Asking questions: interrogative pronouns

1.150 One way of asking questions is by using an interrogative pronoun.

The interrogative pronouns are 'who', 'whose', 'whom', 'what', and 'which'. They can be used as the subject or object of a clause, or as the object of a preposition. 'Whose' and 'which' can also be determiners. Other words, such as 'where', 'when', 'why', and 'how', can also be used to ask questions.

Interrogative pronouns are not used as the indirect object of a clause.

Who was at the door?

'There's a car outside.' 'Whose is it?'

A duel, Pa? Whom did he fight?

What are you doing?

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

For more information about structures in which interrogative pronouns are used, see paragraphs 4.10 to 4.30

1.151 Interrogative pronouns refer to the information you are asking for.

'Who', 'whose', and 'whom' are used when you think that the answer to the question will be a person.

'He lost his wife.' 'Who? Terry?'

He looked at the cat. 'Whose is it? Have you ever seen it before?'

'To whom, if I may ask, are you engaged to be married?' 'To Daniel Orton.'

'Which' and 'what' are used when you think that the answer to the question will be something other than a person.

'Is there really a difference? Which do you prefer?

'What did he want?' 'Maurice's address.'

reported questions 1.152 Interrogative pronouns are also used to introduce reported questions.

I asked her who she had been talking to.

He wondered what Daintry would do now.

For more information about reported questions, see paragraphs 7.29 to 7.35.

Other pronouns

1.153 Many other words can be pronouns, provided that it is clear what is being talked about, because it is then unnecessary to repeat the headword.

For example, most general determiners can also be pronouns. For more information about general determiners, set paragraphs 1.208 to 1.233.

Here is a list of general determiners which are also pronouns:

all another any both

each either enough few

fewer less little many

more most much neither

several some

Like all noun groups, they can be used as the subject, direct object, or indirect object of a clause, or the object of a preposition.

Both were offered jobs immediately.

Discuss it with your female colleagues, if you have any.

I saw one girl whispering to another.

1.154 Although 'a', 'an', 'even', and 'no' are general determiners, they cannot stand alone as pronouns.

To refer back to a noun group which includes the determiner 'a' or 'an', you can use the pronoun 'one'. Similarly, you use 'each' to refer back to a noun group which includes 'every' and 'none' to refer back to a noun group which includes 'no'.

Note that 'another' and 'others' are pronouns, bat 'other' cannot be a pronoun.

'all', 'both', and 'each' for emphasis 1.155 'All', 'both', and 'each' for emphasis, in a similar way to the use of reflexive pronouns described in paragraphs 1.120 to 1.122.

The brothers all agreed that something more was needed.

He loved them both.

Ford and Duncan each had their chances.

They can also come after main verbs, as auxiliary verb, a modal, or 'be', rather than directly after the noun or pronoun.

They were both still working at their universities.

The letters have all been signed.

The older children can all do the same things together.

'Each' can also come at the end of the clause.

Three others were fined £200 each.

1.156 Cardinal numbers can also be pronouns. For example, the answer to the question 'How many children do you have?' is usually 'Three' rather than 'Three children'.

'How many people are there?'—'Forty five.'

Of the other women, two are dancers.

They bought eight companies and sold off five.

For more information on cardinal numbers, see paragraphs 2.230 to 2.248.

1.157 The number 'one' is a special case. Like other cardinal numbers, it can be used to refer to one of a group of things.

'One' is also used to refer back to a noun group with the determiner 'a'.

Could I have a bigger one, please?

It can also be used for emphasis after another determiner.

There are systems of communication right through the animal world; each one is distinctive.

'One' can be used as a personal pronoun. This use is explained in paragraph 1.109.

1.158 Note that 'the one' and 'the ones' can be used to refer to a noun alone, rather than to the whole of the noun group. They are nearly always used with a modifier such as an adjective, or a qualifier such as a prepositional phrase.

'Which poem?' 'The one they were talking about yesterday.'

...the road comes up from the south and meets the one from Lairg.

He gave the best seats to the ones who arrived first.

1.159 You use 'the other', 'the others', 'others', or 'another' to refer to different members of a group of things or people.

Some writers are greater than others.

He is deceived. The others cannot bear his burden for him.

1.160 If you want to say something about a member of a group of people or things you can use 'one'. You can then refer to the rest of the group as 'the others'.

The bells are carefully installed so that disconnecting one will have no effect on the others.

They had three little daughters, one a baby, the others twins of twelve.

You can use 'the one' and 'the other' to refer to each of a pair of things.

The same factors push wages and prices up together, the one reinforcing the other.

If you do not wish to specify exactly which of a group you are talking about, you can refer to 'one or other' of them.

It may be that one or other of them had fears for their health.