1)疑问代词在句中起名词词组的作用,用来构成疑问句。疑问代词有下列几个:
2)疑问代词在句中应位于谓语动词之前,没有性和数的变化,除who之外也没有格的变化。what,which,whose还可作限定词。试比较:
疑问代词:Whosearethesebooksonthedesk?
WhatwasthedirectionalflowofU.S.territorialexpansion?
限定词:Whosebooksaretheseonthedesk?
WhateventsledtomostoftheeastoftheMississippiRiverbecomingpartoftheUnitedStates?哪些事件使密西西比河以东的大部分土地归属于美国?
无论是做疑问代词还是限定词,which和what所指的范围不同。what所指的范围是无限的,而which则指在一定的范围内,例如:
Whom是who的宾格,在书面语中,它作动词宾语或介词宾语,在口语中作宾语时,可用who代替,但在介词后只能用whom,例如:
Who(m)didyoumeetonthestreet?
Who(m)areyoutakingthebookto?
Towhomdidyouspeakonthecampus?
你在校园里和谁讲话了?(作介词宾语,置介词后,不能用who取代。)
疑问代词用于对介词宾语提问时,过去的文体中介词和疑问代词通常一起放在句首,现代英语中,疑问代词在句首,介词在句未,例如:
Forwhatdomostpeopleliveandwork?
疑问代词还可引导名词性从句,例如:
Ican'tmakeoutwhatheisdrivingat.
Canyoutellmewhoseistheblueshirtonthebed?
MuchofwhatyousayIagreewith,butIcannotgoallthewaywithyou.