Do you ever ask questions like “Who are you?” or “What is this?” If yes, then you’re already using interrogative pronouns. These special words help us ask questions in a clear and simple way. In this blog post, you will learn what interrogative pronouns are, how to use them, and see easy examples in short sentences to improve your English skills step by step.
You may also need to learn more Types of Pronouns in English with their easy examples.
What are Interrogative Pronouns?
Interrogative pronouns are words used to ask questions. These pronouns stand in place of a noun and help us find out about people, things, or information.
In simple words:
They are question words that replace nouns.
Common Interrogative Pronouns
Here is a list of the most used interrogative pronouns in English:
| Pronoun | Used For |
|---|---|
| Who | Person (subject) |
| Whom | Person (object) |
| Whose | Belonging or possession |
| What | Things or ideas |
| Which | Choice from a group |
Examples of Interrogative Pronouns
Here are some short and simple arrow-style examples:
Who is knocking at the door?
Whom did you call last night?
Whose bag is this?
What are you eating?
Which dress do you like?
Interrogative Pronouns with Examples
Let’s understand each interrogative pronoun with examples:
Who – Asks about a person
Who is your best friend?
Whom – Person as object
Whom should I contact?
Whose – Shows ownership
Whose phone is ringing?
What – Asks about things
What do you want?
Which – Chooses from options
Which color is better?
Interrogative Pronouns by Case
| Case | Pronoun | Use/Purpose | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Who | Used for the person doing the action | Who is coming to the party? |
| Object | Whom | Used for the person receiving the action | Whom did you meet today? |
| Possessive | Whose | Shows ownership or relation | Whose bag is this? |
| Thing (General) | What | Used for things, ideas, or info | What is your favorite color? |
| Choice | Which | Used when choosing from a group | Which movie do you want to watch? |
Used in Different Contexts
Sometimes, interrogative pronouns are used in different ways depending on the sentence:
Subject of a question
Who made this cake?
Object in a sentence
Whom are they inviting?
To ask about possessions
Whose car is blocking the way?
To ask about choices
Which book do you prefer?
Quick Tips to Remember
- Use Who for people doing something.
- Use Whom for people receiving an action.
- Use Whose to ask who owns something.
- Use What for general questions.
- Use Which for choosing between options.
Example Sentences with Interrogative Pronouns
Sentences with “Who”
- Who is at the door?
- Who called you last night?
- Who is your best friend?
- Who wants tea?
- Who will come with me?
- Who opened the window?
Sentences with “Whom”
- Whom did you invite?
- Whom are you waiting for?
- Whom should I ask?
- Whom do you trust the most?
- Whom did she call?
- Whom are they talking about?
Sentences with “Whose”
- Whose phone is ringing?
- Whose bag is this?
- Whose shoes are those?
- Whose turn is it now?
- Whose idea was this?
- Whose house is near the park?
Sentences with “What”
- What is your name?
- What are you doing?
- What time is it?
- What do you need?
- What happened here?
- What is your plan?
Sentences with “Which”
- Which book is yours?
- Which color do you like?
- Which way should we go?
- Which one is cheaper?
- Which dress should I wear?
- Which movie are we watching?
Summary
| Pronoun | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Person (doer) | Who is calling? |
| Whom | Person (receiver) | Whom did you see? |
| Whose | Possession | Whose keys are these? |
| What | Thing/idea | What is your name? |
| Which | One of many | Which one is your bag? |
Interrogative pronouns are simple question words. They help you ask clearly and speak confidently. Learning them will improve your grammar and spoken English. Keep practicing the examples to get better every day!
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