A2 1K

Whose

UK /["/huːz/"]/ US /["/huːz/"]/ Pronunciation

Definition

used in questions to ask who something belongs to

Listen to definition

In simple words: used to ask or say who something belongs to

Examples

• Whose house is that?
• I wonder whose this is.
• He's a man whose opinion I respect.
• It's the house whose door is painted red.
• Isobel, whose brother he was, had heard the joke before.

Usage notes

Used in questions or relative clauses to indicate possession. Avoid mixing with 'who's' (who is) to prevent confusion, especially in speaking.

Grammar pattern

who + 's (short for 'who is' or 'who has')

Memory hint

Think of 'whose' as 'whose house?' to remember it's about ownership.

Collocations

• whose line is it
• whose responsibility
• whose idea

Synonyms

• belonging to whom
• of which person
• to whom

Antonyms

• mine
• yours
• his
• hers

Common mistakes

• Confused with 'who's' – remember, 'whose' indicates possession.
• Using 'whose' in a non-possessive context.
• Omitting 'whose' when asking about ownership.