10 Exploring Questions with Who, Whom, and Whose
1. Who:
- We use “who” when we want to know the subject of a sentence or when talking about the subject.
- Example 1: Who is singing? (Asking about the subject of the sentence.)
- Example 2: She is the one who won the race. (Talking about the subject of the sentence.)
2. Whom:
- We use “whom” when we want to know the object of a verb or preposition. It’s a bit formal and less common in everyday conversation.
- Example 1: To whom did you give the present? (Asking about the object of the preposition “to”.)
- Example 2: Whom did you see at the movie theater? (Asking about the object of the verb “see”.)
3. Whose:
- We use “whose” to show possession or ownership, asking about something that belongs to someone.
- Example 1: Whose car is parked outside? (Asking about the owner of the car.)
- Example 2: The student whose name is on the board needs to see the teacher. (Showing possession or ownership of the name.)
To remember:
- Use “who” for the subject.
- Use “whom” for the object, especially in formal situations.
- Use “whose” to show possession or ownership.
Conversation Sample:
This conversation between Riya and Juliya revolves around asking questions using the words “who,” “whom,” and “whose.” They discuss a spelling bee contest and inquire about the participants, organizers, and judges using these question words. Through their dialogue, they demonstrate how to correctly use “who,” “whom,” and “whose” in various contexts.
Riya: Hi Juliya! Do you know who won the spelling bee contest?
Juliya: Hi Riya! Yes, I heard it was Sarah who won. She’s a great speller!
Riya: Oh, really? Wow! And whom did she compete against?
Juliya: She competed against Alex, whom she beat in the final round.
Riya: That’s impressive! By the way, whose idea was it to have the contest in the first place?
Juliya: It was Mr. Johnson’s idea. He’s the teacher whose class organized the event.
Riya: Ah, I see! And who was the judge?
Juliya: Ms. Smith, who is the English teacher, was the judge.
Riya: Got it! So, who was the runner-up?
Juliya: The runner-up was Michael, who came in second place.
Riya: Thanks for telling me! It’s interesting to know who participated and whose idea it was.
Difficult words, phrasal verbs, idioms from the conversation:
- Spelling bee contest: A competition where participants spell words aloud.
- Runner-up: The person who comes in second place in a competition.
- Organized: To plan or arrange something.
- Judge: A person who decides the winner in a competition.
- Participated: Took part in an activity or event.
- Impressive: Something that makes a strong impression or is admirable.
- Contest: A competition where people compete to win.
- Final round: The last stage of a competition where the winner is determined.
- English teacher: A teacher who teaches the English language.
- Idea: A thought or plan that someone has.
Assignment: Are you ready for the assignment?
Assignment Title: Exploring Questions with Who, Whom, and Whose
Brief: In this assignment, you’ll practice forming questions using the words “who,” “whom,” and “whose,” just like Riya and Juliya did in their conversation. You’ll also learn how to use these words correctly in sentences.
Instructions:
- Listen to the conversation between Riya and Juliya again.
- Pay attention to the questions they ask using “who,” “whom,” and “whose.”
- Think of five questions you can ask using “who,” “whom,” and “whose.” For example, you can ask about someone’s favorite person, a recent competition, or an event at school.
- Write down your questions, making sure to use “who,” “whom,” or “whose” correctly.
- Record yourself asking these questions.
- Listen to your recording and check if you used “who,” “whom,” and “whose” correctly. Did your questions make sense?
Example Questions:
- Who won the basketball game last week?
- Whom did you invite to your birthday party?
- Whose turn is it to do the dishes tonight?
- Who is the tallest student in your class?
- Whose idea was it to have a picnic in the park?