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Bookworm1985 Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Who What--How to answer properly when it comes to animal characters!
I am trying to help sort out my autistic daughter's confused syntax. The question du jour is how to answer questions beginning with the interrogative pronouns, who and what. I understand that, in general, who requires a person answer and what requires a thing.
What is the proper way to answer a who question? Is it with personal nouns only or does a common noun count if it represents a person? Is the following correct?
Who is reading? Sally is reading. A girl is reading.
I get really confused with animals. Do we treat animals as people when they are characters?
Who is barking? Lassie is barking. A dog is barking.
Or do we split hairs over this?
Who is barking? Lassie is barking.
What is barking? A dog is barking.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Tammy
What is the proper way to answer a who question? Is it with personal nouns only or does a common noun count if it represents a person? Is the following correct?
Who is reading? Sally is reading. A girl is reading.
I get really confused with animals. Do we treat animals as people when they are characters?
Who is barking? Lassie is barking. A dog is barking.
Or do we split hairs over this?
Who is barking? Lassie is barking.
What is barking? A dog is barking.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Tammy
Top answer
Hello, Bookworm, and welcome to the English Forums! I can only give you my (non-native) opinion. If you use the verb "bark", well there's 99% chances the answer will be "a dog".
- Hello, Bookworm, and welcome to the English Forums!
- I can only give you my (non-native) opinion.
- If you use the verb "bark", well there's 99% chances the answer will be "a dog".
- " I guess you want to get the answer that your pet dog, Lassie, is barking (hence the who ).
- " > "a dog".
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2 Answers
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Hello, Bookworm, and welcome to the English Forums!
I can only give you my (non-native) opinion. If you use the verb "bark", well there's 99% chances the answer will be "a dog". So, if you ask the question "who's barking?" I guess you want to get the answer that your pet dog, Lassie, is barking (hence the who). Otherwise you can ask "what (animal) barks?" > "a dog". Or "what's t
I can only give you my (non-native) opinion. If you use the verb "bark", well there's 99% chances the answer will be "a dog". So, if you ask the question "who's barking?" I guess you want to get the answer that your pet dog, Lassie, is barking (hence the who). Otherwise you can ask "what (animal) barks?" > "a dog". Or "what's t
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I don't think there is a hard and fast rule...but here is what I think.
Bookworm1985 Who is reading? Sally is reading. A girl is reading. Both are fine.
I get really confused with animals. Do we treat animals as people when they are characters? Either way is okay. You can refer t
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