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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Who is this? vs Who is he?
Hello chaps, I have got a question:
Who is this? vs Who is he? <- are these more less the same in meaning? Can one be substitute of another?
Thanks in advance
Who is this? vs Who is he? <- are these more less the same in meaning? Can one be substitute of another?
Thanks in advance
Top answer
" is more appropriate if the person you are asking about is right there with you. It's considered rather rude to refer to someone as "he" when he is right there.
- " is more appropriate if the person you are asking about is right there with you.
- It's considered rather rude to refer to someone as "he" when he is right there.
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6 Answers
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"Who is this?" is more appropriate if the person you are asking about is right there with you. It's considered rather rude to refer to someone as "he" when he is right there.
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Oh I see... But the meaning is the same? You I prepared a test for my students and I wrote who is he? instead of who is this? So I'm asking is there really a big difference between those two.
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What was the context in the test? If, for example, you are asking them to identify someone in a picture or a story, "who is he?" is fine.
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The task was about connecting a question with an appropriate answer e.g. What is this?--------> A book.
Who is he? --------- > Uncle John.
What time is it? --------> It is four o'clock.
Who is he? --------- > Uncle John.
What time is it? --------> It is four o'clock.
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In that case, I think it's fine. The only time you don't want to say "Who is he?" is when "he" is a real person standing right in front of you who can hear what you are saying -- then it seems rude. (I don't really know why, or I would explain more.)
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