Interrogative pronouns

 An interrogative pronoun is a pronoun which 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. 

Interrogative pronouns can also be used as relative pronouns, which may be found in questions or indirect questions.

You’ll know for certain that a pronoun is classified as an interrogative when it’s used in an inquiring way, because interrogative pronouns are found only in question and indirect questions.

·         Who

·         Whose

·         Whom

·         Which

·         What

What

Used to ask questions about things, actions, activities, general descriptions and specific information (unlimited choice).

·         What did you buy?

·         What happened?

·         What is your brother like?

·         What sort of cars do you like driving?

Which

Used to ask about people or things (limited choice)

·         Which students will participate?

·         Which of these sweaters do you like best?

·         Which color do you prefer?

·         She asked which train to take.

Who

Used to ask about people.

·         Who is your best friend?

·         I’m wondering who will be at the party.

·         Who is going to take out the trash?

·         Who is that?

Whom

This interrogative pronoun is rarely seen these days, but when it shows up, it is used to ask questions about people. (More formal than who)

·         Whom did you speak to?

·         Whom do you prefer to vote for?

·         Whom do you live with?

Whose

Used to ask questions about people or objects, always related to possession.

·         Whose sweater is this?

·         Whose parents are those?

·         I wonder whose dog knocked our garbage can over.

In some cases, interrogative pronouns take on the suffix –ever: 

Whatever                     Whatsoever                  Whichever                    Whomsoever

Whoever                      Whosoever                   Whomever                    Whosever