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?