Interrogative pronouns ( Who, whose, what, which)

Whom is not often used in informal English. We prefer to use who as an object, especially in questions. Who did they arrest? We use whom in a more formal style; and we must use whom after a preposition. Whom did they arrest? (formal) With whom did they arrest? (very formal) - Who refers to people. e.g. I don't like people who tell jokes all the time. We can also use that, but it is less usual. e.g. Jake is the man that plays the guitar.

1. which and what: the difference Which and What are often both possible, with little difference of meaning - Which/What is the hottest city in the world? Which is preferred when the speaker has a limited number of choices in mind. Which phone shall I use, this one or the one in the office? When the speaker is not thinking of a limited number of choices, what is used. What language do they speak in Greenland? 2. determiners: which and what Before nouns, which and what can be used to ask questions about both things and people. Which teacher do you like best? What writers do you like? which of - before another determiner (the, my, these) or a pronoun, we use which of. Which of your teachers do you like best? without nouns: who, which, what. When these words are used as pronouns, without nouns immediately after them, we generally use who, not which, for people. e.g. Who won – Ivanov or Sidorov? However, which can be used in questions about people’s identity, and what can be used to ask about people’s jobs and functions. E.g. Which is your husband? – The one in jeans. What is Peter? – He is the Company Secretary. Which is sometimes used instead of who in questions about classes of people. -Which is more valuable to society – a politician or a nurse? Note the difference: What doctor did you see? Which doctor did you see? (therapist or oculist) (Mr Black or Mr White)

'How romantic! Breakfast in bed!'

Study the use of how and what in the questions:

- What’s this one called? (not How…) - What do you think of her work? (not How…)

- What’s the blue button for? (=What purpose does it have? (not How…)

- How about (having) a swim? (=a suggestion) (or What about…)

- What is your brother like? (=asking what kind of person he is) (not How…)

- How is you brother? (=asking about health) ( not What)

- What was the journey like? (= asking an opinion) (not How…)

- What do you like about it? (= asking for specific details) (not How…)

- How do you like it? ( not What) = asking for a general opinion; = asking for details about coffee, tea or a meat dish (How would you like it? is also possible)

Which is your brother? – The next to Ken. Which would you rather be – a doctor or a vet? (or What would…) = to identify a person or people out of a group (in a crowded room, or on a photograph) and when we ask about particular classes of people. - What’s your sister? – She is a doctor. = person’s job or position

-What town do we go through on the way? = the speaker doesn’t know the area. - Which towns do we go through on the way? = the speaker knows the area and the towns in it. .

1. What or which?

Do you play the piano, or the violin, or the guitar, or…?

What musical instruments do you play?

Did you go to the Little Theatre or the Theatre Royal?

_____________________theatre did you go to?

Did you take the morning flight or the afternoon flight?_________________________________

Did you stay at the Grand Hotel or the Bristol?________________________________________

Do you like classical music, or jazz, or rock music?_____________________________________

Did you buy ‘Time’ magazine, or ‘ Newsweek’ or a computer magazine, or………………………?

Do you work for Euro Chemicals, or ICM, or Sen Co, or………………………………?

Are you learning English, or Spanish, or Arabic or Japanese or…………………………?

II. Fill the gaps in the following sentences by using either what or which.

1 He didn't believe . . ………... I said . . ……………... annoyed me very much.

2 In detective stories the murderer is always caught . . ……………….. doesn't happen in real life.

3 He wasn't surprised at . . …………… he saw because I told him . . ………………. to expect.

4 In hospitals they wake patients at 6 a.m. . . ………………….. is much too early.

5 There was no directory in the first telephone box . . ……………….. meant that I had to go to another one.

6 I did…………………... I could . . ………………….. wasn't much.

7 The clock struck thirteen . …………………….. . made everyone laugh.

8 I am sure that …………………… . . you say is true.

9 We travelled second class . …………………… . is cheaper than first class but more crowded.

10 He didn't know the language . . ………………… made it difficult for him to get a job.

11 People whose names begin with A always get taken first . ……………. . is most unfair.

12 He played the violin all night . . ……………….. annoyed the neighbours.

13 When the mechanic opened the bonnet he saw at once . . ……………... was wrong with the car.

14 I didn't buy anything because I didn't see . . ………………. I wanted.

15 They sang as they marched . ……………….. . helped them to forget how tired they were.

16 I saw a coat marked down to £10............................. was just . …………….. . I was prepared to pay.

17 He was very rude to the customs officer . . ……………of course made things worse.

18 Show me . . ………….. you've got in your hand.

19 Tell me . . ……………... you want me to do.

20 The frogs croaked all night . . ……………. kept us awake.

21 All the roads were blocked by snow . . . meant that help could not reach us till the following spring.

22 You needn't think you were unobserved! I saw . . ………………. you did!

23 She was once bitten by a monkey . . ……………………. made her dislike monkeys for the rest of her life.

24 Some dairies have given up electric milk floats and gone back to horse-drawn vehicles . ……... . shows that the horse still has a place in modern transport.

25 She expects me to clean the house in half an hour . ………………. . is impossible.

26 He poured water on the burning oil stove . …………………... . was a crazy thing to do.

27 Would you know . ………………… . to do if you were bitten by a snake?

28 They turned on the street lights ………… . - made it suddenly seem much darker than it really was.

29 I don't know . . ………………. delayed the train, but it went much slower than usual . . ……………... made me

late for my appointment.

30 He asked a question . . …………… I answered, and then he asked exactly the same question again

. ………………. . showed me that he hadn't been listening.

31 The crime was not discovered till 48 hours later . …………… . gave the criminals plenty of time to get away.

32 My neighbours on either side of me have painted their houses . . ……………… of course only makes my house look shabbier than it really is.

33 The headmaster believed that children should do …………….. . . they liked . ………………. . meant, of course, that they didn't learn much.

34 I couldn't remember the number of my own car . …………………... . made the police suspicious. 34 He said that . . ………………... frightened him was the appalling silence of the place. 36 You will be punished for . . …………………. you have done.