What is the Difference Between Interrogative Pronoun and Interrogative Adjective?

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The main difference between interrogative pronouns and interrogative adjectives lies in their function within a sentence:

  • Interrogative Pronouns: These are used to replace or substitute a noun in a question. They can stand alone and are not followed by a noun. Examples include "who," "what," "which," "whose," and "whom".
  • Interrogative Adjectives: These are used to modify a noun by asking a question. They are followed by a noun and cannot stand alone. Examples include "what," "which," and "whose".

Here are some examples to illustrate the difference:

  • Interrogative Pronoun: "Who is that?" (The interrogative pronoun "who" stands alone and replaces the noun.)
  • Interrogative Adjective: "Whose book is this?" (The interrogative adjective "whose" modifies the noun "book" and is followed by it.)

In summary, interrogative pronouns replace nouns in questions, while interrogative adjectives modify nouns in questions and are followed by the noun they modify.

Comparative Table: Interrogative Pronoun vs Interrogative Adjective

The main difference between interrogative adjectives and interrogative pronouns is that interrogative adjectives modify a noun and ask a question, while interrogative pronouns stand in place of a noun and ask a question. Here is a table comparing the two:

Feature Interrogative Adjectives Interrogative Pronouns
Function Modify a noun and ask a question Stand in place of a noun and ask a question
Examples What film are you watching? (modifies "film")
Which shoes are you going to wear? (modifies "shoes")
Whose bag is this? (modifies "bag")
Who is responsible for this mistake? (stands in place of a noun)
What is your favorite color? (stands in place of a noun)
Whom should I contact? (stands in place of a noun)

Interrogative adjectives include words like "what," "which," and "whose". Interrogative pronouns include words like "who," "whom," "which," and "what".