What Are Interrogative Adjectives? Definition, List & Examples
| Interrogative Adjective | Meaning | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| What | Asks about identity or kind | What topic will you present? |
| Which | Asks about choice or selection | Which book do you prefer? |
| Whose | Asks about ownership | Whose pencil is this? |
What Are Interrogative Adjectives?
Interrogative adjectives in English grammar are question words that come before a noun to add detail to the question. They modify nouns and help specify what or whom the question is about. The main interrogative adjectives are what, which, and whose.
Easy Examples of Interrogative Adjectives
Look at these simple sentences using interrogative adjectives:
- What color do you like?
- Which team will win?
- Whose bag is on the table?
Notice how each question word is followed by a noun. This is a key sign of an interrogative adjective in action.
Real-Life Examples of Interrogative Adjectives
In daily life and exams, you use interrogative adjectives to ask about choices, identity, or ownership. Here are more relatable examples:
- What subjects are your favorite?
- Which route should we take to the school?
- Whose notebook did the teacher check?
Learning these patterns will help you form correct questions on the spot.
The Difference Between "What" and "Which"
Both "what" and "which" can be interrogative adjectives, but they are used differently:
| When to Use | Example |
|---|---|
| What – to ask in general (when there’s no limited choice) | What sport do you play? |
| Which – to select from a specific, known set | There are three sports here. Which sport do you play? |
Use "what" for open questions, "which" when choices are clear or limited.
Interrogative Adjectives vs. Interrogative Pronouns
Interrogative adjectives always modify a noun ("Which subject"), while interrogative pronouns stand alone and replace a noun ("Which is yours?"). Here’s a comparison table:
| Sentence | Word Function |
|---|---|
| Which book is yours? | Adjective (modifies "book") |
| Which is yours? | Pronoun (stands alone) |
Remember: If the "wh"-word is directly before a noun, it’s an interrogative adjective.
Interrogative Adjectives vs. Interrogative Adverbs
Interrogative adjectives modify nouns. Interrogative adverbs (like "when," "where," "why," and "how") modify verbs or adjectives, and ask about time, place, reason, or manner.
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Adjective | What time is the test? (modifies "time") |
| Adverb | When is the test? (modifies the verb "is") |
Ask yourself: Is the question word describing a noun or asking about the verb?
Interrogative Adjectives in Indirect Questions
In indirect or reported questions, interrogative adjectives still appear before nouns but are part of a statement, not a direct question. For example:
- He asked which class you were in.
- Do you know whose bag is missing?
This is useful for writing essays and formal letters.
Why Are Interrogative Adjectives Important?
Correct use of interrogative adjectives helps you write accurate and clear questions, especially in English grammar exams and competitive tests. They show your understanding of sentence structure and improve day-to-day communication.
Practicing interrogative adjectives makes your questions precise, whether you’re speaking or writing.
Test Time! Practice Questions
- ________ laptop do you use? (What/Which/Whose)
- ________ teacher taught you this chapter?
- ________ shoes are these?
Answers: 1. Which, 2. Which/What (both can fit), 3. Whose
At Vedantu, we simplify concepts like interrogative adjectives to make grammar easy for everyone. For more on adjective types, visit our Kinds of Adjectives page, or refresh your basics on our Adjectives topic page. You can also explore how interrogative adjectives work as determiners here and check out worksheets for extra practice.
In summary, interrogative adjectives like "what," "which," and "whose" help form questions by modifying nouns. They are different from interrogative pronouns and adverbs, and play a key role in both direct and indirect questions. Mastering them is vital for scoring in exams and communicating clearly in English every day.
FAQs on Interrogative Adjectives in English Grammar
1. What are interrogative adjectives in English grammar?
Interrogative adjectives are words that modify nouns and ask a question. They are used at the beginning of questions. The main interrogative adjectives are what, which, and whose. They always come before a noun.
2. What are three main interrogative adjectives with examples?
The three main interrogative adjectives are: what, which, and whose. Here are some examples: •What color is your car? •Which book are you reading? •Whose pen is this?
3. How are interrogative adjectives different from interrogative pronouns?
Interrogative adjectives modify nouns; they always come before the noun they modify. Interrogative pronouns, on the other hand, stand alone and replace nouns. For example, “What book do you want?” (adjective) vs. “What do you want?” (pronoun).
4. Can “whose” be used as an interrogative adjective?
Yes, whose can be used as an interrogative adjective. It asks about possession. For example: “Whose car is parked there?” Here, “whose” modifies the noun “car”.
5. What is the difference between “what” and “which” as interrogative adjectives?
What is used when asking about an unspecified selection from a large or unknown range of possibilities. Which is used when asking about a specific selection from a known or limited set of options. For example: “What type of music do you like?” (open-ended) vs. “Which song is your favorite?” (from a known set).
6. Give five sentences using interrogative adjectives.
Here are five sentences using interrogative adjectives: 1. What time is the meeting? 2. Which way should we go? 3. Whose jacket is this? 4. What kind of cake did you bake? 5. Which color do you prefer?
7. What are 10 examples of interrogative adjectives?
While there are only three main interrogative adjectives (what, which, whose), they can be used in various ways to create more examples. For instance, phrases like “what kind of,” “what sort of,” and “which one of” function similarly. Here are 10 examples incorporating these variations: 1. What color? 2. Which book? 3. Whose bag? 4. What type of car? 5. Which flavour of ice cream? 6. What kind of music? 7. What sort of problem? 8. Which one of these pens? 9. Whose house is that? 10. What size shoes do you wear?
8. What is interrogative word with example?
An interrogative word initiates a question. Interrogative adjectives (what, which, whose) are a type of interrogative word. Example: “Which movie did you see?”
9. What are interrogative adjectives in grammar?
In grammar, interrogative adjectives are question words (what, which, whose) that modify a noun, asking a question about that noun. They function as determiners, specifying which noun is being discussed.
10. What is interrogative adjective with answer?
An interrogative adjective is a question word (what, which, whose) that modifies a noun. Example Question: “What book are you reading?” Example Answer: “I’m reading *The Great Gatsby*.”
11. What is the difference between interrogative adjectives and pronouns?
The key difference lies in their function: Interrogative adjectives modify nouns (e.g., “What color?”), while interrogative pronouns replace nouns (e.g., “What do you want?”). The interrogative adjective always precedes a noun, while the pronoun stands alone.
