FAQs about sentence and word structure

How do I use “whose” in a sentence?

“Whose” is an interrogative word that is used to indicate possession. It can be used in questions as an interrogative pronoun (e.g., “Whose is this?”) or interrogative determiner (e.g., “Whose phone has a blue case?”).

It is also used as a relative pronoun in adjective clauses (e.g., “My neighbors, whose dog is always escaping, are building a fence”).

Sometimes, people get confused about the difference between “whose” and “who’s.” The words sound the same but have different meanings. “Who’s” is the contraction of “who is” or “who has” (e.g., “Who’s your favorite singer?”).

Read this FAQ: How do I use “whose” in a sentence?

What is an interrogative adjective?

Interrogative adjectives (also called interrogative determiners) are words that modify a noun or pronoun to form a question (e.g., “Which shirt do you like?”). The three interrogative adjectives are “which,” “what,” and “whose.”

Interrogative adjectives belong to a larger class of words, sometimes referred to as “interrogatives.” When “which,” “what,” and “whose” are used to stand in for a noun, rather than modifying it (e.g., “Which do you like?”), they are known as interrogative pronouns.

Read this FAQ: What is an interrogative adjective?

What is an indirect question?

Indirect questions are questions that are embedded in a statement (e.g., “I wonder who will win this year;” “She asked Max where he was”).

Indirect questions often begin with an interrogative word (e.g., “where,” “when”), but they can also begin with “if” or “whether” (e.g., “My mom asked whether you want to stay for dinner”).

An indirect question is a special type of noun clause, often referred to as an interrogative clause. It is typically embedded within a declarative sentence, so it is not followed by a question mark. Additionally, the word order is the same as a declarative sentence (i.e., subject followed by verb).

Read this FAQ: What is an indirect question?

What is the difference between “which” and “what”?

When used as an interrogative to form a question, “what” refers to an (essentially) unlimited set of options, while “which” refers to a narrower or limited set. For example:

• What are you wearing to the concert?
  
• Which shirt will you wear: the blue or the green?
  
• What is your favorite song?
  
• Which song should I play for the recital?

The choice of “what” or “which” often depends on the context of the sentence.

Read this FAQ: What is the difference between “which” and “what”?

Can you end a sentence with “for”?

Yes, a sentence can end with “for” (e.g., “I don’t know what this tool is for”). In the past, writers were encouraged not to end a sentence with a preposition (e.g., “for,” “to,” “about”), but this guidance is outdated.

Sentences and clauses frequently end with a preposition when the object of the preposition is a relative pronoun (e.g., “whom,” “what”).

Read this FAQ: Can you end a sentence with “for”?

Can you end a sentence with “with”?

Yes, a sentence can end with with (e.g., “What can I pair this wine with?”). In the past, writers were encouraged not to end a sentence with a preposition (e.g., “with,” “for,” “to”), but this guidance is outdated.

Sentences and clauses frequently end with a preposition when the object of the preposition is a relative pronoun (e.g., “whom,” “what”).

Read this FAQ: Can you end a sentence with “with”?

Can you end a sentence with “to”?

Yes, a sentence can end with to (e.g., “Whom are you talking to?”). In the past, writers were encouraged not to end a sentence with a preposition (e.g., “to,” “for,” “about”), but this guidance is outdated.

Sentences and clauses frequently end with a preposition when the object of the preposition is a relative pronoun (e.g., “whom,” “what”).

Read this FAQ: Can you end a sentence with “to”?

Can there be a compound object of a preposition?

Yes, an object of a preposition is considered compound if it consists of two or more nouns or pronouns (e.g., “I’m going hiking with Vera and Jonas”).

Read this FAQ: Can there be a compound object of a preposition?

Can a gerund be the object of a preposition?

Yes, since it functions as a noun, a gerund (e.g., “reading,” “thinking”) can be the object of a preposition in a sentence (e.g., “I’ve thought about leaving”).

Read this FAQ: Can a gerund be the object of a preposition?

What is the difference between a compound predicate and a compound sentence?

In a compound predicate, two (or more) verbs share one subject (e.g., “Tan sings and dances very well”).

A compound sentence has two (or more) separate subjects that act on two (or more) separate verbs (e.g., “Tan sings, and Lina dances”).

Read this FAQ: What is the difference between a compound predicate and a compound sentence?