Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'whose' to replace possessive adjectives like 'his', 'her', or 'their' when connecting two sentences about ownership.
- Replace possessive words (his/her/its/their) with 'whose'. Example: 'The man whose car broke down.'
- Always place 'whose' immediately before the noun it possesses. Example: 'Whose + house'.
- Use it for both people and things to sound more natural. Example: 'A company whose profits grew.'
Overview
whose の出番。How This Grammar Works
whose は所有格の関係代名詞 (possessive relative pronoun) なんだ。who の所有格バージョンだね。his、her、its、あるいは their といった単語と入れ替わるわけ。's の代わりにもなるよ。- 1
I have a boss.
(私には上司がいる) - 2"The boss's car is always parked illegally." (その上司の車はいつも違法駐車されている)
I have a boss whose car is always parked illegally.
Formation Pattern
whose という単語を加える。
whose のすぐ後ろに2番目の名詞（所有されているもの）を加える。
Owner + whose + Owned Item/Person + Information
The YouTuber whose videos I watch is very funny. (私が見ている動画のYouTuberはとても面白い。)
whose とそのアイテムの間に the や a が入っていないことに注目してね。
whose the dog じゃなくて、ただの whose dog なんだ。
When To Use It
He’s the guy whose laptop has all those weird stickers. (彼は、ノートパソコンに奇妙なステッカーがいっぱい貼ってある男だよ。)I use an app whose notifications are actually helpful. (通知が実際に役立つアプリを使ってるんだ。)I once worked for a manager whose leadership style was very inspiring. (かつて、リーダーシップのスタイルがとても刺激的なマネージャーの下で働いていました。)whose dance I'm trying to learn." (私がダンスを覚えようとしているクリエイター。)That’s the cat whose meow sounds like a human screaming. (あれは、鳴き声が人間の叫び声みたいに聞こえる猫だよ。)whose hearts you broke) を列挙するのには使わないでね。
Common Mistakes
whose と who’s を混同すること。Who’s は who is または who has の短縮形。Whose は所有を表すためだけの言葉。whose の後に冠詞 (article) をつけちゃうこと。The girl whose the car is red. とは絶対に言わないで。The girl whose car is red. と言おう。whose の直後に来なきゃいけないってことを忘れないでね。The man whose is tallなんて、全く意味不明だよね。
Contrast With Similar Patterns
of which を使えばいいんじゃないかと思うかもしれないね。whose は人に対してのみ使うって書いてあるから。The car, the color of which is blue.と言えって教えてくる。
Of which は信じられないくらい堅苦しくて、なんだかビクトリア朝の小説みたいな感じがするんだ。whose を使うのは完全にアリだよ。The house whose roof is leaking の方がずっと自然だね。which とも比べてみよう。Which は、誰が所有しているかではなく、そのもの自体についての情報を加えるんだ。The car which is fast (速い車) vs The car whose driver is fast. (運転手が速い車)。Quick FAQ
複数の所有者 (plural owners) に whose を使ってもいい？
もちろん！ their (彼らの) の場合でも機能するよ。
The students whose grades improved. (成績が上がった生徒たち。)
性別 (gender) によって変化する？
しないよ。男性、女性、ノンバイナリーの人、そして物に対しても全部同じ。
フォーマルなメールで使っても大丈夫？
全然OK。文章がすごく引き締まって整理されて見えるよ。
疑問文でも使える？
使えるけど、それはちょっと違うルールになるね (Whose phone is this? / これは誰の電話ですか？)。
前に必ずカンマが必要？
情報が「おまけ」であって、その人を特定するのに不可欠じゃない場合だけ必要だよ。
会社に対して使ってもいい？
いいよ。
The company whose CEO just resigned. (CEOが辞任したばかりの会社。)
歌詞ではよく使われる？
すごくね！ ソングライターは詩的な描写のためにこれを好んで使うんだ。
抽象的な概念にも使える？
使えるよ。
A theory whose time has come. (その時が来た理論。)
所有者が誰かわからない場合は？
違う構造を使おう。例えば
The owner of the dog.みたいにね。
イギリス英語とアメリカ英語、どっちでよく使われる？
どっちでも同じくらい一般的だし、同じように使われているよ。
Using 'Whose' to Replace Possessives
| Original Possessive | Relative Pronoun | Example Phrase | Full Clause |
|---|---|---|---|
|
his
|
whose
|
whose car
|
The man whose car is fast...
|
|
her
|
whose
|
whose sister
|
The girl whose sister is a doctor...
|
|
its
|
whose
|
whose roof
|
The house whose roof is red...
|
|
their
|
whose
|
whose parents
|
The kids whose parents are away...
|
|
John's
|
whose
|
whose phone
|
John, whose phone is broken...
|
|
the company's
|
whose
|
whose logo
|
The company whose logo is blue...
|
Meanings
A relative pronoun used to indicate that the following noun belongs to or is associated with the person or thing mentioned previously.
