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The difference between WHO'S and WHOSE

Question
What is the difference between WHO'S and WHOSE? — DM, Sri Lanka
Answer

WHO'S is a contraction of who is or who has. It is used in questions and in statements, as shown in the examples below.

  • Who’s this? [who is]
  • Who's in charge here? [who is]
  • She is a good student who's always been interested in math [who has]
  • Who’s got my keys? [who has]

WHOSE has two different uses. It can be placed in front of a noun, to ask or show who the owner of something is, as in these examples:

  • Whose bag is it?
  • The gentleman whose cell phone was stolen was very upset.
  • My roommate, whose sister is an actress, gets lots of requests for autographs.

WHOSE can also be used in front of a verb, to represent a noun that is not included in the sentence but is understood from the context. It must already be clear to the listener what noun the speaker is referring to.

  • Whose are these?
  • Let him know whose you will choose.

 

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