Interrogative Pronouns in English: Function, Position, Usage

Interrogative pronouns are a fundamental but essential part of English grammar. Understanding and using them correctly not only boosts your communication skills but also helps improve your score in international English exams.

Let’s explore how to use interrogative pronouns effectively with IDP IELTS.

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions about people, objects, events, time, places, and more. These pronouns replace nouns in questions and help retrieve or confirm specific information.

Common interrogative pronouns in English include: What, Which, Who, Whose, and Whom.

Examples:

• What is your name?

• Which book do you prefer?

• Who is the tallest person in your class?

• Whose car is this?

• Whom did you meet at the party?

Interrogative pronouns are used at the beginning of questions to ask for details about people, objects, places, time, reasons, and methods.

Examples:

• Who is your teacher?

• Where do you live?

They can also act as replacements for the noun or noun phrase being asked about.

Examples:

• I do not know who she is.

• Can you tell me what time it is?

Interrogative pronouns can appear in different parts of a sentence depending on their grammatical role:

• At the beginning of a sentence as the subject or question word

• After the verb as the object

• After a preposition as part of a prepositional phrase

What

Used to ask about things or information.

• What kind of music do you like?

• Can you tell me what you saw?

Which

Used to choose between known items or options.

• I have three pens. Which one do you want?

• Which city have you visited?

Who

Used to ask about people. Can be the subject or object.

• Who bought this book?

• Who did you meet at the party?

Whom

Also asks about people but is used as the object.

• Whom are you waiting for?

• Whom did she call last night?

Whose

Used to ask about possession.

• Whose book is this?

• Whose car is parked outside?

Whatever / Whoever / Whomever / Whichever

Used for emphasis or to generalize the subject or object.

• Whatever are you doing here so late?

• Whoever would have thought that would happen?

• You can take whatever you want.

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct interrogative pronoun (who, whom, what, which, whose)

1. We have the scarf in gray, brown and black. ______ one do you prefer?

2. ______ would you wish to accompany you to the gala?

3. I just landed in San Francisco. ______ can one do in this city?

4. ______ dream was to be an astronaut once?

5. To ______ should I deliver these?

6. ______ one of these do you think I should go for?

7. You wanted to join the military years ago. ______ changed your mind?

8. ______ charger is this? Can I use it?

9. Superman is my favorite superhero. ______ else likes him?

10. I am confused. ______ one is your last name?

Answers:

1. Which

2. Who

3. What

4. Whose

5. Whom

6. Which

7. What

8. Whose

9. Who

10. Which

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

1. To ____ do you intend to report this? A. what B. who C. which D. whom

2. ____ is your favorite city? I really love Istanbul and Tokyo. A. Whom B. Who C. What D. Whose

3. ____ gave you the permission? A. Who B. Which C. Whose D. What

4. I love these supplements! ____ one should I get for you? A. What B. Which C. Who D. Whose

5. The kitchen is a mess. _____ fault is that? A. Whom B. Whose C. What D. Which

Answers:

1. D

2. C

3. A

4. B

5. B

Master Interrogative Pronouns with IDP

We hope this article has provided you with a complete overview of interrogative pronouns in English. Practicing regularly will help you use them more naturally in both speaking and writing.

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