Human Possession
Used to show that a person owns something or has a relationship with someone.
“The woman whose bag was stolen called the police.”
Inanimate Possession
Used to describe parts or attributes of objects, organizations, or abstract concepts.
“It is a book whose ending is very surprising.”
Defining Relationships
Used to identify a specific person by mentioning their family or connections.
“The students whose parents are here may leave early.”
Reference Table
| 働き | 構造 | 例（人） | 例（物） |
|---|---|---|---|
|
所有格の関係代名詞
|
Noun + whose + Noun + Verb...
|
The student whose project won...
|
The book whose cover is torn...
|
|
his, her, its, theirの代わりに
|
Replaces 'his', 'her', 'its', 'their'
|
She's the girl whose brother lives abroad.
|
It's the company whose profits grew.
|
|
意味を明確にするための必須情報
|
Introduces Defining Clause
|
I saw the man whose dog barked loudly.
|
We visited the town whose castle was famous.
|
|
a, an, the は使わない
|
No Article After Whose
|
He's the friend whose advice I trust.
|
This is the car whose engine failed.
|
|
人、動物、物
|
Flexible Use
|
The vet whose clinic is new...
|
The website whose design is modern...
|
|
よくある間違い
|
Not 'who's'
|
Who's going? vs. The person whose name...
|
Who's going? vs. The person whose name...
|
フォーマル度スペクトル
The individual whose vehicle was obstructing the entrance has been notified. (Parking situation)
The man whose car was blocking the driveway has moved it. (Parking situation)
The guy whose car was in the way finally moved. (Parking situation)
The dude whose ride was blocking us finally cleared out. (Parking situation)
「Whose」の使い方マップ
働き
- 所有 所有権
- 節をつなぐ アイデアをスムーズにつなぐ
指すもの
- 人 個人
- 動物 ペット、野生動物
- 物・概念 物、概念
構造
- 名詞 + Whose + 名詞 e.g., student whose project
- 後に冠詞なし Not 'whose the project'
避けるべきこと
- Who's Who is/has
- 不自然な表現 e.g., 'a student and her project'
Whose vs. Who's
「Whose」で合ってる？フローチャート
所有を示したいですか？
所有されるものが代名詞の直後にありますか？
文は文法的に完全で明確ですか？
「Whose」を使う時
人
- • The friend whose car...
- • The professor whose lecture...
- • The student whose essay...
動物
- • The dog whose bark...
- • The cat whose fur...
- • The bird whose nest...
物・概念
- • The book whose cover...
- • The company whose profits...
- • The theory whose origin...
レベル別の例文
The boy whose dog is big is my friend.
I like the girl whose hair is long.
The man whose car is red is here.
A teacher whose class is fun is good.
I have a neighbor whose cat always sleeps on my porch.
The woman whose phone rang was embarrassed.
Do you know the family whose house is on the corner?
The student whose book is lost is crying.
We visited a museum whose collection includes ancient gold.
The company, whose headquarters are in London, is hiring.
I met a writer whose latest novel is a bestseller.
The athlete whose career ended early became a coach.
It was a decision whose consequences were not yet clear.
The professor, whose research I admire, gave a lecture today.
They live in a city whose history dates back to the Romans.
The software, whose interface is very intuitive, is free to download.
He is a philosopher whose theories have shaped modern thought.
The project, whose primary objective is sustainability, received funding.
She is an artist whose work defies easy categorization.
The treaty, whose signatories include twenty nations, was signed yesterday.
The poem, whose rhythmic cadences evoke the sea, is a masterpiece.
It is a phenomenon whose origins remain shrouded in mystery.
The corporation, whose global reach is unparalleled, faces new regulations.
He is a statesman whose legacy will be debated for generations.
間違えやすい
They sound identical, leading to frequent spelling errors even among native speakers.
Learners are often told 'whose' is only for people, so they use the clunky 'of which' for objects.
Both feel formal, so learners swap them randomly.
よくある間違い
The boy who dog is big.
The boy whose dog is big.
The girl that her name is Kim.
The girl whose name is Kim.
Whose is this car?
Whose car is this?
The man whose is tall.
The man who is tall.
I know a man who's car is blue.
I know a man whose car is blue.
The house whose is red.
The house whose roof is red.
The people whose they live here.
The people who live here.
The company who's employees are happy.
The company whose employees are happy.
The car which its door is broken.
The car whose door is broken.
The man, whose I met his father.
The man whose father I met.
The theory, the implications whose are vast.
The theory, whose implications are vast.
A person whose I don't know the name.
A person whose name I don't know.
文型パターン
I have a friend whose ___ is ___.
The company whose ___ is ___ is located in ___.
He is an author whose ___ I have ___.
It was a situation whose ___ could not be ___.
Real World Usage
I want to work for a leader whose vision is inspiring.
Tag someone whose smile makes your day!
I'm calling about a package whose tracking number isn't working.
We are looking for a house whose garden is south-facing.
This is a theory whose validity is still being tested.
