who

Everyday

1. Who asks about a person: «Who is at the door?». tree →
2. Who tells more about a person just named: «The girl who won is my friend». tree →
3. Whom is who when it is the one something is done to: «to whom». tree →
4. Whose asks or tells who something belongs to. tree →
5. (casual) «Who cares?» means it does not matter; «who knows?» means nobody knows. tree →
6. (rude) «Who do you think you are?» and «who asked you?» are rude put-downs. tree →
7. (formal) Exams and letters use «whom», «to whom it may concern», «whosoever» and «the party who». tree →

In the lessons

who gives and who receives; «who» asks for a person, not a number; phrases: «who is», «who has more», «whose turn», «to whom»; in casual talk «who's coming?», «who cares», «who knows», «who's who»; in rough talk «who asked you?», «who d'you think you are?»; in the exam voice «to whom», «the party to whom the items were transferred», «whosoever»

Examples

• Today's lesson: Who gives to whom? tree →
• Who has more marbles, Ben or Lily? tree →
• Who is the 5th in the line? tree →
• Who wants another slice of pizza? tree →
• The boy who sits next to me is called Sam. tree →
• Whose coat is this? tree →
• Ask a grown-up who you trust. tree →
• who's coming tmrw? me, u, jake = 3 tree →
• Who cares if it's 12 or 13, just eat 'em. tree →
• Who asked you? Mind your own business. tree →
• Identify the party to whom the greater number of items was transferred. tree →
• Who knows how many stars there are? tree →
• "Who's there?" asked the old lady. tree →

Note

The giver loses and the receiver gains. «Who» asks for a person, not a number. Trap: «whose» (belonging) and «who's» (who is) sound the same. «whom» is formal; most people say «who». «to whom» in an exam asks for the receiver. «who cares» is not a real question.

In Jewish tradition

who gives and who receives; «who» asks for a person, not a number; phrases: «who is», «who has more», «whose turn», «to whom»; in casual talk «who's coming?», «who cares», «who knows», «who's who»; in rough talk «who asked you?», «who d'you think you are?»; in the exam voice «to whom», «the party to whom the items were transferred», «whosoever»

Examples

• And He said: 'Who told thee that thou wast naked? (Torah GEN.3.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• We know not who put our money in our sacks.' (Torah GEN.43.22, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said: 'Who are these?' (Torah GEN.48.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• Who hath enjoined Him His way? (Writings JOB.36.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• Or who laid the corner-stone thereof, (Writings JOB.38.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• Who will lead me unto Edom? (Writings PSA.60.11, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

The giver loses and the receiver gains. «Who» asks for a person, not a number. Trap: «whose» (belonging) and «who's» (who is) sound the same. «whom» is formal; most people say «who». «to whom» in an exam asks for the receiver. «who cares» is not a real question.