AN INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH GRAMMAR & LANGUAGE
But, Who spoke?
She is the best girl who has attracted me. Who is knocking at the door?
— Correct. Who made the highest score?
He is the best boy that has passed. Who says so?
̄ ̄ Whose is this umbrella?
Superlative Noun Whom do you see?
— Correct Which is used for both persons and things, but refers
to one or more out of a known number.
(7) If Noun is used after such or for example, they are
followed by as not that. For example,
For example, Which of the boys met you? (person)
Which is your friend? (person)
Such boys will be rewarded as are laborious.
Which are your books? (things)
̄ ̄ ̄ Which of the boys saw him? (person)
Such Noun as Which will you choose? (thing)
As many girls have been selected as Which of you has done this? (person)
̄ ̄ ̄ Which of these pens is yours? (things)
Such Noun as Which of the pictures do you like best? (thing)
are intelligent. Which will you take? (thing)
But, What applies to thing and persons of which the speaker
Such was the condition that / as was the treat- is ignorant.
ment. — Correct. For example,
What do you want? (thing)
The Special Rules of Relative Pronoun What have you found? (thing)
(1) No use of and and but before Relative Pronoun. What did you say? (thing)
For example, What was it all about? (thing)
Ram is the boy and who has helped me. — Wrong What are the marks on your cheek? (thing)
Ram is the boy who has helped me. — Correct What is sweeter than honey? (thing)
She is the girl but who has deceived me. — Wrong What is he? (person)
She is the girl who has deceived me. — Correct What are you? (person)
(2) No use of Possessive Case with the antecedent of But,
Relative Pronoun. Who is he? [What is his name and family?]
For example, Thus,
It is Reena"s pen who is my friend. — Wrong Who inquires about the name or parentage of the
It is the pen of Reena who is my friend. — Correct person spoken about.
But, Which inquires about a particular person from among
a group of persons.
It is Leela"s book which is new. — Correct
What inquires about the profession or social position
̄ ̄ ̄ of the person spoken about.
Noun Noun P.Pronoun Uses of Interrogative Pronoun
(3) No use of Personal Pronoun after Relative Pronoun (1) Do, did and does should not be used after who in
if it is defined before relative pronoun. general sense.
For example, For example,
Sanjay who is here he is my friend. — Wrong Who does help you at present? — Wrong
Sanjay who is here is my friend. — Correct Who helps you at present? — Correct
Salman who is intelligent he is laborious. — Wrong Who did take your pen? — Wrong
Salman who is intelligent is laborious. — Correct Who took your pen? — Correct
(2) Where, why and when are also used as
5. INTERROGATIVE PRONOUN interrogative pronouns.
Who is there? (person) For example,
Which of them did it, Mary or Maratha? (person) Where do you live at? — [place]
Which of the books do you like most? (thing) Why are you angry? — [reason]
What has happened to you? (thing) When did he arrive here? — [time]
The pronoun who, which and what are used in asking (3) Whenever, whatever, whosoever are called semi-
questions and are therefore called Interrogative Pronouns. interrogative pronouns.
Who is used for the persons of whom the speaker is For example,
ignorant. Whenever I go out she meets me. — [time]
For example, Whatever is the matter I shall help him.
Who went there? — [reason]
[We expect the answer to be the name of a person] Whosoever is guilty will be punished.
Who goes there? — [person]
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