Latin for Students
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Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions. They are almost identical to relative pronouns except in the nominative singular (for all genders) and the neuter accusative singular. The masculine and feminine singular are exactly the same. 

If the question is asking about a person, a masculine/feminine (remember they are the same) pronoun is used. If the question is asking about a thing/things, a neuter pronoun will be used. So, the masculine/feminine forms are translated as "who" or "whom," and the neuter forms are translated as "what" or "which." See the chart for English translations of each pronoun.

Quis puellam amat? --> Who loves this girl?
Quid nomen pueri est? What is the name of this boy?

(Because these pronouns are always used to ask questions, I have put question marks after their forms and English translations.)

Singular

Remember, these are exactly the same as the relative pronouns except in the nominative singular and the neuter accusative plural.
​
Masculine ♂
Feminine ♀
Neuter ⚲
Nominative
quis?
who? / what man/boy?
quis?
who? / what woman/girl?
quid?
what?
Genitive
cuius?
whose?
cuius?
whose?
cuius?
of what?
Dative
​cui?
to/for whom?
cui?
to/for whom?
cui?
to/for which?
Accusative
quem?
​whom?
quem?
whom?
quid?
which?
Ablative
quo?
by, with, from etc. whom?
quo?
by, with, from, etc. whom?
quo?
by, with, from, etc. which?

Plural

These are EXACTLY the same as the plural forms of the relative pronouns! Isn't that nice? Less to memorize.
​
Masculine ♂
Feminine ♀
Neuter ⚲
Nominative
qui?
who?
quae?
who?
quae?
what?
Genitive
quorum?
whose? 
quarum?
whose?
quorum?
of what?
Dative
​quibus?
to/for whom?
quibus?
to/for whom?
quibus?
to/for which?
Accusative
quos?
​whom?
quas?
whom?
quae?
which?
Ablative
quibus?
by, with, from etc. whom?
quibus?
by, with, from, etc. whom?
quibus?
by, with, from, etc. which?

Interrogative adjective - qui, quae, quod

There is also an interrogative adjective, which is completely identical to the relative pronoun - it is qui, quae, quod. This is used to ask which (of a group/set). Basically, if the answer is an adjective, then the question is asked with an interrogative adjective. Words such as this and that can be adjectives, so if the answer is this ___ or that ____, the question is asked with an interrogative adjective.

In qua casa habitat? --> In which house does he live?
In illa casa habitat. --> He lives in that house.
Used here, that is an adjective, because it describes which house the other person is asking about.
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  • Home
  • About
    • The Site
    • The Creator
  • Grammar
    • Nouns >
      • Case >
        • Nominative case
        • Genitive case
        • Vocative case
        • Locative case
      • Number
      • Gender
      • Declension >
        • First declension
        • Second declension
        • Third declension
        • Fourth declension
        • Fifth declension
    • Pronouns >
      • Personal pronouns
      • Relative pronouns
      • Interrogative pronouns
      • Demonstrative pronouns
      • Reflexive pronouns
    • Adjectives
    • Verbs >
      • Person + Number
      • Tense >
        • The imperfect tenses >
          • Present tense
          • Future tense
          • Imperfect tense
        • The perfect tenses >
          • Perfect tense
          • Pluperfect tense
          • Future perfect tense
      • Infinitives
    • Adverbs
    • Prepositions
    • Conjunctions
  • Helpful tips
    • Tips for memorizing vocabulary
    • Tips for translating
    • Scansion
  • Fun Stuff!
    • Latin insults
    • Names that come from Latin