16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsEasy–MediumWhose versus who's

Standard English Conventions practice question

The scientist ____ research won the prize gave a brief and modest speech.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. whoseCorrect
  2. B. who's
  3. C. who
  4. D. that

Answer: A. whose

The research belongs to the scientist, so a possessive relative pronoun is needed: 'whose research'.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. who's
'who's' means 'who is' — 'the scientist who is research' doesn't work.
C. who
'who' can't show possession: 'the scientist who research won' is missing the ownership.
D. that
'that' can't show possession either; 'the scientist that research won' is ungrammatical.

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