English Grammar 19: INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS

CHAPTER 19: INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS

Have you ever thought about how we ask questions in English? Words like who, what, and which are our primary tools for uncovering information. In this chapter, we will explore exactly how these question words function as pronouns. Let's dive in!

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Topic 1: What is an Interrogative Pronoun? (Direct and Indirect Questions)

1. Clear and Detailed Explanation

In English, we often use words like Who, Whom, Whose, Which, and What to ask questions. Because these words stand in for the noun that we are trying to find out about, they are called Interrogative Pronouns. They look exactly like Relative Pronouns, but they do a completely different job: they interrogate (ask questions).

Interrogative pronouns can be used in two ways:

• Direct Questions: These are normal questions that end with a question mark (?).
• Indirect Questions: These are questions hidden inside a regular sentence. They end with a full stop (.), not a question mark.

2. Important Rules and Exceptions

• Rule 1: A direct question always inverts the subject and the verb (e.g., "Who are you?").
• Rule 2: An indirect question keeps the normal sentence order (Subject + Verb) and does NOT use a question mark.

3. Solved Examples

Original Examples (Direct):

• Who is there?
• Who are you?
• About whom are you 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 the neighbours say?

Original Examples (Indirect):

• 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 like best.

4. Additional Practice Exercises

Identify whether the following sentences contain a Direct or Indirect question.

1. What is your favorite color?
2. I wonder what her favorite color is.
3. Please tell me who ate the last slice of pizza.

5. Solutions and Explanations

1. Direct. It asks a direct question and ends with a question mark.
2. Indirect. The question "what her favorite color is" is embedded in a statement.
3. Indirect. It is a command containing a hidden question, ending with a full stop.

6. Common Mistakes and Tips

• Mistake: Putting a question mark at the end of an indirect question. (e.g., I don't know who is there?)
• Tip: If the sentence starts with "I wonder," "Tell me," or "I asked," it is usually an indirect question. End it with a full stop.

7. Quick Summary

Interrogative pronouns (who, what, which, etc.) are used to ask questions. They can ask questions directly (?) or be tucked inside indirect statements (.).

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Topic 2: Who, Whom, and Whose (Asking about People)

1. Clear and Detailed Explanation

The pronoun Who is used exclusively for people. However, just like the pronouns he/him/his, the word who changes its form depending on its job in the sentence (its "case"):

• Nominative (Subject): WHO. Used when the person is doing the action. (Like he or she).
• Accusative (Object): WHOM. Used when the person is receiving the action. (Like him or her).
• Possessive: WHOSE. Used to show ownership. (Like his or hers).

2. Important Rules and Exceptions

• Rule: Who, whom, and whose are used for persons only. We expect the answer to be the name of a person.
• Exception/Modern Usage: Today, in spoken English, it is much more common to use Who instead of Whom even when it is the object. (e.g., "Who did you see?" is more common than "Whom did you see?").

3. Solved Examples

Original Examples:

• Nominative: Who gave you that knife? Who spoke? Who goes there? Who made the top score? Who is knocking at the door? Who says so?
• Possessive: Whose is this book? Whose is this umbrella?
• Accusative: Whom did you see? / Who did you see? To whom were you speaking? / Who were you speaking to?

4. Additional Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks with Who, Whom, or Whose.

1. _____ left their bag on the desk?
2. To _____ should I address this letter?
3. _____ are those shoes by the door?

5. Solutions and Explanations

1. Who: We need a subject for the verb "left".
2. Whom: It follows the preposition "to" and is the object of the sentence.
3. Whose: We are asking about the ownership of the shoes.

6. Common Mistakes and Tips

• Mistake: Confusing whose (belonging to whom) with who's (who is / who has).
• Tip: The "He/Him Method". Answer the question with "he" or "him". If "he" works, use Who. If "him" works, use Whom. (e.g., "___ did you see?" -> I saw him. -> Whom did you see?)

7. Quick Summary

Use who for the subject (the doer), whom for the object (the receiver), and whose for ownership. They are only used for people.

