A1pronounhigh_frequency_chunk

Who

UK /["/huː/"]/US /["/huː/"]/

Definition

used in questions to ask about the name, identity or function of one or more people

In simple words: A word used to ask about a person.

Examples

  • Who is that woman?
  • I wonder who that letter was from.
  • Who are you phoning?
  • Who's the money for?
  • The people who called yesterday want to buy the house.
  • The people (who) we met in France have sent us a card.
  • Mrs Smith, who has a lot of teaching experience at junior level, will be joining the school in September.
  • And then Mary, who we had been talking about earlier, walked in.
  • Who are you to tell me I can't park here?

Usage notes

Used to inquire about someone's identity; appropriate in both formal and informal settings. Avoid using it in contexts where specifics are required, like in legal or detailed reports.

Grammar pattern

who + verb

Memory hint

Sounds like 'who's there?' — imagine someone knocking at a door and asking.

Collocations

  • who is
  • who are
  • who knows

Synonyms

  • which
  • that
  • whoever

Antonyms

  • someone
  • somebody
  • anyone
  • anybody

Common mistakes

  • Using 'who' for objects instead of 'whom'.
  • 'Who' used incorrectly after prepositions like 'to'.