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What is a Who (Question Word)?
Grade Level:
Pre-School – Class 2
All domains without exception
Definition
What is it?
A 'Who' question word is used when you want to ask about a person or people. It helps you find out the identity of someone. We use 'Who' to refer to living beings, not things or places.
Simple Example
Quick Example
Imagine your favourite cricket team won a match last night. If you want to know which player scored the most runs, you would ask, 'Who scored the most runs?' The answer would be a person's name, like 'Virat Kohli'.
Worked Example
Step-by-Step
Let's say your teacher announced that someone won the drawing competition.
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Step 1: You want to know the name of the winner, which is a person.
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Step 2: To ask about a person, you use the question word 'Who'.
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Step 3: So, you form the question: 'Who won the drawing competition?'
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Step 4: Your teacher might reply, 'Rohan won the drawing competition!'
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Answer: 'Who' helped you identify Rohan, the winner.
Why It Matters
Understanding 'Who' is fundamental for clear communication in all subjects, from English to Social Studies. It helps you gather information about individuals, their roles, and their actions. Journalists use 'Who' to report news, historians use it to study figures from the past, and even doctors use it to ask about patients.
Common Mistakes
MISTAKE: Using 'Who' for non-living things (e.g., 'Who is your favourite colour?') | CORRECTION: Use 'What' for things (e.g., 'What is your favourite colour?')
MISTAKE: Confusing 'Who' with 'Whose' (e.g., 'Who's car is this?') | CORRECTION: 'Whose' shows possession (e.g., 'Whose car is this?'). 'Who' is about identity.
MISTAKE: Using 'Who' when asking about a choice from a group of people (e.g., 'Who is your favourite between Rahul and Amit?') | CORRECTION: Use 'Which' when choosing from a specific, limited group (e.g., 'Which one is your favourite between Rahul and Amit?')
Practice Questions
Try It Yourself
QUESTION: Complete the sentence: ______ is your best friend? | ANSWER: Who
QUESTION: Your mother tells you that someone called. What question would you ask to find out the person's name? | ANSWER: Who called?
QUESTION: Your history teacher is talking about a famous freedom fighter. You want to know their name. Form a question using 'Who'. | ANSWER: Who was that famous freedom fighter?
MCQ
Quick Quiz
Which of these questions correctly uses the word 'Who'?
Who is your favourite food?
Who is the Prime Minister of India?
Who is the capital of Uttar Pradesh?
Who is the colour of your shirt?
The Correct Answer Is:
B
Option B correctly uses 'Who' because it asks about a person (the Prime Minister). The other options incorrectly use 'Who' for things or places.
Real World Connection
In the Real World
When you watch a news report about a new government policy, journalists often ask, 'Who proposed this policy?' or 'Who will benefit from this scheme?' Similarly, in a school play, the director needs to know 'Who will play the main character?' to assign roles to specific students.
Key Vocabulary
Key Terms
Question Word: A word used to ask questions, like 'Who', 'What', 'When' | Person: A human being | Identity: Who or what someone is | Communicate: To share information or ideas
What's Next
What to Learn Next
Now that you understand 'Who', you're ready to learn about other important question words like 'What' and 'Where'. These will help you ask about things and places, making your questioning skills even stronger!
