Chapter XLIII: Interrogative Pronouns

=153.= If we ask the question, “Who killed cock robin?” the answer may be the declarative sentence, “The sparrow killed cock robin.” The sentences are alike, except that in the declarative sentence _the sparrow_ is the subject, while in the interrogative sentence _who_ is the subject. It is clear then that _who_ is used instead of the noun _sparrow_. _Who_ is therefore a pronoun, and since it is used in asking a question, we call it an =interrogative pronoun=.

=154.= The other interrogative pronouns are _whose_, _whom_, _which_, and _what_. _Whose_ is the possessive form of _who_, and is used, like other possessive pronouns, to modify some noun expressed or understood; as, “Whose house is the gray stone mansion on the corner?”

_Whom_ is the objective form of _who_, and is used as the object of a verb or of a preposition; as, “Whom did he marry?” “To whom did you speak?”

NOTE.—In conversation, the preposition governing an
interrogative pronoun is often placed at the end of the
question; as, “Whom did you come for?”

=155.= _What_ is used when we inquire for the name, not of a person but of a thing; as, “What did he have on his head?”

=156.= _Which_ is used when we wish to know the particular one of several persons or things; as, “Which of these moon-stones do you like best?”

=157.= In a sentence like this, “Who is that tall man?” it may be difficult at first thought to decide whether _who_ is the subject of _is_ or the subjective complement. We can always tell by the answer. In this case the answer is, “That tall man is Joseph Choate.” It is clear that _Joseph Choate_ is the subjective complement, hence in the question the word _who_, which means _Joseph Choate_, is the subjective complement.

=Summary.=—An =interrogative pronoun= is one used in asking a question.

The interrogative pronouns are _who_, _which_, and _what_.

_Who_ is declined: Nominative, _who_; possessive, _whose_; objective, _whom_.

An interrogative pronoun has the same use in the question that the word which takes its place has in the answer.

=Exercise.=—Select all the interrogative pronouns in these sentences. Tell the use and case of each. Determine this by answering the question that is asked.

Analyze sentences 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15.

1. What made you so late?

2. Who is there?

3. Who is this young and handsome officer now entering the door
of the tavern?

4. Whose work is this crayon drawing of a castle in the
moonlight?

5. What do you mean by telling me such nonsense as that?

6. What may so bold a hunter kill?

7. Who should know better than I?

8. What is all this talk about the Red Flower?

9. What is gingerbread?

10. Whose is this image and superscription?

11. With whom did you take that memorable trip on Lake Superior?

12. Whose little girl are you, with your rosy cheeks and pretty
red hood?

13. Whom did the superintendent mean when he announced that the
youngest pupil in the grammar school had made one hundred in
all her examinations?

14. Which should you rather be, an artist or a poet?

15. Which shall I take, a new piano or a trip to California?

=158.= A common error in the use of interrogative pronouns is the use of the nominative form _who_ when the objective _whom_ is required. This error arises from the fact that the pronoun comes at the beginning of the sentence, and is separated by intervening words from the verb or the preposition of which it is the object, as in these sentences,—

Whom did the ball hit?

Whom do you sit with this term?

=Exercise.=—Supply the proper pronoun, _who_ or _whom_, in each of the following sentences, and give your reasons:—

1. —— does the baby look like?

2. —— do I see in the orchard?

3. —— did you go to the station for this morning?

4. —— are you smiling at, George?

5. —— does Mr. Coburn work for now?

6. —— will open this window for me?

7. —— can we depend upon?

8. —— is that child playing with?

9. —— have you invited to your party?

10. —— can keep a secret?