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 [log in to unmask] To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/