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How to Use "Whose" and "Who's"

Question
Is it "guess whose son is...." or "guess who's son is...."? — Cindylu, United States
Answer

The correct choice is whose. So what is the difference between whose and who's? The word whose is the possessive form of the pronoun who. It is used in questions to ask who owns something, has something, etc. Who becomes whose just like he and she become his and her. Below are some examples of whose in sentences:

  • Whose book is that over there? [= who does that book over there belong to?]
  • She didn’t know whose car was parked in front of the house.
  • We wondered whose wallet was left on the bench.
  • Guess whose son is getting married next month?

 

The word who's is a contraction of "who is". This is similar to the contractions he's for "he is" and she's for "she is." Below are some examples of who's in sentences:

  • Who's coming to dinner tonight?
  • Do you know who's going to be at the party?
  • I have no idea who's working tomorrow.
  • Who's the person he decided to hire?

 

Just remember: whose means "belonging to a person" and who's means "who is."

 

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