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Interrogative Pronouns, Definition, Types, Examples And Worksheet

Interrogative Pronouns is a types of Pronoun that is used to make asking questions easy. Learn more about Interrogative Pronoun Definition, Types, Uses, Examples and Worksheet.
authorImageManoj Kumar19 Oct, 2023
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Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative Pronouns: An interrogative pronoun is a Pronoun that is used to make asking questions easy. There are just five interrogative pronouns. Each one is used to ask a very specific question or indirect question. Who, Whom, Which, Whose are the examples of Interrogative Pronouns.

Interrogative Pronouns Definition

Interrogative pronouns are words used for asking questions, as the name implies. They stand in for something or someone. In English, there are five key interrogative pronouns: 'what,' 'which,' 'who,' 'whom,' and 'whose.' To put it simply, an interrogative pronoun is a word that takes the place of a person or an object when you're asking a question. You can think of it as a question word.

Interrogative Pronouns Types And Uses

Check the Interrogative pronoun types, Uses, and examples in the table given below:
Types of Interrogative Pronouns
Interrogative Pronoun Type Common Uses Examples
Who Person Asking about a person's identity. "Who is your favorite actor?"
Whom Person Inquiring about the object of an action. "Whom did you invite to the party?"
What Thing Seeking information about something. "What is your favorite color?"
Which Thing Choosing between limited options. "Which book should I read first?"
Whose Possessive Inquiring about possession or ownership. "Whose backpack is this?"

Interrogative Pronouns Examples

Here are the examples of Interrogative Pronouns.
  1. Who is the captain of the football team?
  2. To whom did you lend your notes for the exam?
  3. What are you cooking for dinner tonight?
  4. Which color do you prefer, blue or green?
  5. Whose turn is it to clean up the mess in the kitchen?
  6. Who is the author of this fascinating book?
  7. What time does the movie start at the cinema?
  8. Which of these two shirts should I wear to the party?
  9. Whom did you see at the concert last night?
  10. What do you like to do in your free time?
  11. Whose idea was it to go on a road trip this weekend?
  12. Who will be the guest speaker at the conference?
  13. Which movie did you watch last night?
  14. What is the price of this laptop?
  15. Whose car is parked in front of the house?

Also Read: Possessive Pronouns

How to Use Interrogative Pronouns?

Interrogative pronouns are used in English to ask questions and seek information about people or things. To use interrogative pronouns effectively, follow these guidelines:

1. Identify the Question: Determine what specific information you need or want to ask about. This will help you choose the appropriate interrogative pronoun.

2. Select the Correct Pronoun: Choose the interrogative pronoun that matches the type of information you're seeking. Here's a quick reference:

  • Who : Use for questions about people and their identity.
  • Whom : Use when asking about the object of an action involving a person, typically in a more formal context.
  • What : Employ when inquiring about things or seeking general information.
  • Which : Use when choosing between a limited number of options.
  • Whose : Use to ask about possession or ownership.

Also Read: Reflexive Pronouns

3. Formulate Your Question: Construct your question using the interrogative pronoun at the beginning. For example:

  • "Who is that?"
  • "Whom did you invite?"
  • "What is this?"
  • "Which book should I read first?"
  • "Whose pen is this?"

4. Use Proper Punctuation: Ensure your question is properly punctuated with a question mark at the end.

5. Context and Tone: Consider the context and tone of the conversation. In formal settings, you might use "whom," whereas "who" is more common in informal speech. The choice of interrogative pronouns can also affect the formality and politeness of the question.

6. Listen Actively: When in a conversation, actively listen to the response to your question and be prepared to follow up with additional questions if needed to gather more information.

Difference Between Interrogative Pronouns and Interrogative Adjectives

Check the Difference Between Interrogative Pronouns and Interrogative Adjectives in the table given below:
Difference Between Interrogative Pronouns and Interrogative Adjectives
Interrogative Pronoun / Interrogative Adjective Used as an Interrogative Pronoun Used as an Interrogative Adjective
What "What are you looking for here?" "What color do you think I should wear?"
Who "Who is the man who stole your purse?" 'Who' cannot be used as an interrogative adjective as it always refers to people who are nouns that play the role of a subject or an object.
Whom "Whom did you bring along with you for the wedding?" 'Whom' cannot be used as an interrogative adjective as it always refers to people who are nouns that play the role of a subject or an object.
Whose "So many of them had lost their phones that night. Whose did you find?" "Whose acting did you like the most?"
Which "Which is the book you read last month?" "Which book did you decide to buy?"

Interrogative Pronouns Worksheet

  1. ___ is your favorite actor?
  2. ___ Did you go to the concert with?
  3. ___ car is parked in front of the house?
  4. ___ movie did you watch last night?
  5. To ___ did you send the email?
  6. ___ time does the train arrive at the station?
  7. ___ will be the next president of the country?
  8. ___ did you meet at the party last week?
  9. ___ dress should I wear to the wedding?
  10. ___ do you want to be when you grow up?
  11. ___ lost their keys in the park?
  12. ___ is your favorite book of all time?
  13. ___ would you like to have for lunch today?
  14. ___ borrowed my umbrella without asking?
  15. ___ should we invite to the family reunion?
English Related Links
Demonstrative Pronouns Relative Pronouns
Parts of Speech Nouns
Abstract Nouns Common Nouns
Collective Nouns Uncountable Nouns
Possessive Nouns Proper Nouns

Interrogative Pronouns FAQs

What is Interrogative Pronouns and its types?

Interrogative Pronouns are special words that help us ask questions. In English, we have five main interrogative pronouns: what, which, who, whom, and whose. These are the words we use when we want to find out something or get more information.

Are interrogative Pronouns subjects?

Interrogative pronouns can function as subjects in a sentence, depending on their role in the question. For example, in the question "Who is coming to the party?" the interrogative pronoun "who" serves as the subject, as it represents the person performing the action of coming.
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