Explanation at your level:
Use who to ask about a person. Example: Who is he? It is very easy to use. Just put it at the start of your question.
You can use who to connect sentences. For example: That is the man who teaches English. It helps you describe people clearly.
At this level, you start using who in relative clauses. It adds detail to your stories. The girl who won the race is my friend.
You will notice the difference between who and which. Use who for people and which for things. It is a sign of good English.
In academic writing, you might see who used in complex structures. It is essential for defining subjects in formal essays and reports effectively.
Mastery involves understanding the nuance of who versus whom in formal registers. It is about precision in literary and professional contexts.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Used for people.
- Subject pronoun.
- Essential for questions.
- Silent W.
Think of who as your go-to word for finding out identity. Whether you are playing a guessing game or trying to figure out who ate the last cookie, this word is essential.
It acts as a bridge in sentences, connecting us to information about people. You will use it both to ask questions and to describe someone in a longer sentence.
The word who has deep roots in Old English, coming from the word hwa. It belongs to the Germanic family of languages, which is why you see similar words in German (wer) and Dutch (wie).
Over centuries, it evolved from hwa to who, keeping its core purpose of identifying people. It is a classic example of a word that has stayed remarkably consistent in its function for over a thousand years.
You use who primarily when talking about human beings. It is versatile, appearing in both casual chats and formal reports.
Commonly, it pairs with verbs like know, see, or ask. In formal writing, you might encounter its cousin whom, but in daily conversation, who is the king of the hill.
Who's who: A list of important people. Example: The guest list was a real who's who of local celebrities.
Guess who: Used when you have a surprise. Example: Guess who just got a new job!
Who cares?: Showing indifference. Example: If it rains, who cares? We can stay inside.
Who knows?: Expressing uncertainty. Example: Who knows what will happen next year?
Know who is who: To distinguish between people. Example: With identical twins, it's hard to know who is who.
Pronounced as /huː/, it rhymes with do, blue, and shoe. The 'w' is silent, which is a classic English quirk!
Grammatically, who acts as the subject of a verb. While whom is the object form, most modern English speakers use who in almost all positions, making it very flexible for learners.
Fun Fact
The 'w' was originally pronounced in Old English but became silent over time.
Pronunciation Guide
Long 'oo' sound
Long 'oo' sound
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the 'w'
- Pronouncing 'wh' as 'hw'
- Shortening the vowel
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy
Very easy
Very easy
Very easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Relative Clauses
The girl who sings.
Interrogative Pronouns
Who is it?
Subject-Verb Agreement
Who is/are.
Examples by Level
Who is that?
Who = identity
Interrogative pronoun
Who are you?
Asking for a name
Verb 'to be'
Who is your teacher?
Asking for a person
Possessive adjective
Who is calling?
Asking about a phone caller
Present continuous
Who wants cake?
Asking for a preference
Third person singular
Who is there?
Asking about presence
Existential
Who told you?
Asking about a source
Past tense
Who likes pizza?
Asking about taste
Simple present
Who is the boy in the blue shirt?
I know who did this.
Who wrote this book?
Who are those people?
Tell me who is coming.
Who is the winner?
She is the woman who helps me.
Who left the window open?
The person who called yesterday was my boss.
I don't know who to believe.
Who are you going to invite?
The doctor who treated me was very kind.
Who is responsible for this project?
Everyone who attended enjoyed it.
Who do you think will win?
He is the one who saved the day.
The artist who painted this mural is famous.
Whoever is in charge should decide.
I wonder who could have done such a thing.
The people who live next door are quiet.
Who on earth left the lights on?
It is the student who works hardest who succeeds.
Who would have thought it would snow?
The person who I spoke to was very helpful.
The candidate who best demonstrates leadership will be chosen.
Who are we to judge their decisions?
He is someone who commands respect.
The person who is most qualified will lead the team.
Who among us can say they are perfect?
Those who seek knowledge shall find it.
The individual who initiated the change was fired.
Whosoever arrives first gets the best seat.
The man who, in his youth, had traveled the world.
Who but a fool would ignore such advice?
It was the woman who, despite the odds, prevailed.
