Which vs Whose
What’s the difference between them?
Which
Meaning:
Which (pronoun): used to ask for information specifying one or more people or things from a group already mentioned or known about.
Examples:
1. Which one do you prefer?
2. Which way should we go?
3. Which of your siblings do you get along with the most?
Whose
Meaning:
Possessive form of the pronoun 'who'; used to refer to the person, people, or thing belonging to the subject of the sentence.
Examples:
1. Whose shoes are these?
2. Whose turn is it to do the dishes?
3. Whose car do you want to take?
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
Which
1. What
2. That
3. Whichever
4. Whatever
5. Whichsoever
1. This
2. That
3. Those
Whose
1. Of whom
2. Belonging to whom
3. Owned by whom
1. Nobody's
2. Not mine
3. Belonging to no one
4. Not theirs
5. Unattributed
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "Which", "Whose".
1. 'Which' is used to refer to something that is not a person.
2. 'Whose' is used to refer to a person or people.
3. A mnemonic phrase to help remember this difference is: 'Which is for Things, Whose is for People.'
Practice English with the Promova app and avoid misusing confusing words
Frequently asked questions
In what situations should the first word be used?
'Which' should be used when asking to make a choice between two or more options. For example, 'Which shirt would you like to buy?'.
When is the appropriate context for using the second word?
'Whose' is used to ask about the owner of something. For example, 'Whose coat is this?'
Do the two words share the same pronunciation?
No, the two words do not share the same pronunciation - 'which' is pronounced as /wɪtʃ/, while 'whose' is pronounced as /huːz/.
What are some common mistakes people make when using these words?
Common mistakes people make when using these words include confusing which with who, and using who's instead of whose. For example, 'Who’s coat is this?' is incorrect, while 'Whose coat is this?' is correct.
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. _________ car did you buy?
2. _________ idea was the best?
3. _________ side of the street is the store on?
4. _________ country are you from?
5. _________ team won the match?
6. _________ pencil did you use?
1. Which
Explanation: This is the correct word to use in this sentence because it implies that there is a choice between two or more options that the speaker is inquiring about.
2. Whose
Explanation: This is the correct word to use in this sentence because it implies that the speaker is asking to identify the person to whom something belongs.
3. Which
Explanation: This is the correct word to use in this sentence because it implies that there is a choice between two or more options that the speaker is inquiring about.
4. Which
Explanation: This is the correct word to use in this sentence because it implies that there is a choice between two or more options that the speaker is inquiring about.
5. Which
Explanation: This is the correct word to use in this sentence because it implies that there is a choice between two or more options that the speaker is inquiring about.
6. Whose
Explanation: This is the correct word to use in this sentence because it implies that the speaker is asking to identify the person to whom something belongs.
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List of Commonly Confused Words
Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.