Who, Which or What | Grammar Exercise

Use ‘who’ to refer to people. Use ‘which’ and ‘what’ to refer to things. Before a noun, which and what can also refer to people.

There is not much difference of meaning between which and what. They are both possible in many cases.

This grammar exercise allows you to practice using who, which and what.

• Which is the largest country in the world? /What is the largest country in the world?
• Which is your favourite novel? / What is your favourite novel?

We prefer which when the number of choices is limited. We prefer what when the number of choices is unlimited.

• What is your favourite number? (Unlimited number of choices – More natural than ‘Which is your favourite number?’)
• Which colour do you want – green, yellow or orange? (Limited number of choices)

Grammar exercise

Fill in the blanks with who, which or what

1. …………….. of us is going to cook dinner? (which / what /who)

2. …………….. is your favourite color?

3. …………….. is your favourite writer?

4. ……………… of your maths teachers do you like the best?

5. …………….. is the largest island in the world?

6. ……………. of these bags is yours?

7. ‘…………… is your father?’ ‘He is an engineer.’

8. ‘……………. is your son?’ ‘The one in that blue shirt.’

9. …………… is he going out with?

10. ……………. is your problem?

Answers

1. Which of us is going to cook dinner?

2. What is your favourite color?

3. Who is your favourite writer?

4. Which of your maths teachers do you like the best?

5. Which / What is the largest island in the world?

6. Which of these bags is yours?

7. ‘What is your father?’ ‘He is an engineer.’

8. ‘Which is your son?’ ‘The one in that blue shirt.’

9. Who is he going out with?

10. What is your problem?

Going Deeper

For a comprehensive account of English grammar, visit our section English Grammar. For English grammar and vocabulary exercises, visit Grammar and vocabulary exercises. For Business English writing lessons visit Business English.