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Topic 3: Which vs. What (Asking about Things, Animals, and Choices)

1. Clear and Detailed Explanation

While who is only for people, What and Which have their own special jobs. They do not change form for different cases.

• What: Used generally for things. It asks an open-ended question where the possibilities are unlimited.
• Which: Used for both persons and things. It implies a selection from a limited, specific group.

2. Important Rules and Exceptions

• Rule 1: Use what when asking about things in general. (e.g., "What have you found?")
• Rule 2: Use which when there is a specific choice to be made. (e.g., "Which is your friend in this photo?")
• Rule 3: Identifying Professions: If we ask "What is he?" or "What are you?", we are asking for the person's profession or job, not their name. (Note: Today, we usually say "What do you do?")

3. Solved Examples

Original Examples (Which):

• 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? Which is he? Which do you prefer?

Original Examples (What):

• What have you found? 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? What is that?
• Profession: What are you? --- I am a doctor. What is he? --- He is an engineer. (Compared to: Who is he? --- He is Mr. K.P. Roy.)

4. Additional Practice Exercises

Choose between What and Which.

1. _____ is your favorite movie of all time?
2. _____ of these two dresses looks better on me?
3. _____ is your father? (Asking about his profession)

5. Solutions and Explanations

1. What: An open-ended question about movies in general.
2. Which: A limited choice between two specific dresses.
3. What: Used to ask about someone's job/profession.

6. Common Mistakes and Tips

• Mistake: Using what when pointing to a specific menu or group. (e.g., Saying "What of these cakes do you want?" instead of "Which...")
• Tip: If you can point at a group of options on a table, use Which. If the options are infinite and out in the universe, use What.

7. Quick Summary

Use what for general things and professions. Use which for picking from a specific, limited group of people or things.

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Topic 4: Interrogative Adjectives vs. Interrogative Pronouns

1. Clear and Detailed Explanation

Words like what, which, and whose can sometimes play a trick on you. They aren't always pronouns! If they are placed immediately before a noun to modify it, they act as Interrogative Adjectives.

• Pronoun: Stands completely alone in place of a noun.
• Adjective: Sits right next to a noun to describe/modify it.

2. Important Rules and Exceptions

• Rule: Look at the word immediately following the interrogative word. If it is a noun, the interrogative word is an adjective. If it is a verb, it is a pronoun.

3. Solved Examples

Original Examples (Interrogative Adjectives):

• Which book are you reading? (Modifies 'book')
• Which way shall we go? (Modifies 'way')
• What books have you read? (Modifies 'books')
• What pranks are you playing? (Modifies 'pranks')
• What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? (Modifies 'manner')

4. Additional Practice Exercises

Identify if the bold word is an Interrogative Pronoun (P) or Interrogative Adjective (A).

1. Which color do you prefer?
2. Which is your favorite color?
3. What time is the meeting?

5. Solutions and Explanations

1. Adjective (A): "Which" sits right next to the noun "color".
2. Pronoun (P): "Which" stands alone, followed by the verb "is".
3. Adjective (A): "What" sits right next to the noun "time".

6. Common Mistakes and Tips

• Mistake: Assuming "what" or "which" is always a pronoun.
• Tip: Pronouns are independent and don't like sharing their space with a noun. Adjectives are sticky and attach themselves directly to nouns!

7. Quick Summary

If what, which, or whose is followed immediately by a noun, it's an interrogative adjective. If it stands alone, it's a pronoun.

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Topic 5: Compound and Exclamatory Pronouns

1. Clear and Detailed Explanation

Sometimes we add the suffix -ever to interrogative pronouns to make them stronger. These are called Compound Interrogative Pronouns. They add emphasis, surprise, or even frustration to a question!

An Exclamatory Pronoun is simply the pronoun "What" used to express strong emotion, shock, or surprise, rather than to ask a real question.

2. Important Rules and Exceptions

• Rule 1 (Compound): Forms like whoever, whatever, and whichever are used for intensity. (Often used when the speaker is surprised).
• Rule 2 (Exclamatory): Used with an exclamation mark (!). The speaker isn't looking for an answer; they are expressing shock.

