How do you use "who" in a sentence?

Who is calling, please? The teacher who taught me is retiring. Who would have thought it possible?

who

Q: What does "who" mean?

What or which person or people; the person that 'Who' is an interrogative pronoun asking about identity ('who is that?') and a relative pronoun introducing clauses about people ('the woman who called'). In formal English, 'whom' is used for objects, but 'who' is increasingly accepted in all positions in everyday speech. 'Who' can also begin exclamations.

Vocabulary Word BritishAmerican ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: What or which person or people; the person that

谁，...的人

quién, que

誰、〜する人

누구, ~하는 사람

'Who' is an interrogative pronoun asking about identity ('who is that?') and a relative pronoun introducing clauses about people ('the woman who called'). In formal English, 'whom' is used for objects, but 'who' is increasingly accepted in all positions in everyday speech. 'Who' can also begin exclamations.

「who」是询问身份的疑问代词（「who is that?」），也是引导关于人的从句的关系代词（「the woman who called」）。在正式英语中，宾语位置使用「whom」，但「who」在日常口语中越来越被接受用于所有位置。「who」也可以开始感叹句。

«Who» es un pronombre interrogativo que pregunta sobre identidad («who is that?») y un pronombre relativo que introduce cláusulas sobre personas («the woman who called»). En inglés formal, «whom» se usa para objetos, pero «who» es cada vez más aceptado en todas las posiciones en el habla cotidiana. «Who» también puede comenzar exclamaciones.

「who」は身元を尋ねる疑問代名詞（「who is that?」）であり、人についての節を導入する関係代名詞（「the woman who called」）です。フォーマルな英語では目的語に「whom」が使われますが、日常会話ではすべての位置で「who」がますます受け入れられています。「who」は感嘆文を始めることもできます。

'who'는 신원을 묻는 의문대명사('저 사람은 누구?')이자, 사람에 대한 절을 이끄는 관계대명사('전화한 그 여자')입니다. 격식체에서는 목적어 자리에 'whom'을 사용하지만, 일상 대화에서는 모든 위치에서 'who'가 점점 더 널리 쓰이고 있습니다. 'who'는 감탄문을 시작할 때도 사용됩니다.

Examples

Who is calling, please?
请问是哪位？
¿Quién llama, por favor?
どちら様ですか？
누구세요?
The teacher who taught me is retiring.
教我的那位老师要退休了。
El profesor que me enseñó se jubila.
私に教えてくれた先生が退職します。
저를 가르쳐 주신 선생님이 은퇴하십니다.
Who would have thought it possible?
谁能想到这是可能的呢？
¿Quién hubiera pensado que era posible?
誰がそれが可能だと思ったでしょう？
누가 그것이 가능하다고 생각했겠습니까?

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: general

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old English 'hwā', the interrogative pronoun meaning 'who', from Proto-Germanic *hwaz. Cognate with Latin 'quis' and Sanskrit 'kas'. The 'wh-' spelling reflects an older pronunciation /hw/.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

who

Examples

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Origin & History

Cultural Context

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