What is the difference between whose and who's?

'Whose' is a possessive pronoun meaning 'belonging to whom' (Whose phone is this? The student whose essay won the prize). 'Who's' is a contraction of 'who is' or 'who has' (Who's coming to the party? Who's been here?). To test: replace with 'who is' or 'who has'. If it makes sense, use who's.

Can 'whose' refer to things, not just people?

Yes! 'Whose' can refer to both people and things. Example: 'a company whose profits are rising' or 'a building whose roof was damaged'. It is the possessive form of both 'who' and 'which'.

Whose vs. Who's: What's the Difference?

Quick Answer

whose = possessive pronoun (belonging to whom)

who's = contraction of "who is" or "who has"

Explanation

WHOSE (possessive)

Asks about or shows ownership

Like: his, her, their, its

"Whose jacket is this?"

"The student whose essay won."

"A city whose history is rich."

WHO'S (contraction)

Short for "who is" or "who has"

who's = who is / who has

"Who's at the door?" (who is)

"Who's been using my computer?" (who has)

Quick test: Replace with "who is" or "who has". If it still makes sense → use who's. If not → use whose.

Examples

✔Whose keys are on the table? (possessive)

✔Who's coming to the meeting? (who is)

✔The author whose books I love lives in London. (possessive)

✔Who's been eating my lunch? (who has)

✘Who's bag did you borrow?

✘Whose going to the party?

Common Mistakes

Incorrect: I don't know who's book this is.

Correct: I don't know whose book this is. (Test: "who is book" ✘ → use whose)

Incorrect: Whose responsible for this mistake?

Correct: Who's responsible for this mistake? (Test: "who is responsible" ✔ → use who's)

Practice

Fill in the blank:

"_____ the new manager? And _____ office is that?"