Who’s vs. Whose | What’s The Difference?

What’s the difference between “who’s” and “whose”? Here are some simple definitions with examples:

Who’s:

 Who’s is the contraction (the short form of a word) of: 

1. “Who” + “is” = who’s
   • Who’s that guy? (who is)
   • I don’t know who’s responsible for the accident. (who is)
   • I wonder who’s hiding behind the curtain? (who is)
   • Do you know anyone else who’s a volunteer? (who is)

2. “Who” + “has” = who’s
   • I’m not sure who’s seen it. (who has)
   • Do you know anyone who’s had that experience? (who has)
   • That’s the guy who’s always been kind to me. (who has)
   • Who’s been talking behind my back, do you know? (who has)

Whose:

1. Used to say or ask who the owner or creator of something is.
   • Whose pencil is this?
   • Have you decided whose presentation was the best?
   • I wonder whose mansion that is?
   • I’ll take the smartphone to the police station, maybe they can figure out whose it is?

2. Used to say who or what you are talking about.
   • It’s the house with the garden whose trees were all cut down.
   • They work in that office whose lights are on until midnight every night.
   • Do you remember that teacher whose handwriting couldn’t be read?
   • Jennifer is the lady whose husband was in the news this afternoon.

3. Used to give more information about someone or something.
   • The guy whose leg was broken in the accident is still in the hospital.
   • The writer whose books were read by over a million people is now retired.
   • The team whose players were in a fight last week, will not be allowed to play this week.
   • The father whose son was crying didn’t know what to do.

Conclusion

“Who’s” is a contraction of who has or who is.  “Whose” shows that something belongs to something or someone.