which/who

Question

Hi"Enlightenment or delusion, who is to say which person has which."Is it correct to write "which" since it refers to people in this case. In my opinion it should be "who" but I'm not sure.

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

Only who: talking about persons.

Neeraj Jain · Answer

Yes, should be "who".

Cool Breeze · Answer

Newguest"Enlightenment or delusion, who is to say which person has which."

Is it correct to write "which" since it refers to people in this case. In my opinion it should be "who" but I'm not sure.

Hi Newguest

Your sentence is correct. You mean the blue which, which is followed by a noun. It would be ungrammatical to say who person, who cannot be followed by a noun. Which must be used even though the reference is to a person. You could also say what person since the reference is not to a small group but people in general. Cf. What boy wouldn't like a holiday like that! Or: Which boy saw the accident?

The last which refers to enlightenment or delusion, in other words to a choice, and thus can't be changed. Who is an interrogative pronoun without a noun after it, and as there is no small reference group, it is irreplaceable.

Cheers
CB

Newguest · Answer

Hi

Yes exactly, I was thinking about "which person." I can't think of putting "who" in the place of which in this example cause it wouldn't make a sense. On the other hand it was strange for me that you can use "which" before the word "person." Thanks

CalifJim · Answer

There is no feature of animacy or inanimacy attached to which.
which merely selects one of a group -- any group.

Which man ate the sandwich?
Which box is big enough to hold the chocolates?
Which person was absent from class?

CJ

Marius Hancu · Answer

Marius HancuOnly who: talking about persons.

Sorry, I was talking about the first who.

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