Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions about people, things, or choices. They replace the unknown information in the question.
Common Interrogative Pronouns
These are the most common interrogative pronouns in English, along with their typical uses:
- Who: Asks about people (subject).
- Whom: Asks about people (object).
- What: Asks about things or information.
- Which: Asks about a choice among options.
- Whose: Asks about possession.
Usage Rules
Who vs. Whom
- Use who when the pronoun is the subject of the verb.
- Use whom when the pronoun is the object of a verb or preposition.
Position in Sentence
Interrogative pronouns usually appear at the beginning of a question.
Verb Agreement
The verb that follows must agree with the interrogative pronoun (e.g., who takes singular or plural depending on context).
What must the verb following an interrogative pronoun do?
Agree with the pronoun’s number
The verb must agree in number with the subject implied by the interrogative pronoun.
Examples
| Pronoun | Example | Explanation | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who | Who is calling? | Asks about the subject/person. | Who wrote the book? | Subject of the verb "wrote." |
| Whom | Whom did you meet? | Asks about the object/person. | To whom did you speak? | Object of the preposition "to." |
| What | What is that? | Asks about things/info. | What do you want? | Asks about an object/thing. |
| Which | Which color do you like? | Asks for a choice among options. | Which of these is yours? | Specifies a choice within a group. |
| Whose | Whose bag is this? | Asks about possession. | Whose phone rang? | Asks who owns the phone. |
Whom did you meet?
Whom did you meet?
'Whom' is correct because it is the object of the verb 'meet.'
Tips for Usage
- When unsure between who and whom, try rephrasing: if "he/she" fits, use who; if "him/her" fits, use whom.
- Which is best when choosing from a known set, while what is more general.
- Use whom mainly in formal writing or speech; many speakers use who in casual contexts instead.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
