Interrogative And Distributive Pronouns

Interrogative Pronouns

The pronouns who, whom, whose, what and which are called interrogative pronouns because they are used for asking questions.

• Who is he?
• What did you do then?
• Whom do you want?
• Which is the road to the railway station?
• Whose is this pen?

Who has different forms for the different cases: who (nominative), whose (possessive), whom (objective). What and which remain unchanged in all cases.

Distributive Pronouns

The words each, either and neither are called distributive pronouns. Distributive pronouns are always singular and are followed by singular verbs.

Each refers to everyone of a group of persons or things taken separately. Either means one or the other of the two. Neither means not one nor the other of the two.

• Each of us was given a prize.
• You can take either of these two shirts.
• Neither of them was selected.

Note that either and neither can be used only when speaking about two persons or things. When speaking about more than two persons any, no one, none should be used.

• None of the answers is correct.
• I don’t like any of these shirts.
• No one offered to accompany him.

Reciprocal Pronouns

Each other and one another are called reciprocal pronouns because they express a reciprocal relationship.

• They gripped each other’s hand.
• The brothers love each other.
• We must love and respect one another.

Notes: Each other is usually used in speaking of two persons or things and one another when speaking about more than two. This rule isn’t strictly followed now.