Interrogative Pronouns Guide – Complete TOEIC® Preparation
Flow Exam team
Interrogative pronouns (also known as wh-words or question words) form the foundation of questions in English. On the TOEIC®, you will primarily encounter them in Part 2.
In Part 2 (Question-Response), (almost) every audio prompt begins with an interrogative pronoun that determines the type of answer expected. If you do not correctly identify the wh-word, you will choose the wrong answer even if you understand the rest of the sentence.
Our tip for practicing Part 2
On Flow Exam, you can filter sections and practice the specific question types you want.
The 3 Common Mistakes:
Mistake 1: Confusing Who and Whom
Who refers to the subject of the action (the one performing the action). Whom refers to the object (the one receiving the action), but only in formal contexts.
What really works in practice: mentally substitute with he/she or him/her. If you can say "He called", use Who. If you must say "I called him", use Whom.Other Pronoun Lessons
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Mistake 2: Choosing What instead of Which
What is used for an open-ended question without predefined options. Which implies a limited choice among known options.
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The candidates who make the fastest progress understand this reflex: if the question mentions or implies specific options, use Which. Otherwise, use What.
Mistake 3: Forgetting Whose for Possession
Whose asks about possession or belonging. Candidates often confuse it with Who's (the contraction of Who is).
- Whose report is this? (Whose report is this?)
- Who's presenting today? (Who is presenting today?)
Quick Test: if you can replace it with his/her/their, use Whose. If you can replace it with who is/who has, use Who's.
Identifying People: Who, Whom, Whose
These three pronouns all concern people's identity, but they have different grammatical functions.
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In the majority of cases we have studied, TOEIC® Part 2 questions heavily use Who because they reflect common professional English. Whom appears mainly in Part 5 in formal written sentences.
Choosing between What and Which: The Quick Method
What and Which can both translate to something like "which/what" in French, but their usage differs.
The Options Rule
Which = choice from a defined set (2-3 options, sometimes implied) What = open-ended question, unlimited answer space
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Location, Time, and Cause: Where, When, Why
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How and Its Combinations
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