DI: Lesson - Interrogative Pronouns Introduction

Interrogative Pronouns Introduction

An interrogative pronoun is a pronoun that is used to form a question. The English word interrogative derives from the Latin verb rogare - to ask. The Latin interrogative pronoun is quis, quid.

In Latin, interrogative pronouns are similar in form to the relative pronouns, but there are a few differences which you will observe in the chart below. Pay careful attention to the forms and note the differences (forms that differ from relative pronouns have been bolded).

quis?, quid? - who?, what?

	Masculine		Feminine		Neuter
Case	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
Nominative	quis	qui	quis	quae	quid	quae
Genitive	cuius	quorum	cuius	quarum	cuius	quorum
Dative	cui	quibus	cui	quibus	cui	quibus
Accusative	quem	quos	quem	quas	quid	quae
Ablative	quo	quibus	quo	quibus	quo	quibus

Nota Bene

• Irregular Adjective Reminder:
  • genitive singular = -ius (all genders): cuius
  • dative singular = -i (all genders): cui
  • The interrogative pronoun does have additional differences from a typical irregular form:
    • Masculine/Feminine, accusative, singular uses -em: quem
    • Dative and ablative plural, all genders use -ibus: quibus
• The singular masculine and feminine forms are identical, but the plural forms are different.
• Like personal pronouns, the relative pronoun will attach -cum as an enclitic:
  • Singular: quocum/quacum - with whom?, with what?
  • Plural: quibuscum - with whom?, with what?

Practice Activity