"what you are" or "who you are"

Floratang · #1 (permalink) Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:25 am *"what you are" or "who you are"*

Please tell me the difference between "what you are" and "who you are", thanks!

example:
Life will change what you are but not who you are.

Ahmadov · #2 (permalink) Tue Feb 13, 2007 7:06 am *"what you are" or "who you are"*

"What you are" means "what is your profession", "who you are" means "what is your name"...
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Alan · #3 (permalink) Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:54 am *"what you are" or "who you are"*

Hi,

Just a further comment - What you are suggests the sort of person you are in terms of your character and personality. Who you are refers to your identity - whose son/whose daughter you are and so on.

A
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Jamie (K) · #4 (permalink) Tue Feb 13, 2007 12:26 pm *"what you are" or "who you are"*

Ahmadov · #5 (permalink) Tue Feb 13, 2007 14:35 pm *"what you are" or "who you are"*

Jamie and Alan,

I accept your notes. When I read the question I remembered my early school days when we were told that "What you are" means what is your profession or job (any student of a Soviet secondary school can confirm this). I knew that you would appear and give further explanation. I gave a short answer because I did not want to act like a moderator, which is a very responsible job on this web site. Wink

Good luck
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