what part of speech is who

Tinsaw

2 min read

·

15-04-2025

4

0

Share

The word "who" is a fascinating example of a word that can function in multiple ways depending on its context within a sentence. Understanding its grammatical role is key to writing clear and correct English. This article will explore the different parts of speech "who" can be and provide examples to clarify its usage.

Who as an Interrogative Pronoun

Most commonly, "who" serves as an interrogative pronoun. This means it introduces a question and stands in for the noun that will be the answer. It asks which person is involved.

• Example: Who ate the last cookie? (Here, "who" is the subject of the sentence, and the answer would be a person's name or a pronoun like "I" or "he.")

• Example: To whom did you give the book? (Here, "whom," the objective case of "who," is the indirect object of the verb "give.")

In these interrogative sentences, "who" acts as a placeholder for the noun that answers the question.

Who as a Relative Pronoun

"Who" also functions as a relative pronoun. In this case, it introduces a relative clause—a clause that modifies a noun or pronoun. The relative clause provides extra information about the noun it refers to.

• Example: The woman who won the lottery is my aunt. (The relative clause "who won the lottery" adds information about which woman is being discussed.)

• Example: I know the person who wrote that book. ("who wrote that book" modifies "person.")

Here, "who" connects the relative clause to the main clause, acting as both a pronoun (referring back to a person) and a connector.

Understanding "Whom"

It is important to differentiate "who" from "whom." While both are related to the word "who," they have distinct grammatical roles.

• "Who" is the subjective case (used as the subject of a verb).
• "Whom" is the objective case (used as the object of a verb or preposition).

Many find the distinction between "who" and "whom" confusing. While grammatically important, the difference is less strictly observed in modern casual speech.

• Example (Correct): Whom did you call? (Object of the verb "call")
• Example (Less Common, but Grammatically Correct): Who called you? (Subject of the verb "called")

Using "whom" correctly demonstrates a refined grammatical understanding. However, "who" is often used informally in place of "whom" in conversation without significant penalty.

Who as an Exclamation

In some very informal contexts, "who" can even act as an exclamation, expressing surprise or disbelief.

• Example: Who, me? (Expresses surprise or disbelief at being implicated in something).

This usage is less common and generally restricted to informal conversation.

Conclusion: The Versatile Nature of "Who"

Therefore, the part of speech of "who" isn't fixed. Its function depends entirely on the context of the sentence. Primarily, it's a pronoun, either interrogative (asking a question) or relative (introducing a descriptive clause). Understanding these distinctions will significantly improve your grammatical accuracy and allow you to communicate more precisely. While the use of "whom" is waning in casual speech, mastering its distinction from "who" demonstrates a higher level of grammatical precision.