Do you know what interrogative pronouns are? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on interrogative pronouns, including the definition, usage, example sentences, and more!
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According to Word Sense, there are many different types of pronouns with different functions:
determinative pronoun
substantive pronoun
demonstrative pronoun
relative pronoun
prepositional pronoun
pronoun demonstrative
gender-neutral pronoun
personal subject pronouns
interrogative pronoun
object pronoun
reciprocal pronoun
epicene pronoun
resumptive pronoun
emphasizing pronoun
reflexive possessive pronoun
subject pronoun
substantival pronoun
intensive pronoun
reflexive pronoun
adjective pronoun
adjectival pronoun
indefinite pronoun
possessive pronoun
personal pronoun
Today we will explore the main interrogative pronouns. These are not to be confused with interrogative adjectives or an interrogative adverb/interrogative determiner. These are question words like who, what, where, when, why, and so on. These pronouns are used as the subject of verbs in questions to gain understanding. These words are used in place of a noun as the subject of a verb to gain specific information.
These are also used in French and Spanish. In Spanish grammar these are qué, quién and cuál. In French, use the interrogative pronouns qui, quoi, que, and lequel. According to Love to Know, these can be used in many different ways, such as the below:
De + lequel can contract to form: duquel, de laquelle, desquels, or desquelles
Lesquels – used for plural masculine nouns
Lesquelles – used for plural feminine nouns
À + lequel can contract to form: auquel, à laquelle, auxquels, or auxquelles
Laquelle – used for singular feminine nouns
Lequel – used for singular masculine nouns
Qu’est-ce qu
Qui est-ce qui
Qui est-ce que
What are interrogative pronoun examples?
An interrogative pronoun can be used in many different contexts in the English language. Trying to use a word or literary technique in a sentence is one of the best ways to memorize what it is, but you can also try making flashcards or quizzes that test your knowledge. Try using this term of the day in a sentence today! The following examples of interrogative pronouns from Your Dictionary and Grammar Monster can help get you started incorporating this tool into your everyday use. Try to use the term interrogative pronouns today or notice when someone else is using an interrogative pronoun.
Whatsoever do you mean by that?
Whoever would have taken it?
What is your favorite?
Who is your cousin?
Which is Robert’s photograph?
What is the address of the airport?
What is the name of the movie?
Whom should I choose?
Which is worse, failing or never trying?
Whose is this?
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. (William Shakespeare)
What is your favorite genre of film? Is it documentaries?
Whatsoever will we do?
What will you do?
What is that?
What is originality? Undetected plagiarism. (Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral William Inge)
Which is yours?
Which did you choose?
Whomsoever did you find?
Whatever did you say?
Do you know what this is?
Whose did you buy?
What is a weed? A weed is a plant whose virtues have never been discovered. (American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson)
I want to know what this is.
What are they buying?
Whosever is this?
Who is that?
Whose shall we take?
Which is the safest?
Who did you call?
Whom were you speaking with last night?
What are other literary techniques and devices?
There are many different literary and grammatical techniques and devices that you might see when you are reading prose or poetry. It is important to recognize these terms because they are always used for some purpose. Knowing these devices can help readers understand the author’s deeper meaning and why they are using such a device. Take a look at the below list of grammatical devices from OED and see how many you know! Then try researching ones that are unfamiliar to you.
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.
Kevin
December 3, 2021
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