Is "Who" a Personal Pronoun?

Yes, “who” is a personal pronoun. It is used to refer to a person or people in a sentence, typically as the subject or object of a verb. “Who” is a third-person singular pronoun, which means it is used to refer to a single person or entity that is not the speaker or the person being addressed.

Understanding Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns are a class of pronouns that are used to replace nouns or noun phrases in a sentence. They are called “personal” because they refer to specific people or things. The main personal pronouns in English are:

First-person: I, me, my, mine, we, us, our, ours
Second-person: you, your, yours
Third-person: he, him, his, she, her, hers, it, its, they, them, their, theirs

The pronoun “who” falls under the third-person category, as it is used to refer to a person or people who are not the speaker or the person being addressed.

Characteristics of “Who” as a Personal Pronoun

Subjective Case: In the subjective case, “who” is used as the subject of a sentence. For example:
Who is coming to the party?
Who won the election?
Objective Case: In the objective case, “who” is used as the object of a sentence. For example:
I saw who was standing at the door.
The teacher called on who was raising their hand.
Possessive Case: The possessive form of “who” is “whose”. It is used to indicate ownership or possession. For example:
Whose book is this?
I don’t know whose car that is.
Interrogative: “Who” is also used as an interrogative pronoun, which means it is used to ask questions about a person or people. For example:
Who is the president of the company?
Who are the members of the committee?
Relative: “Who” can also be used as a relative pronoun, which means it is used to introduce a relative clause that provides additional information about a person or people. For example:
The person who won the award is my friend.
The students who studied hard passed the exam.
Number: “Who” is a singular pronoun, meaning it refers to a single person or entity. If you need to refer to multiple people, you would use the plural pronoun “they” instead.
Gender: “Who” is a gender-neutral pronoun, meaning it can refer to a person of any gender.

Differences between “Who” and Other Personal Pronouns

“Who” vs. “He/She”: “Who” is used to refer to a person or people, while “he” and “she” are used to refer to a specific individual of a particular gender.
Who is the best candidate for the job? (Referring to a person or people)
He is the best candidate for the job. (Referring to a specific male candidate)
She is the best candidate for the job. (Referring to a specific female candidate)
“Who” vs. “It”: “Who” is used to refer to a person or people, while “it” is used to refer to an object or non-human entity.
Who is the author of this book? (Referring to a person)
It is a very interesting book. (Referring to the book itself)
“Who” vs. “They”: “Who” is a singular pronoun, while “they” is a plural pronoun. “They” is used to refer to multiple people.
Who won the race? (Referring to a single person)
They won the race. (Referring to multiple people)

Common Mistakes and Misuses of “Who”

Confusing “Who” and “Whom”: “Who” is used in the subjective case, while “whom” is used in the objective case. Many people struggle to distinguish between the two, leading to common mistakes.
Correct: Who is the best candidate for the job?
Incorrect: Whom is the best candidate for the job?
Mixing “Who” and “That”: “Who” is used to refer to people, while “that” is used to refer to things. Mixing these two pronouns can lead to confusion.
Correct: The person who won the award is my friend.
Incorrect: The person that won the award is my friend.
Overusing “Who”: While “who” is a useful pronoun, overusing it can make your writing sound repetitive or awkward. It’s important to vary your pronoun usage to improve the flow and readability of your writing.
Correct: The students who studied hard passed the exam.
Incorrect: The students who studied hard, who passed the exam.
Incorrect Placement of “Who”: “Who” should be placed at the beginning of the clause or sentence it is referring to. Placing it in the wrong position can change the meaning or make the sentence unclear.
Correct: The person who won the award is my friend.
Incorrect: The person is my friend who won the award.

By understanding the characteristics and proper usage of “who” as a personal pronoun, you can improve your writing and communication skills, ensuring that you use this pronoun effectively and accurately.

Exercises and Practice

Fill in the blank with the correct personal pronoun:
_____ is the best candidate for the job?
I saw _____ was standing at the door.
_____ book is this?
Identify the correct usage of “who” in the following sentences:
a. The teacher called on who was raising their hand.
b. The person that won the award is my friend.
c. They are the students who studied hard and passed the exam.
Rewrite the following sentences to correct the misuse of “who”:
The students who studied hard, who passed the exam.
The person is my friend who won the award.
Whom is the president of the company?
Explain the difference between “who” and “whom” in the following sentences:
a. Who did you invite to the party?
b. To whom did you give the gift?
Provide examples of “who” used as an interrogative pronoun, a relative pronoun, and a possessive pronoun.

By practicing these exercises, you can reinforce your understanding of “who” as a personal pronoun and improve your ability to use it correctly in your writing and communication.

Conclusion

In summary, “who” is a personal pronoun that is used to refer to a person or people in a sentence, typically as the subject or object of a verb. It is a third-person singular pronoun, which means it is used to refer to a single person or entity that is not the speaker or the person being addressed.

Understanding the characteristics and proper usage of “who” as a personal pronoun is essential for effective communication and writing. By avoiding common mistakes, such as confusing “who” and “whom” or mixing “who” and “that,” and by practicing the exercises provided, you can improve your mastery of this important pronoun.

Remember, the key to using “who” effectively is to be mindful of its grammatical function and to ensure that it is used in the correct context and position within a sentence. With practice and attention to detail, you can become a confident and proficient user of this personal pronoun.

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Vriddhi Kapoor

Hi…..I’m a graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature. I wish to do a Masters in the same field someday and continue my career in Academia.
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