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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Who is waiting outside? / Who ARE waiting outside?

Hi,
I've got a question about the use of using 'who'.

I was asking the question of "who is outside your house?", but I know for certain that there is more than one person waiting outside your house. The problem is that I've never heard of 'Who Are waiting' before.

So what's the proper way to go about this problem?

Thanks
  

Top answer

That's an interesting question. " is correct, even when you know there are several people. " is idiomatic even when the party is understood to comprise more than one person.

— Avangi

  • That's an interesting question.
  • " is correct, even when you know there are several people.
  • " is idiomatic even when the party is understood to comprise more than one person.
  • "Who" as a "question word" has no antecedent.
  • Of course the relative "who" is no problem: The man who is out there etc.
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1 Answers
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That's an interesting question. I'm sure "Who's there?" is correct, even when you know there are several people.

You may or may not be addressing them directly: "Who is making that racket out there?"

"Guess who's coming to dinner!" is idiomatic even when the party is understood to comprise more than one person.

"Who" as a "question word" has no antecedent. Of course
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