Here we will come to know about interrogative personal pronouns for our better understanding and realization.
There are different types of pronouns. An interrogative pronoun in one type of pronoun that i used to ask question. The most important interrogative pronouns that are used to form questions are who, whom, where, which, whose, why, how. They are called ‘wh’ words because these words are started with ‘wh’.
These pronouns are used to ask direct or indirect questions. Some interrogative pronouns like who, whom, whose refer only to people. If we become familiar with this pronouns that will be easy to use in different kind of situations.
Personal pronouns are used in place of people, animals or things. These are basically associated with grammatical persons. The pronouns in the first person are I and we, the pronouns in the second person are you and you, and the pronouns in the third person are he, she, they and it.
Ex–Who is your teacher?
Explanation;- In this interrogative sentence ‘who’, an interrogative pronoun is used to make this question. The word ‘who’ is used as a pronoun. The answer of this question may be the name of a person Ram, Robi, or it may be any other name. So the word is used in place of the person and can be treated this interrogative pronoun as a personal pronoun because it refers to a person.
Ex-Whom do you like?
Explanation;- In this above example the interrogative pronoun ‘whom’ is used to make questions the answer specifically refers to a person. The person must be your father, mother or brother. This ‘wh’ word is used here in place of this person. As personal pronouns refer to person, place or thing this ‘wh’ word pronoun ‘whom’ should be called a personal pronoun.
What are the interrogative personal pronouns?
The terms ‘interrogative personal pronouns’ make us feel that interrogative pronouns are used as personal pronouns. There are interrogative pronouns in English grammar that are used to make questions. These pronouns ask which person or thing is meant. While asking questions we use interrogative pronouns such as who, whom, which, where, when, whose, what, why etc. These pronouns are obviously used to refer subject , object or possession or ownership of the person or thing.
For examples;
Ex-Who teaches you English?
Explanation;-In this example the ‘wh’ word ‘who’ is used to make question. It refers to a person that will be answer of this question. The answer may be ‘my father’. Father is a noun and it is a subject. So ‘who’ is used here in place of the person that is used as a subject. So the pronoun refers to the subject of this sentence.
Ex–Whom did they help?
In this above example the interrogative pronoun ‘whom’ is used to ask question. The answer of this question must be ‘the beggar’ or ‘old man’. Here the pronoun is used to refer to the person that is used as the object in the sentence. So, we may call this pronoun ‘whom’ as an objective form in this sentence. Thus it is clear to us that interrogative pronoun ‘whom’ is used in place of the person or thing that is the object in the sentence.
Ex-Whose book is this?
In this sentence the interrogative pronoun ‘whose’ is used to make question. ‘Whose’ refers to the possession of somebody. The answer surely refers to a person like Kamala, Ramala or Bimal. It refers to the possession of the person. So we can realize that interrogative pronouns are sometimes used as personal pronouns to refer to the possession of something that belongs to somebody.
When are interrogative pronouns personal pronouns?
Interrogative pronouns are such pronouns that help us to form questions or interrogative sentences. The personal pronouns are different from interrogative pronouns. These are used in place of person, place or things. For our soothing experience pronouns are used to make questions and refers to person or thing. Interrogative pronouns can be treated as personal pronouns if they refer to particular person or thing. We can call these pronouns personal pronouns as per their occurrence in the sentences.
For examples;
Ex–Who is there in the room?
Explanation;- In this example ‘who’ is used to make question. Here the word ‘who’ is used in place of the person. So it can be called a personal pronoun.
Ex-What happened last night in your house?
Examples;- In this example the interrogative pronoun ’what’ is used to form question. It is used to refer to any incident and is used in place of it.
Why are interrogative pronouns personal pronouns?
Now we will discuss on why interrogative pronouns are personal pronouns. We may call the interrogative pronouns are personal pronouns because they refer to the person, place or thing as the personal pronouns do in a sentence. If the interrogative pronouns refer to the person or thing like the personal pronouns they should be called personal pronouns. They surely establish the definition of the personal pronouns. We cannot deny the fact that interrogative pronouns are used as personal pronouns.
For example;-
Ex–What is the use of such thing?
