who

who — pronoun

1. the question word you use when you want to know the identity, name, or role of a

1.代名詞A1
釋義

the question word you use when you want to know the identity, name, or role of a person — for example, asking who called, who someone is, or who someone came with

例句

Who is the woman standing next to the window?

who + be + noun phrase (asking identity)

Who called Élise on the phone while she was cooking dinner?

文法句型

who + verb

who + auxiliary + subject + verb

用法筆記

In informal spoken English, "who" is used for both the subject and object of a verb. In formal writing, "whom" is sometimes used when "who" is the object.

常見錯誤

❌Who you met at the station?
✅Who did you meet at the station?
💡In questions, add an auxiliary verb (did/do/does) when 'who' is the object.

2. used by a person in authority, such as a guard or official, to ask someone arriv

2.代名詞B1
釋義

used by a person in authority, such as a guard or official, to ask someone arriving at a place to give their name and state their business

例句

The night guard shouted into the darkness, 'Who goes there?'

authority challenge: 'Who goes there?'

A voice from behind the locked door asked, 'Who is it?'

文法句型

who + auxiliary + subject (+ to-infinitive)

用法筆記

This sense is often found in fixed expressions ('Who goes there?') and in contexts involving security or restricted access. The structure is usually a direct question with no auxiliary inversion needed when 'who' is the subject.

3. appears with verbs about knowledge or awareness — such as 'know', 'remember', 'w

3.代名詞A2
釋義

appears with verbs about knowledge or awareness — such as 'know', 'remember', 'wonder', or 'forget' — in contexts where the answer is unclear or has not yet been discovered

例句

I do not know who sent this package to our office.

know + who + clause (uncertainty)

Nobody can remember who first told that joke during the meeting.

文法句型

know/remember/understand/forget + who + clause

用法筆記

Common with verbs like know, remember, forget, understand, wonder, and figure out. This is a 'content clause' use of 'who' — it introduces a clause that tells what is not known. The clause after 'who' uses normal statement word order, NOT question word order.

常見錯誤

❌I do not know who is he.
✅I do not know who he is.
💡After 'who' in a statement, use normal subject-verb order, not question order.

4. links a previously mentioned person to a description that identifies them — for

4.代名詞A2
釋義

links a previously mentioned person to a description that identifies them — for instance, 'the woman who called' connects 'woman' with the action of calling. Only applies to people, never to objects or animals.

例句

The woman who lives next door works as a nurse at the city hospital.

who as subject of relative clause

The teacher who Yuki admired most retired at the end of last year.

who as object of relative clause

同義詞
  • that

    Informal alternative in defining relative clauses; can refer to both people and things

  • whom

    Formal object form, used instead of 'who' when it is the object of the verb or preposition

反義詞
  • which

    Used for things and animals, not people

文法句型

noun + who + verb (subject)

noun + who + subject + verb (object)

用法筆記

Use 'who' for people and 'which' or 'that' for things. In defining (restrictive) clauses, 'who' identifies which person you mean. In non-defining (non-restrictive) clauses, 'who' adds extra information and is set off by commas. In informal English, 'that' can replace 'who' in defining clauses.

常見錯誤

❌The book who I read was interesting.
✅The book that I read was interesting.
💡Use 'who' for people, not for things or objects.

who — noun