knocking at the door? Who says so?
Whose is this umbrella? Whom did you see?

Which is used of both persons and things. It implies selection, that is, it implies a question concerning a limited number.
Which is your friend? Which are your books?

Which of the boys saw him?
Which of you has done this?
Which of these books is yours?
Which of the pictures do you like best?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? Which will you take?

What is used of things only.
What have you found? (We expect the answer to be the name of a thing.)
What do you want? What did you say?
What was it all about?
What is sweeter than honey?
What are those marks on your coat?

In such expressions as, 'What are you?' 'What is he?' What is this man?' the word what does not refer to the person but to his profession or employment (Today it is more usual to say, ‘What do you do?’ etc).

What are you? --- I am a doctor. What is he? --- He is an engineer.

But-
Who is he? (= What is his name and family?) -He is Mr. K.P. Roy.

In the following sentences which and what are used as Interrogative Adjectives:-

Which book are your reading?
Which way shall we go?

What books have you read?

What pranks are you playing?

What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

In the following sentences the words in italics are used as Compound Interrogative Pronouns :-

Whoever told you so? Whatever are you doing?

Note.- The forms whoever, whichever, whatever, are intensive.

Exercise in Composition

Use the correct form of the Interrogative Pronoun in the following:-

--- wishes to see you?
--- do you wish to see?
--- did she say was the winner?
--- did he invite?
--- shall I give this to?
--- do men say that I am?
--- do you believe did this?
About --- are you speaking?
--- did you see?
--- do you mean?
To --- did you give the key?
--- of the girls can sew the best?
By --- was the book written?
--- are you seeking?
--- of you has done this?
--- have you seen?
--- of our dogs is ill?
--- do you think they are?
---do you think I am?
--- did you find there?
--- was that speaking to you?
--- came here yesterday?
--- do you consider in the right?
--- , do you consider, is right?
--- did you speak to?
--- is life worth?
--- of these bats will you take?
--- did he say?
--- is that for?
--- have you decided to do?
--- stole the bird's nest?
--- do you prefer?
--- are you doing?
--- has my book?
--- is an Island?
--- is your book?
--- do you want?
      With --- were you talking?
--- did they fight each other for?
--- is better, honour or riches?
--- am I speaking to, please?

A Pronoun used as an exclamation is called an Exclamatory Pronoun ; as, What! Still here ! I thought you had gone home long ago.
What! You don't know Rama?



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