whose 
(h
z)
KEY ADJECTIVE:
- The possessive form of who.
- The possessive form of which.
ETYMOLOGY:Middle English
whos, from Old English
hwæs; see
kwo- in Indo-European roots
Usage Note: It has sometimes been claimed that
whose is properly used only as the possessive form of
who and thus should be restricted to animate antecedents, as in
a man whose power has greatly eroded. But there is extensive literary precedent for the use of
whose with inanimate antecedents, as in
The play, whose style is rigidly formal, is typical of the period. In an earlier survey this example was acceptable to a large majority of the Usage Panel. Those who avoid this usage employ
of which: The play, the style of which is rigidly formal, is typical of the period. But as this example demonstrates, substituting
of which may produce a stilted sentence. See Usage Notes at
else,
which,
who.
