WHOSE Definition & Meaning

whose

[ hooz ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

pronoun

(the possessive case of who used as an adjective):
Whose umbrella did I take? Whose is this one?
(the possessive case of which used as an adjective):
a word whose meaning escapes me; an animal whose fur changes color.
the one or ones belonging to what person or persons:
Whose painting won the third prize?

whose

/ ��ː�� /

determiner

1. of whom? belonging to whom? used in direct and indirect questions
  I told him whose fault it was
  whose car is this?
2. ( as pronoun )
  whose is that?
of whom; belonging to whom; of which; belonging to which: used as a relative pronoun
a house whose windows are broken

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Usage Note

Sometimes the phrase of which is used as the possessive of which: Chicago is a city of which the attractions are many or Chicago is a city the attractions of which are many. The use of this phrase can often seem awkward or pretentious, whereas whose sounds more idiomatic: Chicago is a city whose attractions are many.

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of whose¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English whos, early Middle English ��; replacing hwas, Old English ��æ��, genitive of interrogative pronoun �� who

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of whose¹

Old English ��æ��, genitive of �� who and ��æ�� what

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The 2021 case was a proposed class action led by a resident of Mono County whose home was damaged by soot, smoke and debris in the 2020 Mountain View fire.

From

“In many cases,” she says, the projects whose grant proposals she’s now reading “would tell stories about people often left out of museums—those in rural areas, immigrant communities, and ordinary people shaping their hometowns, for instance. The public is hungry for new stories about the past, and the NEH has been the key funding resource to do this.”

From

Lauren Parrish and Mandy West of St. John presented the Graduate Award to Patrick Taylor, whose whimsical knitwear brand is inspired by the designer’s vintage family photographs.

From

There are several clips in which they appear to be stopped by law enforcement officers, whose reactions also range from friendly to stern.

From

This includes Kelly Reichardt, whose drama The Mastermind, starring Josh O'Connor and John Magaro, will be showing at the festival.

From

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