Which of you

Question

Which is correct:1) Which of you are coming?2) Which of you is coming?3) Who of you are coming?4) Who of you is coming?I think '1' means: 5) Which ones of you are coming?and '2' means:6) Which one of you is coming?I don't like '3' and '4'.Gratefully,Navi.HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Wilpeter · Accepted Answer

In my experience, “Which of you…?” has been used to mean both one person and more than one person. Often, the outcome/response is not determined in advance and depends on the actual circumstances.

1) Which of you are coming? – implies that more than one is likely as the response.
2) Which of you is coming? – implies that one person is expected as the response.

If the preceding scenario is that I need a partner and either of two persons addressed will suffice, the expected result is that one or both of two may be willing and I may have to make a choice between them.

If, instead, I am gathering volunteers for a search mission where the more volunteers I have the better the result, the hoped response is that more than one will respond positively and I will accept all that are willing.

3) and 4) Who of you are/is coming? – do not sound natural as a verbal question.

Instead, one might ask “Who will come with me?” – implying that a volunteer is requested and either one or more than one is acceptable. The scenario will determine if two or more are even practical. Again, if two persons respond, a choice would then be made.

Thus 5) and 6) may be intended but not verbalised/verbalized.
Happy New Year, Navi.

Which of you

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