3. Solved Examples

Original Examples (Compound):

• Whoever told you so?
• Whatever are you doing?

Original Examples (Exclamatory):

• What! Still here! I thought you had gone home long ago.
• What! You don't know Rama?

4. Additional Practice Exercises

Identify if the sentence uses a Compound Interrogative Pronoun (C) or an Exclamatory Pronoun (E).

1. What! You ate the whole cake yourself?
2. Whatever made you think that was a good idea?

5. Solutions and Explanations

1. Exclamatory (E): "What" is used to show shock, followed by an exclamation mark.
2. Compound (C): "Whatever" is used to emphasize the question "what made you...".

6. Common Mistakes and Tips

• Mistake: Confusing exclamatory pronouns with regular exclamations (interjections like "Wow!" or "Oh!").
• Tip: Exclamatory pronouns still use the pronoun word "What", just applied in a shocked tone.

7. Quick Summary

Add -ever for emphasis (whatever, whoever). Use What! as an exclamation to show surprise.

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Comprehensive Solutions: Original Exercise 35

Here is the full solution to the original textbook exercise. Note: For sentences where 'Whom' is grammatically correct as an object, 'Who' is often accepted in modern spoken English. Both are provided where applicable.

No.	Sentence with Correct Interrogative Pronoun	Reasoning
1.	Who wishes to see you?	Subject of the verb 'wishes' (Person).
2.	Whom (or Who) do you wish to see?	Object of the verb 'see'.
3.	Who did she say was the winner?	Subject of the verb 'was'.
4.	Whom (or Who) did he invite?	Object of the verb 'invite'.
5.	Whom (or Who) shall I give this to?	Object of preposition 'to'.
6.	Who do men say that I am?	Subject complement (I am who).
7.	Who do you believe did this?	Subject of the verb 'did'.
8.	About whom are you speaking?	Object of preposition 'about'.
9.	Whom (or Who) did you see?	Object of the verb 'see'.
10.	What do you mean?	Asking for general information (Thing/idea).
11.	To whom did you give the key?	Object of preposition 'to'.
12.	Which of the girls can sew the best?	Selection from a limited group.
13.	By whom was the book written?	Object of preposition 'by'.
14.	What / Whom are you seeking?	Object of seeking (depends on if seeking a thing or person).
15.	Which of you has done this?	Selection from a group of people.
16.	Whom (or Who) have you seen?	Object of the verb 'seen'.
17.	Which of our dogs is ill?	Selection from a specific group.
18.	Who do you think they are?	Subject complement (They are who).
19.	Who do you think I am?	Subject complement (I am who).
20.	What / Whom did you find there?	Object of find (thing or person).
21.	Who was that speaking to you?	Subject of the verb 'was'.
22.	Who came here yesterday?	Subject of the verb 'came'.
23.	Whom (or Who) do you consider in the right?	Object of the verb 'consider'.
24.	Who, do you consider, is right?	Subject of the verb 'is'.
25.	Whom (or Who) did you speak to?	Object of preposition 'to' (moved to end).
26.	What is life worth?	Asking about abstract value.
27.	Which of these bats will you take?	Selection from a limited group.
28.	What did he say?	Asking for general information (Thing/idea).
29.	What is that for?	Asking about purpose/thing.
30.	What have you decided to do?	Asking for general action/idea.
31.	Who stole the bird's nest?	Subject of the verb 'stole'.
32.	Which / What do you prefer?	Which (if limited choice), What (if open).
33.	What are you doing?	Asking about an action.
34.	Who has my book?	Subject of the verb 'has'.
35.	What is an Island?	Asking for a definition.
36.	Which is your book?	Selection from specific items.
37.	What do you want?	Asking for general item/idea.
38.	With whom were you talking?	Object of preposition 'with'.
39.	What did they fight each other for?	Asking for reason/cause.
40.	Which is better, honour or riches?	Selection between two specific choices.
41.	Whom (or Who) am I speaking to, please?	Object of preposition 'to'.

