Who vs Which
What’s the difference between them?
Who
Meaning:
Who is a pronoun used to refer to a person or people in a question or statement.
Examples:
1. Who is going to the store?
2. Who left their shoes in the hallway?
3. Who can answer this question?
Which
Meaning:
Which is an adverb, pronoun, or determiner used to ask or talk about a choice or selection from a number of possibilities.
Examples:
1. Which of these books do you think I should read?
2. Which route will you take to get to the beach?
3. Which of you two was the first to arrive?
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
Who
1. Individual
2. Person
3. One
4. Character
5. Fellow/Gal/Guy
1. Nobody
2. Them
3. Opposite
4. Different
5. Refrain
Which
1. What
2. That
3. Which one
4. Whichever
5. Whatever
1. Where
2. Whatever
3. When
4. Neither
5. Neither here nor there
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "Who", "Which".
1. 'Who' refers to people, while 'which' refers to things.
2. When deciding which word to use, ask yourself if you are referring to a person or a thing. If it is a person, use 'who,' and if it is a thing, use 'which.'
3. To help remember when to use 'who' and 'which,' remember the phrase 'who's the boss?' That phrase refers to people, which is when 'who' is used.
Practice English with the Promova app and avoid misusing confusing words
Frequently asked questions
When should 'who' be used?
The pronoun 'who' should be used when asking questions about a person or persons. For example, 'Who is the author of this book?' or 'Who are you inviting to your party?'
When is the appropriate context for using the word 'which'?
The pronoun 'which' should be used when asking questions about a particular thing or things within a group. For example, 'Which book should I buy?' or 'Which dress looks better on me?'
Do 'who' and 'which' share the same pronunciation?
No, 'who' and 'which' do not share the same pronunciation. The word 'who' is pronounced /hu:/ while the word 'which' is pronounced /wɪtʃ/.
What are some common mistakes people make when using these words?
The most common mistake people make when using 'who' and 'which' is confusing them and using them interchangeably. Remember that 'who' should be used when referring to a person, and 'which' should be used when referring to a thing.
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. The girl _____ lives next door is named Emily.
2. I have two books, one of _____ is written by J.K. Rowling.
3. The man _____ sold me this car is my uncle.
4. There are several movies _____ I want to watch this weekend.
5. Can you identify the person _____ took my notebook?
6. She has many dresses, _____ she wears only on special occasions.
1. Who.
Explanation: We use who when referring to people. In this case, the sentence is about the girl, a person, so who is the correct choice.
2. Which.
Explanation: We use which to refer to things, not people. Here, the sentence is about books, which are objects, so which is the correct word to use.
3. Who.
Explanation: This sentence refers to the man, a person. Therefore, who is the appropriate choice.
4. Which.
Explanation: In this sentence, we are talking about movies, which are objects or things. So, which is the right word to use.
5. Who.
Explanation: Were trying to identify the person, so who is the correct word to fill in the gap.
6. Which.
Explanation: The sentence is discussing dresses, objects or things. Thus, which is the appropriate choice for the gap.
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Download the PDF with a list of commonly confused words made as flashcards for comfortable learning.
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.