Looking for someone whose hobbies include hiking and travel.
「誰の？」って考えてみて！
「Who's」は使わないで！
物にも万能に使えるよ！
もっと自然な英語に！
Smart Tips
Replace the word with 'who is'. If the sentence still makes sense, use 'who's'. If not, use 'whose'.
Use 'whose' to link the object to its parts. It sounds much more sophisticated.
It is almost 100% likely to be 'whose'.
Delete the possessive word and put 'whose' in its place to join them.
発音
Homophone Alert
'Whose' is pronounced exactly like 'who's' (/huːz/). The context and the following noun are the only ways to tell them apart in speech.
Stress Pattern
In a relative clause, the stress usually falls on the noun following 'whose', not on 'whose' itself.
Non-defining pause
My brother [pause] whose wife is French [pause] lives in Paris.
The pauses (commas in writing) indicate extra, non-essential information.
暗記しよう
記憶術
Whose is for 'Who's the owner?' If you see a noun after the gap, 'whose' is the map!
視覚的連想
Imagine a person holding a golden leash that connects them to their dog. The leash is shaped like the word 'WHOSE', physically linking the owner to the possession.
Rhyme
If it's his, her, its, or their / Use 'whose' to show you care!
Story
A detective is looking for a thief. He finds a hat. He asks, 'Who is the man whose hat this is?' He uses 'whose' to bridge the man and the hat to solve the crime.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Look around your room. Pick three objects and describe them using 'whose'. (e.g., 'I have a desk whose surface is messy.')
文化メモ
In very formal British academic writing, some still prefer 'of which' for inanimate objects, but 'whose' is now widely accepted and preferred for better flow.
On platforms like Instagram or TikTok, 'whose' is frequently used in 'tag a friend' prompts.
Indian English speakers may use 'whose' in very formal or slightly archaic ways that are perfectly correct but less common in casual US/UK speech.
Derived from Old English 'hwæs', which was the genitive (possessive) form of 'hwa' (who).
会話のきっかけ
Do you know anyone whose job is really unusual?
Have you ever stayed in a hotel whose service was terrible?
Can you name a movie whose ending you hated?
Who is a celebrity whose style you admire?
日記のテーマ
よくある間違い
Test Yourself
I saw a woman ___ cat was wearing a tiny hat.
Find and fix the mistake:
She is the student who's book is missing from the library.
Choose the correct sentence:
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /4
練習問題
8 exercisesThe man ______ daughter is a doctor lives next door.
I don't know ______ going to the party, but I know the guy ______ house it is.
Find and fix the mistake:
The company who's logo is a bird is very famous.
I met a woman. Her son is a famous actor.
You can use 'whose' to describe objects and organizations, not just people.
A: Which car is yours? B: It's the one ______ lights are still on.
Pick the correct sentence.
Match the following:
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThe painter, ___ work I admire, will have an exhibition next month.
The restaurant who's chef won an award is very popular.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Conozco a una chica cuyo hermano es músico.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the sentence beginnings with their appropriate endings using 'whose'.
That's the museum ___ collection includes rare artifacts.
He bought a house, its roof is red.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate into English: 'Ella es la mujer cuyo talento me impresionó.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the describing phrase with the person or thing it describes.
Score: /12
よくある質問 (8)
You can use it for both! While some old textbooks say 'whose' is only for people, in modern English, it is perfectly normal to say 'a house whose roof is red' or 'a company whose profits are high'.
'Whose' is for possession (like 'his'). 'Who's' is a contraction for 'who is' or 'who has'. They sound the same but are used differently.
No. Unlike 'that' or 'whom', you can never omit 'whose'. The sentence 'The man dog is big' is incorrect; you must say 'The man whose dog is big'.
It is neutral. It is used in both casual conversation and very formal writing. It is actually less formal than 'of which' when talking about objects.
Only if it is a 'non-defining' clause (extra information). 'My brother, whose car is blue, lives in London.' (Extra info). 'The man whose car is blue is my brother.' (Essential info).
Yes, but that is a different rule (Interrogative Pronouns). For example: 'Whose bag is this?' In relative clauses, it connects two parts of a sentence.
'Whose' stays the same! 'The parents whose children are playing...' It doesn't change for plural owners.
Only in extremely formal, old-fashioned academic writing. In 95% of cases, 'whose' is better because it is shorter and more natural.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
cuyo / cuya
English 'whose' is gender-neutral and doesn't change for plural nouns.
dont
English 'whose' is strictly for possession, while 'dont' has multiple functions.
dessen / deren
English 'whose' is much simpler as it ignores the gender of the owner.
no (の) within a relative clause
Japanese uses word order and particles instead of a specific relative pronoun like 'whose'.
Relative pronoun + noun + possessive suffix
English replaces the possessive adjective entirely, while Arabic keeps a version of it as a suffix.
de (的)
Chinese relative structures are placed before the noun they modify, whereas English 'whose' clauses follow the noun.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
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