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End of Chapter Quiz: 20 Multiple-Choice Questions

Test your knowledge with these 20 MCQs! The answers and explanations are provided below.

1. ____ won the gold medal in the Olympics?
   A) Whom
   B) Who
   C) Which
   D) Whose
2. To ____ should I send this email?
   A) Who
   B) Whom
   C) What
   D) Whose
3. ____ of these three routes is the fastest?
   A) Which
   B) What
   C) Who
   D) Whom
4. ____ is your father? – He is a famous architect.
   A) Who
   B) Whom
   C) What
   D) Which
5. ____! You actually finished the whole marathon?
   A) Which
   B) Who
   C) Whose
   D) What
6. "I wonder ____ left the door open." This is an example of a(n):
   A) Exclamatory Pronoun
   B) Indirect Question
   C) Interrogative Adjective
   D) Compound Pronoun
7. ____ car is parked in my driveway?
   A) Whom
   B) Who
   C) Whose
   D) Which
8. ____ book are you holding? (Identify the role of the bold word)
   A) Interrogative Pronoun
   B) Interrogative Adjective
   C) Relative Pronoun
   D) Exclamatory Pronoun
9. ____ is your favorite type of music?
   A) Which
   B) Who
   C) Whom
   D) What
10. ____ did you invite to the party?
    A) Who/Whom
    B) Which
    C) Whose
    D) What
11. ____ of the students completed the assignment?
    A) What
    B) Which
    C) Whom
    D) Whose
12. ____ is knocking at the window at this hour?
    A) Whom
    B) Whose
    C) Who
    D) What
13. "Tell me what you have done." The word 'what' here introduces an:
    A) Exclamation
    B) Direct Question
    C) Indirect Question
    D) Adjective
14. ____ told you that silly rumor?
    A) Whoever
    B) Whatever
    C) Whichever
    D) Whomever
15. ____ do you prefer, summer or winter?
    A) What
    B) Which
    C) Who
    D) Whose
16. ____ are you? – I am Mrs. Sharma.
    A) What
    B) Who
    C) Whom
    D) Which
17. In the sentence "What flavor of ice cream do you want?", the word 'What' acts as:
    A) Interrogative Pronoun
    B) Interrogative Adjective
    C) Exclamatory Pronoun
    D) Compound Pronoun
18. About ____ is the professor talking?
    A) Who
    B) Whom
    C) Which
    D) Whose
19. ____ is the capital of Japan?
    A) Which
    B) What
    C) Who
    D) Whom
20. ____ are those muddy footprints?
    A) Who
    B) Whom
    C) Whose
    D) What

MCQ Answers and Explanations

• 1. B (Who): We need a subject pronoun for a person.
• 2. B (Whom): It follows a preposition ("to") and is the object.
• 3. A (Which): Implies selection from a limited group (three routes).
• 4. C (What): Asking about a person's profession/job.
• 5. D (What): Used here as an exclamatory pronoun to show shock.
• 6. B (Indirect Question): The question is embedded in a statement and ends with a full stop.
• 7. C (Whose): Asking about possession/ownership of the car.
• 8. B (Interrogative Adjective): It is placed directly before the noun "book".
• 9. D (What): An open-ended question about things (music genres).
• 10. A (Who/Whom): Asking for the object (receiver) of the verb "invite".
• 11. B (Which): Asking about a selection from a specific group (the students).
• 12. C (Who): Subject pronoun for a person knocking.
• 13. C (Indirect Question): The question is hidden inside a command.
• 14. A (Whoever): A compound pronoun used for emphasis as the subject.
• 15. B (Which): Provides a specific, limited choice (summer or winter).
• 16. B (Who): Asking for someone's identity/name, not their profession.
• 17. B (Interrogative Adjective): "What" sits directly in front of the noun "flavor".
• 18. B (Whom): Acts as the object of the preposition "About".
• 19. B (What): General question about a geographic fact (thing).
• 20. C (Whose): Asking who owns or made the muddy footprints.