whose is this

USAGE SUMMARY

'whose is this' is a correct and usable sentence in written English.
You can use it to ask who owns something or is responsible for something. For example: "Whose is this phone?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

And whose is this baby anyway?

Vice

Whose is this voice?

The Guardian - Books

Whose is this relic?

The Guardian - Travel

"Whose is this?" the elephant demands, and each of the animals, in turn, denies ownership.

The New York Times - Books

I was tickled by the cluing for MINE, the "possible response to 'Whose is this?'" If you've ever been in possession of a toddler, it's not a possibility.

The New York Times

Whose is this pet pooch?

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Whose was this?

The New Yorker

Whose was this frank, unwavering voice?

The Guardian - Books

Just exactly whose team is this, anyway?

The New York Times - Sports

But whose place is this?

The Guardian - Arts

But whose mistake is this?

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "whose is this" when you want to directly inquire about the ownership or association of something present or under discussion. It's suitable for both formal and informal settings.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "whose" (possessive form of "who") with "who's" (contraction of "who is"). "Whose is this?" asks about ownership, while "Who's this?" asks about identity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whose is this" functions as an interrogative possessive determiner, used to inquire about the ownership or association of something. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "whose is this" serves as a direct and grammatically sound method for inquiring about ownership or association. Ludwig confirms its proper usage for determining the owner of something. While adaptable to both casual and formal settings, it's crucial to avoid confusing "whose" with the contraction "who's". Predominantly observed in News & Media and Academia, this phrase effectively seeks to identify the rightful owner or responsible party, making it an essential element in everyday communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to whom does this belong

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the act of belonging.

who does this belong to

This alternative is more direct and rephrases the question to focus on the owner.

who owns this

This is a simpler, more straightforward question about ownership.

whose property is this

This alternative specifies that the subject is property.

who is the owner of this

This alternative is a more formal and verbose way of asking about ownership.

by whom is this owned

This is a passive construction focusing on the state of being owned.

can anyone identify the owner of this

This alternative asks for help in identifying the owner, implying the owner is unknown.

what is the provenance of this

This alternative is more formal and inquires about the origin or history of the item.

who's responsible for this

This alternative shifts the focus from ownership to responsibility.

who is in charge of this

This shifts the focus from ownership to who is in charge/control.

FAQs

How do I properly use "whose is this" in a sentence?

Use "whose is this" to ask about the owner or possessor of something. For example, "Whose is this bag left on the train?"

What's a more formal way to ask "whose is this"?

A more formal way is to ask, "To whom does this belong?" or "Who does this belong to?"

Is it grammatically correct to say "whose this is"?

No, "whose this is" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrasing is "whose is this?"

What's the difference between "whose is this" and "who's this"?

"Whose is this?" asks about ownership, while "Who's this?" (a contraction of "Who is this?") asks about the identity of a person.