He is a man who knows his own mind.
Who could have foreseen the outcome?
The author who, for decades, remained anonymous.
Those who are wise listen more than they speak.
Who, in their right mind, would do that?
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"Who's who"
A list of important people
The party was a who's who of the city.
formal"Who cares?"
It does not matter
Who cares if we are late?
casual"Guess who"
Used to introduce a surprise
Guess who just got promoted!
casual"Who knows?"
It is impossible to say
Who knows what tomorrow brings?
neutral"Know who is who"
Distinguish between people
It's hard to know who is who in this crowd.
neutral"Who are you?"
Challenging someone's authority
Who are you to tell me what to do?
confrontationalEasily Confused
Sounds similar
Whose is possession, who is identity.
Whose hat is this? Who is wearing it?
Grammatically related
Whom is for objects.
To whom did you speak?
Both are pronouns
Which is for things or choices.
Which one do you want?
Contraction of who is
Who's = who is.
Who's coming over?
Sentence Patterns
Who + is/are + subject?
Who is he?
Subject + who + verb
The man who called.
I know + who + subject + verb
I know who did it.
Who + do/does + subject + verb?
Who do you like?
Who + would + verb
Who would do that?
Word Family
Related
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Use 'who' for the subject, 'whom' for the object.
Only use 'who' for humans.
Who's is a contraction, whose is possessive.
Who usually needs a verb.
Don't use 'who' for inanimate things.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a person standing in your doorway.
Native Speakers
They use 'who' for almost everything.
Pop Culture
Watch 'Doctor Who' to hear it used constantly.
Shortcut
If you can replace it with 'he' or 'she', use 'who'.
Say It Right
Ignore the W.
Mistake
Don't use 'who' for a table.
Did You Know?
It is one of the oldest words in English.
Study Smart
Write 5 questions using 'who' today.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Who is the human?
Visual Association
A person with a question mark over their head.
Word Web
Challenge
Ask 5 people 'Who are you?' in a friendly way.
Word Origin
Old English
Original meaning: hwa
Cultural Context
None
Used universally in all English-speaking countries.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Socializing
- Who are you with?
- Who is your friend?
- Who invited you?
Work
- Who is in charge?
- Who wrote this report?
- Who is attending?
School
- Who is the teacher?
- Who has the book?
- Who finished?
Travel
- Who is our guide?
- Who is at the desk?
- Who is waiting?
Conversation Starters
"Who is your favorite actor?"
"Who do you admire most?"
"Who is the funniest person you know?"
"Who would you invite to dinner?"
"Who is your hero?"
Journal Prompts
Describe someone who changed your life.
Who is the most interesting person you have met?
If you could meet anyone, who would it be?
Write about who you want to be in ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsUsually 'which' or 'that', but pet owners often use 'who' if they see the pet as a person.
No, it is a pronoun.
Who is the subject; whom is the object.
Yes, as a relative pronoun.
It is neutral.
Historical sound change.
Yes, it can refer to a group.
No, it stays the same.
Test Yourself
___ is that person?
Who is for people.
Which sentence is correct?
Standard question order.
We use 'who' for objects.
Who is for people.
Word
Meaning
Distinction between people and things.
Question structure.
Score: /5
Summary
Who is the essential tool for identifying people in English.
- Used for people.
- Subject pronoun.
- Essential for questions.
- Silent W.
Memory Palace
Imagine a person standing in your doorway.
Native Speakers
They use 'who' for almost everything.
Pop Culture
Watch 'Doctor Who' to hear it used constantly.
Shortcut
If you can replace it with 'he' or 'she', use 'who'.
Example
Who is coming to the party?
Related Content
Learn it in Context
This Word in Other Languages
Related Phrases
More general words
about
A1On the subject of; concerning something.
above
A2In a higher place than something or someone.
accident
A2An unfortunate event causing damage or injury.
action
A2The process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim.
after
A2Following in time or place; later than.
afterward
A2At a later or subsequent time.
again
A2Another time; once more.
aged
B1Of a specified age.
alive
A2Living, not dead.
all
A2The whole quantity or extent of something; every single one.
