0
Taka Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
who/which
From a story about Wright brothers.
The answer, according to my book, is 'who'. But isn't 'which' also possible? If not, why not?
Wilbur tried first, but in an unfortunate start the engine stopped during the take-off. They tossed a coin to see ( ) would try next, an honor which Orville won.
Question: Fill in the blank ( with the right single word)
The answer, according to my book, is 'who'. But isn't 'which' also possible? If not, why not?
Top answer
Taka, is the following sentence acceptable to you? "
- Taka, is the following sentence acceptable to you?
- "
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
26 Answers
0
Taka, is the following sentence acceptable to you?
"Taka which is asking the question, wants to know why "which" is not used to refer to a person."
"Taka which is asking the question, wants to know why "which" is not used to refer to a person."
00
In my humble opinion, 'which' in my question is not a relative pronoun to refer a person.
(Are you really a native speaker of English, may I ask?)
(Are you really a native speaker of English, may I ask?)
00
Hi Taka,
'Who' is the appropriate word, because the coin toss will go to either Orville, the person, or Wilbur, the person.
I believe Dehbaash was atemtping to show, by purposely writing it incorrectly, how wrong it sounds to use 'which' when referring to a person.
'Who' is the appropriate word, because the coin toss will go to either Orville, the person, or Wilbur, the person.
I believe Dehbaash was atemtping to show, by purposely writing it incorrectly, how wrong it sounds to use 'which' when referring to a person.
00
davkett,
Right. And consider this example.
'Which' is used to refer to either person, and this kind of usage is quite natural, isn't it?
because the coin toss will go to either Orville, the person, or Wilbur, the person.
Right. And consider this example.
It's either Eric or Bill, but I don't know which.
'Which' is used to refer to either person, and this kind of usage is quite natural, isn't it?
00
(I knew you would have some idea of an exception in mind, Taka.)
Yes, it's natural. 'Which', in your example, is a compression of 'which individual it is' = 'who it is'.
'It's either Eric or Bill, but I don't know which [individual it is].'
'They tossed a coin to see (which individual) would try next.'
Explaining the grammatical rule will fall to our specialis
Yes, it's natural. 'Which', in your example, is a compression of 'which individual it is' = 'who it is'.
'It's either Eric or Bill, but I don't know which [individual it is].'
'They tossed a coin to see (which individual) would try next.'
Explaining the grammatical rule will fall to our specialis
00
Presumably only the two brothers would have been party to the decision. So the natural question would have been: "So, who goes next, Wilbur?" – which might be reported as:
1. We tossed a coin to see who would go next.
On the other hand, what if the question was 'which of us goes next'? Then it might well be reported as:
2. We tossed a coin to see which (of us) would go n
1. We tossed a coin to see who would go next.
On the other hand, what if the question was 'which of us goes next'? Then it might well be reported as:
2. We tossed a coin to see which (of us) would go n
00
MrP,
Thank you for the reply. But I'm a bit confused.
You said:
But you said:
Thank you for the reply. But I'm a bit confused.
You said:
'Which', to my ears, conveys more of a sense of 'twoness'.
But you said:
Presumably only the two brothers would have been party to the decision. So the natural question would have been: "So, who goes next...
00
Hello Taka
Sorry, it wasn't very clear.
If a spectator (not one of the brothers) says 'who's going next?', there is a faint sense of 'openness': 'who (among those assembled here) is going next?'. Another spectator might answer, jokingly, "Haven't you heard? It's your turn next!"
Whereas if a spectator says 'which (one) is going next?', there's a presumption of 'restrict
Sorry, it wasn't very clear.
If a spectator (not one of the brothers) says 'who's going next?', there is a faint sense of 'openness': 'who (among those assembled here) is going next?'. Another spectator might answer, jokingly, "Haven't you heard? It's your turn next!"
Whereas if a spectator says 'which (one) is going next?', there's a presumption of 'restrict
00
I suspect I may have made it more complicated than it needs to be.
No, much better and clearler, indeed. Thank you!
because 'which' on its own would imply that the speaker is not included in the possible choices.
Right. And rather for that reason, don't you think 'which' is also fine because the story is written by
00
I would say, tentatively, that although 'which' is inappropriate for Wilbur or Orville because it excludes the speaker, that excluding-ness doesn't therefore make it more appropriate for a third party than 'who'. Although there are contexts where 'which' might be possible, 'who' remains the natural choice.
I'm also inclined to think that the narrator in such texts aims at unobtrusi
I'm also inclined to think that the narrator in such texts aims at unobtrusi
0
Related Questions