Skip to main content

Who's or Whose?

In the following exercise you will have to decide whether to use who's or whose in these sentences. Remember: if you can put 'who is' or 'who has' in the gap, you need 'who's'. If you cannot, you need 'whose'.

1

'__________ left their shoes in the doorway again?' shouted mum.

a) Whose
b) Who's
Well done. Who's is short for 'who has' in this sentence. No. 'Whose' is short for 'belonging to whom'.
Check your answer

2

'__________ shoes are these?' shouted mum.

a) Whose
b) Who's
Well done. 'Whose' means 'belonging to whom'.No. You cannot put 'who has' or 'who is' in the space here.
Check your answer

3

I'm not sure __________ coming to the cinema tonight.

a) whose
b) who's
Well done. 'Who's is short for 'who is' in this sentence. No. 'Whose' is short for 'of who' or 'belonging to whom'.
Check your answer

4

I couldn't tell _________ books were left on the table.

a) whose
b) who's
Well done. 'Whose' is short for 'belonging to whom' in this sentence. No. You cannot put 'who is' or 'who has' in the gap in this sentence.
Check your answer

5

Paul is the one _________ going to make this team something special.

a) whose
b) who's
Well done. 'Who's' is short for 'who is' in this sentence.No. 'Whose' means 'belonging to whom' and does not make sense in this sentence.
Check your answer

6

Paul is the player __________ skills will make this team something special.

a) whose
b) who's
Well done. 'Whose' means 'belonging to whom' in this sentence. No. 'Who has' or 'who is' does not make sense in this sentence.
Check your answer

7

I've no idea ___________ got the best marks for the grammar exam.

a) whose
b) who's
Well done. 'Who's' is short for 'who has' in this sentence. No. 'Whose' means 'belonging to whom' and makes no sense in this sentence.
Check your answer

8

Tim was unsure __________ office he was meant to go to.

a) whose
b) who's
Well done. 'whose' makes sense here. No. You cannot substitute 'who is' or 'who has' for the gap in this sentence.
Check your answer

9

'__________ stolen my wallet?' he shouted.

a) Whose
b) Who's
Great. 'Who has' makes sense in this sentence. No. 'Whose' means 'belonging to whom' and makes no sense in this sentence.
Check your answer

10

I would like to know _________ smelly socks these are.

a) whose
b) who's
Well done. 'Belonging to whom' makes sense in this sentence. No. 'Who is' or 'who has' would not make sense in this sentence.
Check your answer

Find out more about the use of whose and who's.

See a list of other grammar exercises.