Question Word WHO — How to Ask About People
Quick Answer
Use who to ask about people — names, identities, the person who did something. Pattern: Who + helper + subject + verb? OR Who + verb? Example: Who is that?
Example: Who is your teacher? (Asking about a person.)
WHO in Action — See the Pattern
Read these three sentences. Look at how it works:
- Who is at the door? (Asking about a person.)
- Who are they? (Asking about more than one person.)
- Who told you? (Asking about the person who did something.)
When to Use WHO
Who asks about a person. The answer is always someone’s name or description (“Tom,” “my sister,” “the man in the blue shirt”). “Who” can stand alone before a verb when it is the subject of the question: “Who told you?”
- Asking for someone’s name: “Who is she?”
- Asking about a person at the door: “Who is it?”
- Asking who did something: “Who broke the cup?”
- Asking about more than one person: “Who are these people?”
Easy way to remember: Who = person. The answer is always someone — a name, a title, or a description.
The Rule in One Line: Use Who to ask about a person.
Real-Life Examples With WHO
Here are examples you might say or hear in everyday life:
- Who is your boss? (Asking about a person.)
- Who are those children? (Asking about a group of people.)
- Who wants tea? (Asking who in the room wants something.)
- Who is calling? (On the phone, asking about the caller.)
- Who made this cake? (Asking who did the action.)
You are doing great. Now let’s look at the mistakes many learners make.
Three Mistakes to Avoid With WHO
The most common slip is using “what” when you should use “who.” “What” is for things; “who” is for people. If the answer is a person — a name, “my mother,” “the new student” — the question word is “who.”
Using what for a person
✗ What is your teacher?
✓ Who is your teacher?
Forgetting the helper when asking about state
✗ Who she?
✓ Who is she?
Adding a helper when who is the subject
✗ Who does told you?
✓ Who told you?
How to remember: Who = person. The answer is a name or a description of someone.
Common who-questions: Who is she?, Who are they?, Who told you?, Who is at the door?, Who wants tea?
Test Yourself: WHO
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. _______ is your best friend?
2. _______ are those people?
3. _______ broke the window?
4. _______ is calling at this hour?
5. _______ wants more cake?
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned who — the question word for every person on the planet. Friends, strangers, callers, the person at the door — all are “who” questions.
Now imagine someone tells you something surprising. “My sister moved to Iceland.” Your first thought is probably one little word — and it is not “who,” “what,” “where,” or “when.” There is a question word for the reason behind every action.
Next lesson: Question Word WHY — How to Ask About Reasons
My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.