On 24-Jun-09, at 6:13 PM, Ana M. Cervantes wrote:

> "Whose wallet is this?"
>
> "Whose is this wallet?"
>
> "Whose is this?" (wallet)
>
>
> Are all three options right?

Yes, they are all correct.

> Most importantly; Why?

In the first sentence, the noun phrase (NP) 'whose wallet' functions  
as the complement of the verb. In that NP, 'whose' is a dependent  
possessive pronoun functioning as a determiner and 'wallet' is a noun  
functioning as the head. The NP, in which the determinative 'this' is  
functioning as a fused head (i.e., 'this wallet'), functions as the  
subject. The subject is in the final position because the complement,  
being the target of the question has been fronted and subject verb  
inversion applies. The typical answer would be "it's his wallet."

In the second sentence, the NP 'whose' functions as the complement.  
'Whose' is an independent possessive pronoun functioning as the head  
of the NP. The NP 'this wallet' is the subject. The determinative  
'this' is functioning as the determiner of the NP and the noun  
'wallet' is its head. Again, the subject is in the final position  
because the complement, being the target of the question has been  
fronted and subject verb inversion applies.

In the third sentence, as in the second, the NP 'whose' functions as  
the complement. Again, 'whose' is an independent possessive pronoun  
functioning as the head of the NP. As in the first sentence, the  
determinative 'this' is functioning as a fused head of the NP which  
functions as the subject.

Best,
Brett

-----------------------
Brett Reynolds
English Language Centre
Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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