Interrogative pronouns and adverbs are essential parts of speech used to ask questions and gather information. Let's delve into each:
Interrogative pronouns
who
whom
whose
which
what
Interrogative adverbs
when
where
why
how
how much
how many
Interrogative Pronouns:
are used to ask questions about people or things. They stand in for the information we are asking about.
Who: Used to ask about people.
Example: Who is at the door?
Whom: Used as the object of a verb or preposition.
Example: Whom did you invite to the party?
Whose: Used to ask about possession.
Example: Whose book is this?
What: Used to ask about things or actions.
Example: What is your favorite color?
Which: Used to ask about a specific item or choice from a group.
Example: Which movie did you watch?
Interrogative pronouns help to form direct questions, where the pronoun represents the unknown information we're asking about.
Interrogative Adverbs:
are used to ask questions about manner, place, time, reason, or amount. They modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
Where: Used to ask about place or location.
Example: Where is the nearest supermarket?
When: Used to ask about time or occurrence.
Example: When will the meeting start?
Why: Used to ask about reason or purpose.
Example: Why did you choose that option?
How: Used to ask about manner, condition, or quality.
Example: How are you feeling today?
How many/much: Used to ask about quantity or amount.
Example: How much does this cost?
Interrogative adverbs help to form open-ended questions that inquire about various aspects of a situation, event, or condition.
In summary, interrogative pronouns and adverbs are crucial for forming questions in English, allowing speakers to gather information about people • things • places • times • reasons • quantities.
They play a fundamental role in communication by prompting inquiry and facilitating conversation.