Explanation;- In this sentence the interrogative pronoun ‘what’ is used to make question. The answer of this question is expected to be an object. It refers to the thing and in place of thing the interrogative pronoun ’what’ is used and acts as a personal pronoun.
Ex–Which shirt do you like?
Explanation;- In the above sentence the interrogative pronoun ‘which’ is used to form question. It is used in place of a thing and may be called a personal pronoun.
Are interrogative pronouns always personal pronouns?
The purpose using interrogative pronoun is to make questions. All interrogative pronouns enquire about someone or something. It can be said that the interrogative pronouns are used to ask about some people or something in the form of interrogative sentence. They are placed in place of person or thing. Like the personal pronouns interrogative pronouns also refer to the person or thing and are used instead of them. So interrogative pronouns are always indirectly personal pronouns.
Ex-Whose sons are those in the playground?
Explanation;- Here the interrogative pronoun ‘whose’ is used to make question and it refers to any person. As it is placed instead of person it may be called a personal pronoun.
Ex-What is your favourite game?
Here the interrogative pronoun ‘what’ is used to form question. It is replaced a game that is a noun. So it is certainly a personal pronoun.
Can personal pronouns be interrogative?
Personal pronouns are the pronouns that are used instead of person or thing. The interrogative pronouns are contrary used to make questions. Interrogative pronouns can be personal pronouns but personal pronouns can never be interrogative pronouns as they cannot make question or we are unable to ask about anything or anybody with the personal pronouns. The personal pronouns he, she, I, we, you, they, it only refer to person or thing but unable to make questions. So we cannot call them interrogative pronouns.
Ex- Ramen Biswas is the president of the club. He is respected by all the members.
Explanation- In the example Ramen Biswas is a noun.’ He’ is used in place of the noun. It can never make question .It is used only as a personal pronoun.
Ex-People rushed to the spot. They heard the sound of a loud noise.
Explanation- In the above example the word ‘people’ is a noun. ‘They’ is used instead of the noun people’. It is a pronoun. It can never be used to make question. So it is a personal pronoun.
More examples and Detailed Explanations–
- 1.Who stole the bike from the market yesterday?
- 2.Whom did you ask for help?
- 3.Which shirt among these shirts do you like?
- 4.What are you going to do?
- 5.Who will win the game in the final?
- 6.Whose pens are there on the table?
- 7.Where are the people going to in the sun?
- 8.What are those flowers called?
- 9.Whose answer did the teacher ask?
1.Who stole the bike from the market yesterday?
In this example the interrogative pronoun ‘who’ is used to ask question. It refers to a person. Like the personal pronoun ‘who’ does the function in the sentence.
2.Whom did you ask for help?
This is the example where the interrogative pronoun ‘whom’ is used to ask question. This example refers to a person. For this reason this is treated as a personal pronoun.
3.Which shirt among these shirts do you like?
Explanation- Here the word ‘which’ is used with the purpose of making question. It indicates a thing and is used in place of the thing. It is undoubtedly a personal pronoun.
4.What are you going to do?
Explanation– Here the interrogative pronoun ’what’ is used for forming question. It is used in place of a work that is a noun. It may be called a personal pronoun.
5.Who will win the game in the final?
In this example ‘who’ refers to a team that is formed with people. The pronoun i9s used in place of person. So it is a personal pronoun.
6.Whose pens are there on the table?
Here the interrogative pronoun ‘whose’ refers to person. It refers to ownership, possession of someone. It is a personal pronoun.
7.Where are the people going to in the sun?
Explanation- In the sentence the word ‘where’ is used to ask question. It refers to a place. It refers to a place. So it is a personal pronoun.
8.What are those flowers called?
Explanation- In the sentence ‘what’ refers to the name of the flowers. It is a noun and ‘what’ is placed instead of if it. It is a personal pronoun.
9.Whose answer did the teacher ask?
Explanation- In this example ‘whose’ is used to form question. It refers to a person and the pronoun is used instead of the person. So it is called a personal pronoun.
Conclusion
The article shows how interrogative pronouns are used as personal pronouns. We are sure to gain a sound knowledge on the usages of the interrogative pronouns. We must maintain the right rules while using them in sentences.
Hi…. I am Goutam Datta. I have completed a double M. A. in English and B. Ed. I am a creative writer. Currently, I am a part of the LambdaGeeks.
