Interrogative Pronouns in English

In this reference, we'll explore what an interrogative pronoun is, the types of interrogative pronouns, and examples of interrogative pronouns in sentences. We'll also look at how interrogative pronouns can be used in questions and in polite requests. Let's start learning!

What is an interrogative pronoun?

Interrogative pronouns help us ask questions. They are used to ask both direct and indirect questions. Interrogative pronouns can be used in both the declarative and the imperative mood. They are also used in polite requests.

Interrogative pronouns are different from other pronouns in that they are not used to refer to anything or anyone in particular. Instead, they are used to ask questions. For example, the interrogative pronoun "who" can be used to ask a question such as, "Who are you?".

The English language has a few different types of interrogative pronouns, which we'll cover in the next section.

Types of interrogative pronouns

There are four main types of interrogative pronouns in the English language: who, what, which, and whose.

• "who" helps us ask about people. For example, "Who is that?" or "Who are you?".
• "what" is used to ask questions about things. For example, "What is that?" or "What did you do?".
• "which" is used to ask questions about choices. For example, "Which one do you want?" or "Which color do you like?".
• "whose" is used to ask questions about possession. For example, "Whose car is this?" or "Whose phone is ringing?".

Interrogative pronoun examples

Now that we've covered the different types of interrogative pronouns, let's look at some examples of interrogative pronouns in sentences.

Who:

"Who called you?" "Who is coming to the party?"

What:

"What did you say?" "What do you want for dinner?"

Which:

"Which car did you buy?" "Which shirt do you like better?"

Whose:

"Whose computer is this?" "Whose book did you read?"

List of interrogative pronouns

In addition to the four main types of interrogative pronouns, there are a few other interrogative pronouns that you should be aware of. These include "why," "where," "when," and "how."

• "Why" helps us ask questions about reasons. For example, "Why did you do that?" or "Why did you leave?".
• "Where" is used to ask questions about locations. For example, "Where did you go?" or "Where are you going?".
• "When" helps us ask questions about time. For example, "When did you arrive?" or "When will you be back?".
• "How" is used to ask questions about methods. For example, "How did you do that?" or "How will you get there?".

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Using interrogative pronouns

Now that we've covered the different types of interrogative pronouns, let's look at how to use interrogative pronouns in sentences.

Here are some questions with interrogative pronouns:

• Who is the chairman of the board?
• What do you want for dinner?
• Which book did you read?
• Whose phone is ringing?
• Why did you do that?
• Where were you last night?
• When will the meeting start?
• How did you find out about this?
• Who are you talking to?
• What time does the movie start?

Asking questions

Interrogative pronouns are also used to ask questions. For example, "Who is coming to the party?" or "What do you want for dinner?".

When asking a question, it's important to use the correct interrogative pronoun. For example, if you are asking a question about a person, you should use "who" instead of "what". Similarly, if you are asking a question about a thing, you should use "what" instead of "who".

Indirect questions

Interrogative pronouns can also be used in indirect questions. In an indirect question, the interrogative pronoun is usually followed by a verb such as "do", "did", or "will".

For example, "Can you tell me who you are?" or "Do you know what he said?".

When using interrogative pronouns in indirect questions, use the correct verb. For example, if you are asking a question about the present, you should use "do" instead of "did". Similarly, if you are asking a question about the past, you should use "did" instead of "do".

Imperative mood

Interrogative pronouns can also be used in the imperative mood. In the imperative mood, the interrogative pronoun is usually followed by a verb.

For example, "Tell me who you are!" or "Explain what happened!".

If you are asking a question about the present, you should use "tell" instead of "told". Similarly, if you are asking a question about the past, you should use "explain" instead of "tell".

Polite requests

Interrogative pronouns can also be used in polite requests. In a polite request, the interrogative pronoun is usually followed by a verb such as "please" or "would".

For example, "Could you please tell me who you are?" or "Would you explain what happened?".

If you are asking a question about the present, you should use "could you please" instead of "would you". Similarly, if you are asking a question about the past, you should use "would you" instead of "could you please".

Summary

Interrogative pronouns are important for asking questions and learning new information. If you want to become a better English speaker, different types of interrogatives can help you sound fluent and quickly get others to open up to you. Try forming some simple questions to see where this gets you!