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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Whose and Who’s?

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The difference between "whose" and "who's" lies in their usage and meaning:

  • Whose: This is the possessive form of the pronoun "who" and is used to indicate possession or ownership of something. It is often used in questions to ask who owns or has something. For example, "Whose book is this?" or "She didn't know whose car was parked in front of the house".
  • Who's: This is a contraction linking the words "who is" or "who has." It is a shortened form of the words "who" + "is" or "who" + "has." For example, "Who's coming to dinner tonight?" or "Do you know who's going to be at the party?".

Remember that "whose" is used for possession, while "who's" is a contraction of "who is" or "who has".

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  • What is the Difference Between Whose and Who’s?
  • Comparative Table: Whose vs Who’s

    • Comparative Table: Whose vs Who’s

    Here is a table that highlights the differences between "whose" and "who's":

    Aspect Whose Who's
    Meaning/Usage Whose is the possessive form of "who" and indicates ownership or possession. Who's is a contraction of "who is" or "who has".
    Examples - Whose hat is this? (asking about ownership) - Who's going to the party? (contraction of "who is")
    - The man whose dog can say "sausages" (indicating ownership) - Who's taken my hat? (contraction of "who has")
    Grammatical Role Whose is used as a possessive determiner. Who's is a contraction and can be used at the beginning of
    sentences or to begin clauses that modify nouns.
    - Who's the man wearing a suit?
    - Cheryl, whose party this is, wants to know who's broken the TV.

    Remember that "whose" is used to ask questions about ownership or possession, while "who's" is a contraction of "who is" or "who has".

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.