Who in vs. Whose

Attribute	Who in	Whose
Usage	Refers to the person or people performing an action	Refers to possession or ownership
Function	Used as a subject or object pronoun	Used as a possessive pronoun
Examples	Who is coming to the party?	Whose book is this?

Introduction

When it comes to English grammar, understanding the differences between similar words can be crucial for effective communication. Two such words that are often confused are "who" and "whose." While they may seem similar at first glance, they actually serve different purposes in a sentence. In this article, we will explore the attributes of "who" and "whose" to help you use them correctly in your writing.

Who

The word "who" is a pronoun that is used to refer to a person or people. It is often used as the subject of a sentence or clause, and it can also be used as an object. For example, in the sentence "Who is coming to the party?" the word "who" is the subject of the sentence. In the sentence "I saw the person who won the race," the word "who" is the object of the verb "saw."

One important thing to note about "who" is that it is always used to refer to people, not things. If you are talking about an object or an animal, you would use a different pronoun such as "which" or "that." For example, you would say "The dog that barked all night kept me awake," not "The dog who barked all night kept me awake."

Another use of "who" is in indirect questions. For example, "I wonder who is coming to the party." In this case, "who" is used to introduce the question within the sentence.

Overall, "who" is a versatile pronoun that is used to refer to people and can serve as both a subject and an object in a sentence.

Whose

On the other hand, the word "whose" is a possessive pronoun that is used to show ownership or possession. It is used to ask about or indicate possession of something. For example, in the sentence "Whose book is this?" the word "whose" is used to ask about the ownership of the book. In the sentence "The man whose car was stolen reported it to the police," the word "whose" indicates that the car belonged to the man.

One important thing to note about "whose" is that it is always used to refer to people, not things. If you are talking about an object or an animal, you would use a different possessive pronoun such as "its" or "their." For example, you would say "The tree lost its leaves in the fall," not "The tree lost whose leaves in the fall."

Another use of "whose" is in defining or non-defining relative clauses. For example, "The woman whose car was parked illegally received a ticket." In this case, "whose" introduces a relative clause that provides additional information about the woman.

Overall, "whose" is a possessive pronoun that is used to indicate ownership or possession and is always used to refer to people.

Comparison

While "who" and "whose" are both pronouns that are used to refer to people, they serve different purposes in a sentence. "Who" is used to refer to a person as the subject or object of a sentence, while "whose" is used to indicate ownership or possession of something. Additionally, "who" can be used in indirect questions, while "whose" is used in defining or non-defining relative clauses.

• "Who" is used as a subject or object in a sentence, while "whose" is used to indicate ownership or possession.
• "Who" is used to refer to people in direct and indirect questions, while "whose" is used in defining or non-defining relative clauses.
• "Who" is a versatile pronoun that can serve as both a subject and an object, while "whose" is a possessive pronoun that indicates ownership.

By understanding the attributes of "who" and "whose," you can use these pronouns correctly in your writing and avoid common mistakes. Remember that "who" is used to refer to people as subjects or objects, while "whose" is used to indicate ownership or possession. With practice, you can become more confident in using these pronouns effectively in your communication.