Difference between who and which

[Guest]

Test No. incompl/elem-9 "Relative Pronouns", question 4

I'm looking at the photograph ......... you sent me with your letter.

(a) which
(b) who
(c) whom

Test No. incompl/elem-9 "Relative Pronouns", answer 4

I'm looking at the photograph which you sent me with your letter.

Correct answer: (a) which
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Why which and not who?
Thanks

[Torsten]

Because photograph is a thing and not a person.

TOEIC listening, photographs: Working on the bridge structure

[Baovan]

[Pamela]

You may say:
I'm looking at the photograph that you sent me with your letter.

[Yankee]

[Baovan]

[Pamela]

[Yankee]

Hi Baovan

The relative pronoun which may refer to a specific thing or things.

As has been mentioned, which is not a demonstrative pronoun. So, which cannot be used to talk about a specific thing or things in the same way that a demonstrative pronoun can.

I myself would probably use which to introduce a non-defining relative clause rather than a defining relative clause. In this particular sentence, I probably would have used the relative pronoun that. However, the word that was not given as one of the choices.

I hope that answers your question.

Amy
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Baovan]

Thank you Yankee and Pamela very much

[Bhikkhu1991a]

What's the time? (English Lesson Number 11)
Relative Pronouns
ESL test for elementary level students

Dear Torsten,

I greatly appreciate your lesson on Relative Pronouns--ESL test for elementary level students. In my first attempt, I managed to answer nine questions correctly out of the ten questions, and in my second attempt, I managed to answer all the questions correctly, though. Although I have answered all the questions correctly after I had read the explanations provided by English-test.Net, I’m still unsure about compulsory object-relative pronouns. In fact, I have posted my problem in the forum, English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms—Object Relative Pronouns on Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:54 am, but there isn’t any reply until today. I hope you can help me in resolving the problem soon.

Further, I’m not confident enough about when to use the defining-relative clause and non-defining relative clause for some sentences. I’m wondering whether to post more questions to the Grammar forum because nobody has responded to a few of my questions posted earlier after a length of time. Of course, I can understand your situation because of the large number of members in English-test.Net.

Finally, I would like to thank you for your patience with me and for giving your attention to reading this letter. I look forward to receiving your next lesson.

Best wishes,
Bhikkhu1991a.

[Zilanow]

Dear Torsten
when we use which and whose?
thinks for your patience with us

[Torsten]

Hi,

Please read this: Who vs. Which and try to stick to basic punctuation rules.

Thanks,
Torsten

TOEIC listening, question-response: You aren't related to Elvis Presley, are you?

[Alan]

Hi Zilanow,

'Which' is used to refer to things as in:

This is the book which I was talking about.

''Whose' is used to show possession as in:

Do you know whose book this is? (you are asking who the owner of the book is).

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Happydog1998]

which is better to use in this sentence: Who or Which? "The staff is paid in a timely and appropriate manner along with vendors and suppliers, which/who are also paid within established time limits."

[Mister Micawber]

Who-- because they are people.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's